You asked for a coffee festival, and that’s exactly what we’re bringing; with more than 100 exhibitors serving over 200 free coffees to sample, your festival ticket is a passport to a journey of taste discovery. From the launch of The La Marzocco Playground – which brings together some of the best specialty coffee providers in Europe – to innovative, small batch roasters and artisan cafés, the best in the business are joining us for the ride. Whether you’re a coffee pro or you’re just getting started on your journey, there’s an experience for everyone. Test and train your palette by sampling countless coffees, and party alongside Europe’s top baristas.
Here are four coffee highlights not to miss…
The La Marzocco Playground
Celebrating the recent launch of their ultra-slick Leva machine, La Marzocco are installing an entire coffee playground. Made up of several areas, it will showcase La Marzocco’s legendary machines, with experts on hand to help you test them out and answer your questions. Within the playground is the return of the True Artisan Café; this is where you can delve headfirst into the heart of the specialty coffee movement. Hand-selected independent roasters and cafes, like Bocca and The Coffee Collective, are scheduled to run take overs of the La Marzocco machines all weekend long.
New-Generation Roasts
There’s plenty of exciting, boundary-pushing roasts on offer; start by visiting the Stooker Roasting Co. stand. The artisan roasters have hit 2018 running. With the opening of their new, high-end roastery, it’s set to be their most exciting year ever. And who gets to road-test some of the first beans from the new roastery? You do. News has dropped that the roaster has bought in experimental beans from Abakundakawa Rushashi, Rwanda. With a sophisticated business proposition, it’s a truly progressive coffee washing station. The pioneering natural processed beans bought by Stooker, and available at Amsterdam Coffee Festival, have notes of juicy berries, blue drapes and ripe prune.
Single-Origin Coffees
Meet the single-origin specialists, and sample award-winning beans. Well-known Dutch company, Single Estate Coffee Roasters, import, roast and supply specialty coffee via Direct Trade. Why does that matter? They connect the farmer with the barista to not only create artisan coffee of outstanding quality, but to ensure the nurturing of both businesses. Whilst Single Estate will be bringing several coffees for visitors to sample, highlights include a Costa Rican El Mango black honey, and an Ethiopian Diima Natural. Remember to catch The Lab for Single Estate’s Director of Coffee, Patrick Groenewold’s talk on tasting coffee like a pro. Keep your eyes peeled, too, for the Panama Finca Sophie Geisha from Boot Koffie, which won the Best of Panama 2017 washed Geisha category; it’s a landmark coffee, with notes of green apple, papaya, mango and milk chocolate.