The Amsterdam Coffee Festival is back for its seventh year and the weekend-long party kicks off in Westergas on 13 March. With the latest gadgets, top roasters, exciting competitions and more than a hundred different coffees to taste, this is the event no coffee-addict should miss!
Check out these five highlights.
ROAST MASTERS™
The Roast Masters™ competition is back! Here the best specialty coffee roasters from across Europe are subjected to the ultimate test. With a trip to the Suke Quto plantation in Ethiopia at stake, the contenders will battle for the title across all three days of the festival. The roaster-barista duos will compete in three disciplines: The Single Origin, The Espresso Blend and The Pour Over. During The Single Origin, the roasters will receive coffee in advance from green coffee importer Trabocca. While explaining their roast profile, the five jury members cups the coffee. For The Espresso Blend, the roasters bring their own espresso blend and in The Pour Over, the six remaining finalists have to prepare a filter coffee according to their own recipe and favourite brewing method.
THE MINDFUL COFFEE TASTING EXPERIENCE
In a cosy space with dimmed light, you can leave the hustle and bustle of the festival behind. Unwind during The Mindful Coffee Tasting Experience as the team from KEEN Coffee introduce you to their beautiful single origin coffees. Led by Just Breathe meditation expert Michael James Wong, embark on a 45 minute meditative coffee tasting that stimulates all the senses. This year, the cups will be filled with a natural Ye Genet from Ethiopia and an Aqua de Nieve from Peru. VIP tickets for The Mindful Coffee Tasting Experience are limited and can be purchased here.
SCA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Together with the Specialty Coffee Association, The Amsterdam Coffee Festival hosts the SCA Championships. After months of preparation, the best Dutch baristas compete for a place in the world finals as the new Dutch Barista, Cup Taster, Latte Art and Brewers Cup Champions are chosen. The Dutch Brewers Cup and Dutch Latte Art Championship takes place on Friday, with the Dutch Barista Championships to follow on Saturday and the Dutch Cup Tasters Championship on Sunday. Come and cheer on your favourite barista under the guidance of the energetic MC Keri Mol!
THE STREET FOOD MARKET
You'll need more than just coffee to get you through the day. On the square between Westergas and the Transformatorhuis, we have the best food trucks up and running with the most delicious dishes. Treat yourself to the Indian BBQ of Joerie Tandoeri, Lebanese quesadillas of the Grilling Kitchen Girls, the fresh homemade pasta of Pasta Joe, hand-cut fries of Kitch'n Fries, Argentine empanadas of Mercado Uno, traditional French pancakes of the Crepes mobile or organic sausages from the Sausage truck. Already hungry? Read more about each food truck here.
LATTE ART LIVE
This year, none other than Dhan Tamang, Merijn Gijsbers, Wendelien van Bunnik-Verver, Jesse Fook, Niels te Vaanhold, Jort Dijkers, Bram Dekker, William Laclé, Julian van de Sande and Anouk Rodenburg are included in the stacked Latte Art Live line-up, making this stage the place to be for latte art throwdowns, demonstrations and hands-on workshops. From a shiny rosetta to a colourful flamingo: the international champions will pour it right in front of you. Make sure to stop by on Friday evening, where the Alpro stand will transform into a green oasis with the finest DJ tunes, tasty bites and cocktails. Alpro's Merijn Gijsbers and Nisan Agca will host live cocktail workshops while you can dance off the hustle and bustle of the first day of the festival.
DOES ALL THE ABOVE SOUND LIKE MUSIC TO YOUR EARS? GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE AMSTERDAM COFFEE FESTIVAL 2020 HERE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU SOON!