The international coffee community is converging on Portland, Oregon, this week and weekend, and it’s so exciting to have everyone in Barista Magazine’s hometown! Folks are gathered here for Coffee Fest Portland, as well as Barista Nation Portland and Caffeine Crawl Portland!
Within each group, tons of activities are taking place. Here’s the run-down:
COFFEE FEST PORTLAND
Beginning today and continuing through Sunday, Coffee Fest Portland will bring coffee professionals of all walks of life together at the Oregon Convention Center for a trade show as well as educational sessions. For more information, go HERE.
Special activities: Coffee Fest Latte Art Championship; America’s Best Coffeehouse Competition; America’s Best Espresso Competition.
BARISTA NATION PORTLAND
The popular traveling workshop comes to Portland for its first-ever event focused specifically on the home barista. This event takes place all day today at Seattle Coffee Gear in the Pearl.
Organizer Anastasia Chovan says, “The format will be aimed for consumers and coffee enthusiasts, but as always, everyone is welcome. We will offer one to two sessions per hour and folks can come and go on the hour. There will also be an all-day cupping organized by Seattle Coffee Gear.”
Barista Nation will host a party at the end of the day from 6 “8 p.m. at the Seattle Coffee Gear space, 26 NW 23rd Place. This party will be for both attendees to Barista Nation and to the Caffeine Crawl (and anyone else who loves coffee!).
Barista Nation PDX Open Schedule:
10am-11am Make your morning pour over better: Nathanael May, Portland Coffee Roasting
11am-noon Upgrade your home espresso machine: Stephyn Ackermann, Unic
Noon-1pm Espresso: Single origin versus blends: Aric, Sterling, & Mark Hellweg, Clive Coffee
2pm-3pm Making Every Pour Count – Latte Art for the Home Barista: Maxwell Mooney, Spotted Cow Coffee Roasters
3pm-4pm Blossom, the ultimate home coffee brewer: Jeremy Kuempel, Blossom Coffee
5pm-6pm A home espresso cocktail party: Sauro Dall Aglio, Italian Cup Champion 2008
Home Barista throw down and Ccoffee weekend party 6pm-8pm
For more information, go HERE.
CAFFEINE CRAWL PORTLAND
Caffeine Crawls have taken place across the United States, bringing together coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike to experience the best of what different American cities have to offer in the way of cafes, roasters, chocolate shops, and tea houses. For more information about the Portland event, go HERE.
OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS
¢ Barista Magazine is proud to be a sponsor of the Pacific Natural Foods Barista Series Almond Challenge, which will be taking place on the Coffee Fest Show floor at Pacific’s booth, #506 throughout Coffee Fest. Sign up at Pacific’s booth and pour your best art using the Barista Series Almond!
RULES
∙ Baristas will have an opportunity to practice pouring with the Barista Series Almond before competing. Once their competition time begins, they will have five minutes to prepare their latte art.
∙ Baristas do not need to be present throughout the event. After a barista has poured his/her drink, a photo will be taken of it. The photo will be on display at Pacific’s booth throughout the show with the other entries. Judges will evaluate the photos to make their final decision.
∙ Winners will be announced at the Pacific booth at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 26.
∙ Almond latte art creations will be judged by Matt Milletto (American Barista & Coffee School); Anna Gutierrez (Gourmet Source), and Sarah Allen (Barista Magazine). Anna, Matt, and Sarah judge latte art as a team on a regular basis at the Coffee Fest trade shows.
Prizes will be: 1st Place – $300, 2nd Place – $150, 3rd Place – $50
All competitors receive a free tshirt
No entry fee
¢ Stumptown Coffee Roasters Open House & Happy Hour at HQ! Come visit Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ beautiful Headquarters in the Southeast Industrial area of Portland on Saturday from 4 “7 p.m. Enjoy an old fashioned made with Stumptown’s famous cold brew, drink beer from local microbreweries, tour the HQ facilities, and just relax among friends. Everyone’s invited! Location: 100 SE Salmon Street.
¢ After the Stumptown Open House, head down the street to the Portland Soiree taking place at Water Ave. Coffee and Bunk Bar! Barista Magazine is one of the sponsors of this party that is sure to be the highlight of the weekend. Drink local spirits, wine, cider, and beer, participate in a Quickfire Drink Competition, eat Portland’s best sandwiches, and have a blast! Location: 1028 SE Water Ave.
