If you live driving distance from Charleston, S.C., or you’re lucky enough to be a resident of the historic and beautiful city, we advise you to clear your schedule for this Sunday, November 16 ”it’s the first annual Charleston Coffee Cup event!
Inspired by the city’s growing specialty-coffee culture of locally owned cafes, regionally roasted coffee, and even one of the nation’s top green coffee importers, Balzac Brothers, the Charleston Coffee Cup is intended to celebrate everything about the bean, from demonstrations by roasters, tastings of some of the best coffees around, educational sessions taught by leaders in the industry, competitions in latte art and roasting, and loads of fun events for those perhaps too tiny to truly appreciate coffee: the kiddos! They can enjoy face-painting, games, a life-sized crossword puzzle, and a jump castle.
But back to the coffee: This landmark event will take place at the Joe Riley Stadium, 360 Fishburne St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hosted by Blue Planet Green Events, and held with the support of presenting sponsor Balzac Brothers, the Charleston Coffee Cup is set to attract participants and attendees from all along the Southeast coast. Local roasters will be joined by peers from roasting companies in Georgia and North Carolina, including sponsors Counter Culture Coffee and King Bean Coffee Roasters.
This is a city that loves brunch, so bring your appetite to enjoy offerings from Stars Rooftop Bar & Grill, Mosaic Catering, Serve the People, Brown’s Court, Granny’s Granola, The Juice Joint, and King of Pops.
Here’s some specific information about the special events taking place during the Charleston Coffee Cup:
¢ LATTE ART CHALLENGE: The Latte Art Challenge is open to all baristas attending the event. Baristas may register the day of the event. Space will be limited to 15 competitors, and sign ups are first come, first served. An announcement will be made prior to the competition for everyone to come to the competition area to register.
¢ ROASTERS CHALLENGE: Pre-registration is required for the Roasters Challenge. The Roasters Challenge is limited to roasters who are participating in the event as vendors. Contestants must submit at least 250 grams of roasted coffee by no later than 5 p.m. November 15 to Blue Planet Green Events Office: 201B Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC 29403. Submissions may be a single origin or a blend. Contestants are required to fill out a detailed entry form about the coffee being submitted. For more information about participating in the Roasters Challenge, please follow this link.
¢ EDUCATION: As the event’s nonprofit partner, the Rainforest Alliance will have a representative present to deliver a lecture on sustainability in coffee growing. In addition, a raffle will be held throughout the event wherein attendees can enter to win cool prizes from Rainforest Alliance! Presenting sponsor Balzac Brothers will feature staff members discussing green coffee and the importing process. Finally, roasters will present information about the roasting process and answer audience questions.
¢ ECO-FRIENDLY: Blue Planet Green Events is going to great lengths to present an eco-friendly event, and ensures that the carbon footprint of the Charleston Coffee Cup will be as light as possible. FWD will manage all waste, composting, and recycling efforts. All coffee grounds will be given to local farms for composting, thus ensuring that landfill waste is very minimal.
Tickets to the Charleston Coffee Cup are $10 in advance, and $12 the day of the event. The ticket grants admission to all activities and educational events. Tickets may be purchased by clicking here! Food and beverage tickets will be sold separately inside the venue.
For more information about the Charleston Coffee Cup, visit the homepage: http://charlestoncoffeecup.com
