Following the success of 2023’s event, the Brighton Coffee Festival returns for a full weekend on August 10-11 at the iconic All Saints Hove.
BY J. MARIE CARLAN
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Photos courtesy of Brighton Coffee Festival
This weekend, the Brighton, Sussex, U.K., coffee community will have the chance to experience an expanded Brighton Coffee Festival at All Saints Hove. Begun in 2019, the festival has grown exponentially, leading to the addition of a second day. Festival goers will have the opportunity to attend talks, discussion panels, cuppings, competitions, and check out more than 50 exhibitors across two arenas at this exciting event.
“Brighton Coffee Festival 2024 is set to be our biggest year on record with an increased number of exhibitors and visitors,“ festival organizers said in a press release. “We are proud to be attracting companies from all over the world, showing why Brighton has one of the best coffee scenes in the U.K.“
What’s On at Brighton Coffee Festival
Saturday’s schedule begins in Arena 1 with a Cocktail Masterclass led by the pros at Devils Dyke Distillery, followed by the Latte Art Competition and Level Coffee Championships. In Arena 2, there will be coffee cuppings from a variety of roasters and traders, as well as a series of talks and panels. Topics include career and competition advice, climate change, new forestry regulations, and more.
Sunday’s schedule includes a Latte Art Competition, masterclasses, and even more cuppings in Arena 1. Arena 2 will feature panel discussions on mental health in the specialty industry, and the impact of war and conflict on the coffee supply chain. Talks will cover topics such as sourcing in Mexico and caffeine alternatives.
And don’t miss the official afterparty at Trading Post Coffee Roasters!
Level Coffee Championships
New to the festival lineup is the Level Coffee Championships, intended to “level the playing field of coffee competitions,“ according to the press release. The competition will be held on Saturday and Sunday in Arena 1 and judged by coffee experts Francesco Mirra, Andrew Whitworth-Smith, and Ryohji Hope.
“Each competitor will be brewing the same coffee from U.K. roaster UNION, using their own unique skills and understanding of coffee to prove they’re the best brewer in Brighton,“ says Oli Crawley on behalf of the festival. Each competitor was sent a bag of the coffee (a Catuai from Panama Los Lajones) in advance of the festival to experiment and plan their recipes before the competition.They’ll be given another bag of the same coffee on Saturday at the festival for use in all three rounds. This unique strategy allows the competitors to begin with their best foot forward, regardless of their prior experience, café support, or financial situation.
The three rounds of the Level Coffee Championships are Espresso, Filter, and Freestyle. The Freestyle section will involve the use of 10 mystery items, adding a fun twist of spontaneity to the contest.
An Eye on Charity
”We are constantly looking at ways to grow and evolve the show year on year to heighten the experience for both exhibitors and visitors. We are particularly proud to have announced Rockinghorse Children’s Charity as the official charity partner for 2024,” organizers said.
Rockinghorse Children’s Charity focuses on helping sick and disabled babies, children, and their families in Sussex. The festival hopes to raise funds and awareness of the charity’s efforts.
Festival Specialty Coffee Liqueur and More
In collaboration with Devils Dyke Distillery, the Brighton Coffee Festival is introducing a coffee liqueur made with a Kenyan coffee from Small Batch Coffee Roasters. It will be available for purchase at the festival merchandise stand all weekend. There will be a donation to Rockinghorse Children’s Charity from every bottle sold.
In addition to the events and panels, there will also be live entertainment and plenty of freebies and giveaways throughout the weekend. Bags of the UNION competition coffee will be available for curious taste buds at the merchandise booth.
This is just scratching the surface of what’s happening at Brighton Coffee Festival this year! Grab your tickets for the festival and official afterparty here.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. Marie Carlan (she/they) is the online editor for Barista Magazine. She’s been a barista for 16 years and writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. When she’s not behind the espresso bar or toiling over content, you can find her perusing record stores, writing poetry, and trying to keep the plants alive in her Denver apartment.
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