Discover how this festival—returning later this month—brings Austin’s vibrant coffee community together for a weekend of culture, connection, and, of course, great coffee.
BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Cover photo courtesy of Craft Hospitality
As coffee culture continues to thrive in Austin, Texas, the city will soon welcome the third annual Austin Coffee Festival on September 28 and 29 at the Palmer Events Center. This two-day event organized by Craft Hospitality promises to be a must-attend celebration for coffee enthusiasts, professionals, and anyone who loves the vibrant world of coffee. With more than 40 local and national roasters, live music, and engaging learning sessions, the festival is set to highlight everything that makes Austin’s coffee scene special.
An Immersive Experience for Coffee Lovers
The Austin Coffee Festival has built a reputation for offering coffee lovers a space to indulge in their passion. According to Michael Craig of Creature Coffee, “It’s geek-out time for us coffee nerds! It’s the only event of the year when you can find all the Austin coffee industry under one roof. Roasters, baristas, coffee enthusiasts, musicians, manufacturers, and coffeepreneurs—we all brew and drink coffee together, share stories, and create good vibes.”
From the moment attendees enter, they’ll be greeted with an array of flavors, aromas, and presentations from some of the top roasters in the region, including Fara Coffee, Creature Coffee, Medici Roasting, and Cuvée Coffee. Each roaster will bring its unique approach to the festival, giving visitors a chance to discover new beans, methods, and flavors.
Exciting Features and Events at the Festival
This year’s festival offers more than just a chance to sip some great coffee. Attendees can look forward to a diverse lineup of activities, including the highly anticipated latte art competition presented by the Austin Coffee Collective. Michael of Creature Coffee encourages visitors to watch the competition, noting that it’s ”one to watch, especially if you’ve never been to one before!” With $500 on the line, the competition is sure to be a highlight of the weekend.
Michael Vaclav of Medici Roasting also shares some insights into what makes this year’s festival stand out. “We will have two booths with a pourover station featuring three coffees, a cupping table, an espresso bar, and a retail section. The cupping table will be a lot of fun for novices and enthusiasts because they will be able to compare and contrast the different coffees,” Michael says.
Visitors will also have access to a series of learning sessions on various topics, from starting a coffee shop to exploring how food and coffee intertwine with culture. These sessions provide an educational element, making the festival an all-around engaging experience for anyone interested in learning more about the coffee industry.
Building Community Through Coffee
One of the key features of the Austin Coffee Festival is the sense of community it fosters within the coffee industry. For many local roasters, it’s an opportunity to connect with their peers and customers alike. Michael of Medici Roasting highlights how the festival brings the coffee community closer, saying, “We have a great coffee community in Austin. We are all pretty close anyway. It is also a fun time to walk around to the other booths, see what they are doing, and chat for a bit.”
For attendees, this sense of connection is equally important. Whether they’re coffee novices or seasoned baristas, the festival gives everyone a chance to explore new shops, taste exclusive brews, and bond over a shared love of coffee. As Michael of Creature Coffee points out, “There’s a lot of love in the Austin coffee community, and the ACF is the perfect opportunity for us all to come together and showcase our wonderful coffee to everyone in the city.”
What to Expect and How to Attend
Whether you’re there for the music, the coffee, or the community, the Austin Coffee Festival promises a weekend packed with entertainment and discovery. From carefully curated roasters to exciting coffee-centric activities, it’s an event that reflects the rich and diverse coffee culture of Austin.
The festival will take place at the Palmer Events Center, with sessions spread across Saturday and Sunday, allowing attendees to experience everything at their own pace. With general admission, early admission, and all-day tickets available, there’s an option for everyone to enjoy this celebration of all things coffee.
For more information and to secure your tickets, visit austincoffeefestival.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Vasileia Fanarioti (she/her) is a senior online correspondent for Barista Magazine and a freelance copywriter and editor with a primary focus on the coffee niche. She has also been a volunteer copywriter for the I’M NOT A BARISTA NPO, providing content to help educate people about baristas and their work.
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