Get caffeinated and excited for these coffee events in Milan, Ohio, and Paris in October.
BY ZECHARIAH MOSS
SPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
This month continues the strong, cautious, and steady flow of coffee events in 2021. Following the success of the London Coffee Festival and a triumphant return to in-person events by The Barista League in Barcelona just this past weekend, you can check out three more upcoming events that celebrate coffee culture.
HOST Milano
The World Barista Championship (WBC), World Brewers Cup (WBrC), and World Cup Taster Championships (WCTC) are taking place in Italy this month alongside the hospitality and catering trade show HOST Milano. After a long period of waiting to return to the stage, these internationally celebrated coffee competitions are sure to be a hit amongst the other 800+ other food and beverage displays taking place over the week.
You can attend a single day of the event to watch the world-stage coffee events, as well as be a part of the latte art and other coffee-related vendors and product innovations. Or stay the full five days from October 22 to 26 and witness all that HOST has to offer. If you miss this year’s World Coffee Championships, organizers have already found its 2022 venue in Melbourne, Australia, at the MICE event. And even further, Barista Magazine will be on site to cover all the action.
Cincinnati Coffee Festival
Established in 2017, the Cincinnati Coffee Festival has grown into the largest coffee festival in the Midwestern United States. Event director Judi Cogen says, “Not only do we have vendors and attendees from Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana, we have vendors from as far away as Alabama, New Jersey, Florida, and California. The Midwest has become a real draw for artisan coffee and tea providers.”
The Cincinnati Coffee Festival will host over 45 vendors, who will be offering samples of coffee, tea, chocolate, baked goods, ceramics, and much more. Many vendors are debuting at the festival too, Judy explains. Lastly, expect plenty of live music, a festival store, cupping, demos, and latte art classes.
The festival also returns for its fourth-annual event with founding sponsor the Ohio River Foundation (ORF). ORF is dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and all waters in its 11-state watershed. Operating as the main fundraiser for the foundation since the beginning, their mission reads, “Without Great Water, You Can’t Have Great Coffee.“
“After being unable to host the Cincinnati Coffee Festival in 2020 due to COVID, we’re thrilled to be gearing up for this year’s event,” says Rich Cogen, executive director of ORF. “With the addition of our Friday night Platinum Buzz and our new session format for Saturday and Sunday, attendees are in for the best festival yet.” Tickets are on sale now for the weekend event taking place October 23-24.
Paris Café Festival
Riding on the wave of a successful set of events, Allegra continues to pump out more and more in-person events in 2021. Following the London Coffee Festival, they are switching gears to a different part of the region: Paris. Taking place from October 29-31, visitors have plenty of opportunities to get their fill of coffee, cocktails, music, and good vibes only at Le Paris Café Festival.
This festival has the usual coffee happenings that make it one to return to every year, like latte art championships, coffee mixology, and plenty of exciting new vendors. There’s also the annual beneficial opportunity for industry folks to check out the scene the day beforehand to network and socialize.
However, some unique features that this event promises include a jaw-dropping display of a home kitchen experience by La Marzocco, hosted in partnership with 2018 French AeroPress and Brewers Cup champ Sandra Bouckenooghe. For those who love the science of water behind coffee, filter brand Brita will also be hosting a booth to break down which of their filters are great for coffee brewing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A multigenerational native of Charlotte, N.C., Zechariah Moss quit the restaurant industry after a decade to pursue his love of creative writing. While unable to escape his love for coffee, he moonlights as a freelance ghostwriter/copywriter for friends and businesses. His office is found in multiple coffee shops across the Carolinas.
