The IGTV event follows last week’s Coffee Fest To Go and awards viewers prize boxes.
BY KATRINA YENTCH
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Photos courtesy of Coffee Fest
In light of COVID-related live event cancellations, including Coffee Fest PNW and Coffee Fest Chicago, the iconic coffee and tea trade show wants to keep the momentum of online gathering going strong. They’re hosting several virtual events dedicated to coffee-related fun and helping other businesses stay afloat during the pandemic, and their second weeklong event begins today on Instagram Live.
“In light of the fact that large-scale gatherings are not possible, Coffee Fest is committed to providing tools and resources for specialty-coffee businesses. Our team has been working tirelessly on ways to keep the specialty-coffee community connected, engaged, and supported,” says Erika Lowery, portfolio director for Coffee Fest. “We are pleased to support the marketplace with several new ideas, including a new virtual event.”
That first event was Coffee Fest To Go, which did what Coffee Fest does best—connecting businesses with other businesses, along with enlightening viewers on panel topics such as coffee and race, coffee buying during COVID, and beverage innovation.
This time around, Coffee Fest is taking a fun break from more serious topics with Latte Art Master Chats, in which all-star latte art gurus will interview each other live on Instagram. With most questions provided by Coffee Fest, there will be two freebies for the interviewers to ask each other, and they’ll also be pouring their hearts out for the ’Gram. Sponsors include Slow Pour Supply, Pacific Foods, and your pals at Barista Magazine.
The stellar lineup includes:
Monday, August 31 @ 7 p.m. ET— Christopher “Nicely” Abel Alameda – Menotti’s Coffee + Latte Art World Champion 2010-2012, and Antoine Franklin – Blacksmith Coffee + Coffee Fest Portland Latte Art Champ 2017
Tuesday, September 1 @ 7 p.m. ET— Matthew Bolchi – Coffee Fest Denver Latte Art Champ 2018, and Emilee Bryant – Coffee Fest New York 2019 Latte Art Champion
Wednesday, September 2 @ 7 p.m. ET— En Español, Henry Berrios – Coffee Fest NYC Latte Art Champ 2020 and Slow Pour Supply Ambassador, and Arnaldo J. Mundoh, Puerto Rico Latte Art Champ 2016 + Shanghai World Latte Art Champ 2016 // Moderated by Ábner Roldán
Thursday, September 3 @ 7 p.m. ET— Christina Lee, Plantshed NYC, latte art trainer, and USCC competitor, and Ujae Lee, Plantshed NYC, Coffee Fest Los Angeles 2018 Latte Art Champion
To keep the viewer count strong throughout the chats, 15 different prize boxes will be given during the week that feature different goodies from each of the sponsors. Tune in, learn some tips and tricks on your next rosetta, and get some swag while you’re at it!
