We attended the incredible event, which included Romania’s 2023 Coffee Championships.
BY VASILEIA FANARIOTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Featured photo courtesy of Bucharest Coffee Festival
I recently had the pleasure of attending the sixth Bucharest Coffee Festival at NORD Events Center by Globalworth. The event, organized by Romania’s SCA Chapter, Barista School Romania, ANUR3, and Barista Experts, was a great opportunity to get to know the Romanian coffee scene and explore what it has to offer.
Producers, distributors, importers, and businesses active in the foodservice industry presented their products as well as the latest trends in the coffee market. Also present were barista competitions, educational workshops, and training sessions, offering attendees the chance to further their knowledge and skills. It was great to see so many people passionate about coffee coming together in one place.
Let’s take a closer look at what the festival was all about!
Exploring the Festival at NORD Events Center
NORD Events Center was the perfect setting for this festival. It is currently the most modern venue in Bucharest, offering ideal spaces for all types of events. The festival atmosphere was enhanced by captivating visuals on the walls, promoting the presence of coffee-related businesses and inviting everyone to have a pleasant experience.
The festival program was full of interesting events and activities for both industry professionals and coffee enthusiasts, such as coffee preparation using different brewing methods, mixology, and latte art demonstrations, as well as coffee tastings. The dedicated coffee village offered an exciting mix of brands and products from the local market.
The event space had an area dedicated to processors and roasters, where more than 40 companies from this segment of the coffee industry exhibited and sold their products. The space also featured an area dedicated to importers and distributors of related products, such as professional coffee machines, accessories for coffee preparation, sweeteners, nondairy milk, and more.
Winners Announced for Romania’s 2023 Coffee Championships
During the festival, I also got to watch four coffee competitions: Latte Art, Coffee in Good Spirits, Cup Tasters, and Ibrik. All participants were showcasing their talents and battling for the opportunity to be named the champion.
Stefan Manole managed to impress the judges with his mixology skills, taking first place in Coffee in Good Spirits. Cristian Oltean won both the Latte Art and Cup Tasters championships, while Cezara Cartes took home the title of Ibrik champion. Cristian and Cezara competed in the World Cup Tasters and Cezve/Ibrik Championships, respectively, at World of Coffee in June; Cezara placed second in her global event. The other competitions’ world events will take place at the World Coffee Championships in Taipei, Taiwan, November 17-20.
Delicious Treats and Afrobeat Sounds
This edition of the festival also featured a new street food area offering an array of delicious treats. It was great to see trolleys serving Turkish and Greek specialties alongside artisanal ice cream stalls and traditional Lebanese and Syrian delicacies. Craft beer and Prosecco were also available for those who wanted something a bit stronger. Even more excitingly, there was a London bus serving street food!
And what’s a coffee festival without an after-party, right? Well, how about two? On the first night, we had the pleasure of attending the after-party at Sloane Coffee. The next day’s party was held at NORD Events Center and included a special selection of Afrobeat sounds.
All in all, the sixth Bucharest Coffee Festival by Globalworth was a great event that brought together all facets of the coffee industry in one place—from producers, importers, and distributors to baristas and coffee lovers. Everyone had the opportunity to learn more about their favorite beverage while enjoying incredible tastings, mixology competitions, culinary encounters, and much more!
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. You can follow her adventures at thewanderingbean.net.
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