For the first time, DTLA will experience the landmark coffee event that has already taken over London and New York.
Making its West Coast debut …ladies and gents… the first annual Los Angeles Coffee Festival.
DTLA Hotels are now preparing for a sea of people from all over the world for LA Coffee Fest. Taking place November 9th–11th at Downtown LA’s Magic Box @ The Reef, the weekend-long event will feature exceptional coffee, incredible local food, cocktails, live music and art. And what a wise decision to host LA Coffee Fest in DTLA – WE LOVE COFFEE in the DT!
Whether you’re a beginner, coffee aficionado, self-confessed coffee geek, key industry stakeholder, office worker, stay at home mom, or just an ordinary person who likes coffee and wants to broaden your horizons, LA Coffee Festival is the Alpha and the Omega. Better yet, LA Coffee Fest is about building community, exploring new endeavors and supporting charity.
Downtown Weekly met up with Allegra Group CEO and festival founder, Jeffery Young, to find out what else was brewing.
Young has already hosted the popular festival around the world, many times, beginning in London in 2011.
Eight years later with max attendance at 35,000 and locations including Amsterdam, New York, London and now Los Angeles, Coffee Fest offers free unlimited coffee tastings, coffee cocktails, lessons, and an all-around celebration of the ecosystem that is the coffee industry. From the farmer to the barista, LA Coffee Fest brings an array of experiences that will bring the industry to life and they’re giving to a list of nonprofits providing clean water to coffee communities and making sure local farmers reap the most benefits when it comes to industry trade deals.
We asked Young, “Why DTLA and not San Fransico?” he responded, “There’s a lot more room to move in, more creativity, more edge and raw energy. We are delighted to be bringing the LA Coffee Festival to the West Coast for the first time this year. Los Angeles is a city of culture and creativity, and coffee and food play a huge part in the fabric of LA life.”
LA Coffee Festival includes loads of both local and international roasters, as well as coffee clubs in “The Roasters Village,” including, but not limited to: Mooon x Coffee Hall, Bean Brothers, L.A. Coffee Club, Madlab, Bluestone Lane Mondo, Pecora 19º09 , DogTown Coffee, Take Flight Coffee and so many more. Local roasters showing off their beans at the festival include; Loit, Coffee Whole, Verve and Cognoscenti Coffee Cafe.
Coffee Battles?
Yes! The three-day festival will also feature an iteration of the leading Coffee Mixologists competition, which debuted at The Amsterdam Coffee Festival in 2016. Here, Coffee Mixologists will join a series of takeovers during the evening, whipping up incredible coffee cocktails for all guests.
In addition, the festival will include The Lab program, featuring an exciting line-up of interactive demonstrations, educational workshops, talks and tastings, the Coffee Music Project and the Coffee Art Project, as well as:
- The Kitchenisa new casual dining showcase, launching at the LACF. This will be the go-to spot for foodies, where star chefs from LA’s incredible food scene will present their most innovative ideas. Attendees will have a chance to experience demos, workshops, and talks lead by notable and emerging restaurateurs and culinary legends from the LA culinary landscape, like Trinitiand Pollen.
- Latte Art Live, an interactive zone dedicated to the highly popular skill of latte art.
In past years at the NYC and London Coffee Festivals, local heroes such as Jai Lott and Barista Dee, and international names like Dritan Alsela, Dhan Tamang, Lem Butler, and Luke Shilling, have taken to the stage.
Attendees can take part in hands-on workshops and demonstrations where the pros will teach them the techniques and skills behind jaw-dropping masterpieces.
- The Coffee Cocktail Bar is an exciting collaboration with coffee liqueur heavyweight Mr Black, which will be serving indulgent cocktails with high buzz-factor and Grey Goose vodka.
- The Cinema, celebrating LA’s rich cinematic history, will be launching for the first time at the LA Coffee Festival. It will feature leading coffee-inspired films, new films from independent producers, and the short list of films selected for the first ever Coffee Art Project Film Edition. From Stumptown Coffee Roasters’ new Flower of Flowers film, which explores Antigua, Guatemala, and how climate change continues to impact coffee farming, to the future winner of The Coffee Art Project – Film Edition, there’ll be timetable full of incredible productions.
- The Innovation Zone is where you can discover the personalities behind some of 2018’s coolest and most cutting-edge brands and small businesses, ranging from technology to apparel, to the freshest micro-roasters.
In addition to offering delicious street food, coffee cocktails, live music and coffee-inspired art, 10% of profits are donated to Project Waterfall, partnering with NYC-based charity: water to deliver life-changing water projects in coffee-growing regions. Since 2011, Project Waterfall has raised over $1.5 million, bringing clean water to more than 37,000 people across seven countries.
What a difference a cup makes:
Traditional Italian espresso machines are hot in the culture these days but the quest for a great cup of coffee begins and ends with the Barista. It’s hard work that starts early and the pay is just ‘okay’. Yet, the skill of the barista can make the difference between a ‘okay’ and great cup of coffee. As a former chef, Young suggests up to 1-3 years of experience before really getting the sense of the art of coffee making, and to be able to share your grind, the machines, and latte art with the world.
So with so many beans from all over the world to choose from, we had to know… what was Young’s favorite? Costa Rica, Columbia, Brazil, Vietnam? Most coffee is still picked by hand, bean by bean. Like wine, the soil and varieties can bring different flavors. Not only how the bean is prepared but when it’s picked also lend to a great cup of joe. So which was it? We had to know.
His answer… Flat White – first cup in the morning made well with creamy milk and an incredible espresso shot.
For coffee connoisseurs and foodies alike, Los Angeles Coffee Fest is bound to give Los Angelenos and global attendees a truly exciting break from the daily grind. The festival is also offering a “Super VIP” ticket package, which offers three-day access to the event, a dedicated VIP entrance, complimentary cocktails from The Coffee Cocktail Bar, and a VIP goodie bag, full of gifts from some of the event vendors, and a copy of the Los Angeles Coffee Guide 2019 book. The Magic Box @ The Reef | 1933 S Broadway | Los Angeles, CA 90007. Tickets for The Los Angeles Coffee Festival are now on sale at: www.la-coffeefestival.com
