Coffee Fest Seattle - A few notable events!
Coffee Fest weekend in Seattle is as significant for what happens outside the tradeshow, as it is for what goes on at the show itself.
Coffee Fest is essentially a regional event, targeted primarily toward a Pacific Northwest audience. This means that some of the equipment manufacturers you would see at larger national shows like the SCAA are there but not all, and these may be represented by local distributors not the manufacturers themselves. The same goes for allied products. The same is true of coffee roasters, though northwest roasters are a breed apart, and an important few reflect the Zeitgeist of the boutique end of the market. There is merit to the idea that a show featuring northwest roasters would be worth attending on that basis alone. However, a significant cross section of these roasters attend the larger national shows, so the average visitor can save a trip. And besides Coffee Fest does not truly give a comprehensive view of northwest roasting, just a sampling.
Posted under Culture, Shows & Jams
Specialty coffee has long struggled to be a good environmental citizen, notwithstanding the advent of the Solo Traveler cup and lid. One reason is that the industry over time has become uncomfortably connected to a broad range of disposable paper products, items that are likely to end up in landfills and sometimes as litter. It seems as long as customers demand the convenience, cafes continue to supply them with paper cups, plastic lids, and wooden stir sticks, while offering reusable alternatives when possible.However, this state of affairs doesn’t sit well with many cafe owners and their environmentally attuned staffs. They fret and fuss, feeling the measures they’ve taken are not really good enough, especially if so many customers find it impractical to adopt the greener solutions offered. Finding a better way remains one of specialty coffee’s greatest challenges and frustrations. The impetus, especially on the Third Wave side of specialty coffee, where enlightened mindsets roam the earth, is to acknowledge reality, to be aware, and do the right thing. It is never to hide or deny–or just let it slide. This is one of the characteristics I especially love about many of the individuals in our industry. The intentions are well-placed, so improvement is bound to follow.