Arabica
aficionados can celebrate the capital's burgeoning coffee culture at
the London Coffee Festival later this April - a four-day bean binge
bringing a range of coffee-related activities under one roof, as well
as a raft of artsy and foodie spin-off events.
The
flagship event of UK Coffee Week, the London Coffee Festival runs
from Thursday 25th April until Sunday 28th April at the Old Truman
Brewery off Brick Lane in east London.
Tea
may remain the national drink, but coffee is fast becoming London's
favourite hot beverage of choice. In the past few years independent
coffee shops have cropped up all over the capital, which has been
infused by a strong appreciation for artisanal specialty-grade coffee
served by passionate baristas very much outside the branded coffee
chain juggernaut that haunts our high streets. The London Coffee
Festival is a nod to the growing demand amongst more savvy and
discerning consumers for premium quality coffee.
Paying
homage to London's love of the coffee bean, the four-day festival
boasts eight zones dedicated to the art, science and appreciation of
coffee; numerous stalls and stands with artisanal coffee to sample
and buy; the latest vintage coffee kits on display; a range of
interactive barista demonstrations and competitions; plus a full
programme of musical and artistic events - not to mention food
markets to help soak up the caffeine. Located in the heart of east
London, the Old Truman Brewery is found on the flamboyant Brick Lane
and nearby the markets and decent London Restaurants found in and
around Spitalfields.
Two
industry days on Thursday and Friday (10am-5pm) are followed by one
public evening session (5pm-8pm) and the Espresso Martini Launch
Party (8pm-10pm) on Friday night before the weekend opens the
festival completely to the public with three 3-hour sessions - Brunch
(10am-1pm), Lunch (1pm-4pm) and Teatime (4pm-7pm) - taking place on
both Saturday and Sunday.
Tickets
sold out at last year's festival, which welcomed around 12,000
visitors, so make sure you book in advance. Tickets start at £9.50
with 50% of all sales going towards Project Waterfall - a charity
aiming to raise £1m to deliver safe drinking water and sanitation
projects for up to 100,000 people, specifically in coffee-producing
countries in Africa.
The
four-day festival underlines the exciting and evolving coffee boom in
London and welcomes coffee-lovers of all calibres to be part of the
roastery revolution. For more information please take a look at the
comprehensive preview and guide to the London Coffee Festival
produced by the website LondonTown.com
athttp://www.londontown.com/London/London-Coffee-Festival.
