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BY VASILEIA FANARIOTISENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Featured photo courtesy of Cup North
The vibrant coffee culture of Dublin is set to reach new heights with the inaugural Dublin Coffee Festival presented by Cup North. Cup North is renowned for its successful coffee festivals in Manchester and Birmingham, U.K. Scheduled March 1-3 at The Complex, with an industry-only session on March 1, this festival promises an immersive experience for coffee enthusiasts and the curious alike.
While the Dublin Coffee Festival marks a significant moment in the city’s coffee scene, it’s not the first time Dublin has hosted such an event. Prior to this inaugural festival, the city saw the emergence of coffee festivals in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, World of Coffee Dublin took center stage, drawing attention from coffee enthusiasts and professionals globally. Now, with Cup North at the helm of the Dublin Coffee Festival, attendees can expect a fresh perspective and innovative experiences that build upon the city’s rich coffee heritage.
What’s On at the Dublin Coffee Festival
The festival offers a diverse program blending entertainment, education, and exceptional coffee experiences. Brands such as Bell Lane Coffee Roaster, Oatly, and La Marzocco will be supplying their equipment and products to exhibitors. They’ll also be available to engage with folks throughout the event. Attendees can look forward to a lineup of talks and panels featuring insights from industry experts. There will also be a tasting room guiding them through the diverse origins of coffee, while a series of workshops will help them learn new skills and techniques.
Additionally, the festival provides a unique opportunity for the local coffee community to engage with the public through showcasing their products and services. Brian Kenny, director at Silverskin Coffee Roasters, shared with me that they are planning to unveil their latest product range during the festival, featuring True Cold Brew, Cold Brew Nitro, and Oat Flat White Nitro.
“It is the perfect place to showcase what we have learned and share our products with industry leaders and the general public,“ Brian says. “We are super excited for Dublin to finally have a coffee festival return. We hope our products will spark conversations and innovation around cold-brew coffee, nitro coffee, and RTD drinks within the Irish coffee marketplace.”
Experiencing the Extracted Development Coffee Competition
At the heart of the Dublin Coffee Festival is the highly anticipated Extracted Development coffee competition, taking place March 2-3. This unique competition brings together talented baristas and roasters from across Ireland, providing attendees with a behind-the-bar experience like no other.
Unlike conventional competitions, attendees will be encouraged to engage with competitors. They will also be able to sample competition coffees at the brew bar and cast their votes for their favorite team. This interactive format promises an exciting blend of competition and camaraderie, showcasing the skill and passion of Ireland’s coffee community.
Supporting Sustainability and Community Initiatives
As part of its commitment to sustainability, the Dublin Coffee Festival is a paper-cup-free event, aiming to reduce environmental impact. Attendees are encouraged to bring their reusable cups or utilize the free cup rental service provided by local brand shareclub. Water and cup rinsing stations will be conveniently available throughout the venue, ensuring a sustainable coffee sampling experience for all.
Moreover, the festival will donate 6% of all ticket sales to support Farmers’ Voice Radio and a local charity, as part of Cup North’s Community Partner Program. This initiative aims to make a positive contribution to both specialty-coffee communities and the Dublin community, aligning with the festival’s ethos of fostering sustainability and community engagement.
Hannah Davies, co-founder of Cup North, is excited about launching the Dublin Coffee Festival. “In our 10th year of hosting coffee festivals, we bring not just an event but a lively celebration of coffee culture to Dublin,“ Hannah says. “It’s more than coffee; it’s an immersive experience for all coffee lovers, a community coming together, and a tribute to sustainability.“
Celebrating Dublin’s Coffee Culture
The Dublin Coffee Festival promises to be a celebration of coffee culture, innovation, and community spirit, offering attendees an unforgettable journey through the world of specialty coffee. With its blend of competition, education, and sustainability initiatives, this event is poised to leave a lasting impression on the Dublin coffee scene and beyond.
A few tickets for the Dublin Coffee Festival are still available for purchase online, so hurry if you want to snatch yours!
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.
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