Coffee Fest Dallas Hosts 2016 Central US America’s Best Espresso Competition

The 77^th Coffee Fest trade show for specialty coffee retail and related industries is is m,aking its Texas debut at Klay Bailey Convention Center June 10-12, 2016.  One of the highlights of this year’s show is America’s Best Espresso competition.  This central US competition features 24 coffee roaster competitors, with 10 coming from Texas and the remaining 14 coffee roasters come from AR, CO, IL MI MN, MO & MS.  Each will have 10 minutes to pour their best espresso shots from any one of four espresso machines.  The espresso is then judged by a select panel of three judges. The judges are evaluating the espresso in three categories: flavor complexity/balance, mouth feel/appeal/body and aftertaste/session.

This year’s America’s Best Espresso Competition features a new judge calibration sponsor: Café Imports.  Café Imports, like Coffee Fest, desires to consistently produce an event that remains beyond reproach and to that end will oversee the judging apparatus of the competition. Café Imports joins sponsors Roast Magazine, Mahlkonig, Nuova Simonelli and Rancilio in the production and sponsorship of this exciting competition.

David Heilbrunn, Show Manager of Coffee Fest, explains, “We have seen this competition conducted around the country for three years now and our attendees continue to be intrigued and find it thrilling to find the absolute best shot of espresso at each event. In America we love our coffee, however espresso is a leap above that.” Heilbrunn continues, “The theory is that coffee should taste as good as fresh ground coffee smells. With the technology available in today’s espresso machines coupled with the passion these roasters put into sourcing their beans and then in their roasting, the theory is a reality.”  Come be the first to know who has America’s Best Espresso in the Central US for 2016.  The winner will be awarded $2,000, the Championship Trophy and the top three earn coveted positions for the 2015/2016 America’s Best Espresso North American Championship which will be held in Nashville, TN – March 17-19, 2017.

To see the Coffee Fest Dallas America’s Best Espresso Bracket, please visit www.coffeefest.com.

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Coffee Fest Announces the New Product Showdown Competition

Coffee Fest Dallas will make its debut appearance in the Lone Star State June 10-12, 2016 and with that, Friday morning brings the BRAND NEW “New Product Showdown.” 14 new and innovative products will be presented to an esteemed panel of judges with decades of experience in the specialty coffee industry. This live showdown, inspired in part by Shark Tank, sponsored by Selby Soft, Inc., and hosted by Anna Gutierrez of Barista 22 Syrups & Sauces allows each product representative an allotted five minutes in front of the judges to prove their product worthy of first place. David Morris, Dillanos Coffee Roasters; Mike Spence, Selby Soft, Inc.; Jan Weigel, Fresh Cup Magazine and Kerri Goodman, CoffeeTalk will come together in the tank to hear from Coffee Fest Dallas new product applicants and evaluate why their product deserves to win the title of  Best Consumable & Best Non-Consumable Products at Coffee Fest Dallas.

14 Companies with new products have made the cut. 1883 Maison Routin will debut two new products; Creation FRUITS 1883: Mango, Passion Fruit, Banana, Red Berries and 1883 Premium Syrups: Blueberry Muffin, Dulce de Leche & French Madeline are sure to make your mouth water. Dr. Smoothie will present their Leafy Greens and Veggie Blend ADDins, a great way to enhance your beverage and also get the necessary nutrients your body needs. Espresso Supply’s new Rattleware Cupping Brewer is a brewing device that allows all the intricacies and beauty of the cupping process to be freed from the cupping table and experience in a comfortable and accessible manner. Texas local, Pacific Tradewinds Coffee Co. will present their TexaKona Krackle, a brittle made from their award winning Kona coffee and macadamia nuts. For the complete list of all new products, please visit www.coffeefest.com

But Wait… Attendees Can Cast Their Vote Too! Attendees at Coffee Fest Dallas also have the opportunity to cast their vote on their favorite new product. Each attendee will receive a ballot with their Coffee Fest Dallas badge. They are encouraged to check out the New Product Showdown on Friday morning, and explore the New Product Showcase to help determine who deserves the People’s vote. Ballots must be turned in by 5:00pm on Saturday to be eligible. The winner of the People’s Choice Award will be presented at 12:30pm on Sunday.

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Coffee Fest Announces Campfire Café on Exhibition Floor Burning Topics – Burning Issues

Coffee Fest is proud to unveil the NEW Campfire Café for attendees of Coffee Fest Dallas.  Now Coffee Retailers can gather around the proverbial campfire with their peers to experience the new Campfire Cafe Speed Sessions at Coffee Fest Dallas. Made possible with sponsorship of Coffee Fest Hall of Fame member, Espresso Supply, the 11 Burning Issues presentations will be provided by, Chris Legler, Joshua Boyt, Bruce Milletto, Chris Deferio, Matt Milletto, Sarah Allen and Meagan Clark. Each of these sessions has been selected based on requests from Coffee Fest 2015 Attendees.  Understanding these top 11 issues will help all coffee retailers launch and/or fine tune your business for 2016 success. The Campfire Cafes will be held on the Show Floor Aisle 1000 and are open to all Coffee Fest Dallas attendees

Friday June 10, 2016

Saturday June 11, 2016

Sunday June 12, 2016

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Coffee Fest and Torani Present Drink Innovations Lab

Coffee Fest presents the NEW Drink Innovation Lab presented by Torani featuring three, two hour and thirty minute workshops (one each day) giving café owners and operators the tools they need to get ultra-creative, expand their menu offerings and ultimately increase their bottom line. Coffee Fest Dallas 2016 will be the SouthCentral US debut of Drink Innovations Lab June 10-12, 2016 at the kay Bailey Convention Center. These three workshops will allow coffeehouse managers and owners to learn about current drink trends and explore endless opportunities in menu development.

Drink Innovation Lab will include five innovation stations:

• lemonade and hand crafted sodas • coffee brewing techniques • non-dairy beverages • frappes and smoothies • chai–premium spice concentrate

Participants will learn how to approach menu innovation, diversify product usage, increase offerings, attract new customers and collaborate with their peers.  Breaks are incorporated into the program to allow attendees to take notes and to brainstorm ideas with other attendees. All attendees will receive a Drink Innovations Passport/Recipe Book and an exclusive sponsors Goodie Bag upon completion of the course.

“We want to take away the fear of menu development and empower the managers and owners,” said David Heilbrunn, show manager of Coffee Fest. “The Drink Innovations Lab will help participants understand how to target new drinks to specific audiences and how to promote and advertise those creations to their customers.” Drink Innovations Lab is presented each day of Coffee Fest Dallas from 8:30am – 11:00am and has a registration fee of $59.

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Latte Art World Championship Open Competitors Announced

Coffee Fest Dallas ‘16 announces Latte Art World Championship Open Competitors  

The 77^th Coffee Fest, Tradeshow is debuting in Texas at Kay Bailey Convention Center June 10-12, 2016 . Coffee Fest Dallas will have over 160 exhibition booths and over 100 classes, workshops and special events. At Coffee Fest Dallas 2016, coffee & tea business visitors can catch the Latte Art World Championship Open which has just announced the 64 competitors from around the world who will be competing head to head for the 44^th Coffee Fest Latte Art Championship Title.

“This is a world class epic competition for the ages for the state of Texas and the entire SouthCentral United States” said David Heilbrunn, show manager. The field includes Latte Artists from Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Canada while 28 of the 64 are from the United States. The Coffee Fest Dallas Latte Art World Championship Open kicks off on Friday, June 10th at 9:00am inside the entrance of Hall C at Kay Bailey Convention Center.

Competitors will be judged on five categories: aesthetic beauty, definition, color infusion, degree of difficulty and creativity, and speed. The competitors have three minutes to produce their best art in a head to head match. Each of the three judges compares the drink presented by each of the two competitors in each match and awards a point to the competitor with the best presentation in each of the five categories. The competitor receiving the most points on each judge’s scorecard will be the winner in that judge’s opinion. The winning competitor will advance by virtue of the winning score on two of the three or all three judges score cards.

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New Coffee Retailers Business Seminar

Seattle, WA (March 25, 2016) – Coffee Fest, the trade show for specialty coffee retail and related industries has announced the debut of its NEW, single day New Coffee Retailers Business Seminar.   Debuting in conjunction with Coffee Fest Dallas June 10-12, 2016, the “New Coffee Retailers Business Seminar” is designed to ensure the new coffee shop owners “expertise” from the moment they open their doors. Created and produced in partnership with Bellissimo Coffee Advisors and The American Barista and Coffee School, there is no other specialty coffee seminar in America that provides the knowledge and professional experience as entrepreneurs will find in this seminar.

Who Should Attend?

Entrepreneur-minded people considering the benefits of entering the retail specialty coffee business.

You’ll Learn How To:

• Develop and write your business plan
• Identify the dream location
• Negotiate a favorable lease
• Hire, train and keep your baristas
• Operational Systems& Workflow Controls
• Select your equipment and coffee
• Branding & Marketing

New Coffee Retailers Business Seminar Registration Includes:

• Personal relationship with Matt Milletto, Bruce Milletto, Jenifer Hurd.
• Comprehensive Study Guide
• Course Certificate of Completion
• $100 discount on Hands-On Barista Training

When:   June 10, 2016

Hours:   8:00 am – 5:00pm

Find out why previous “Coffee Fest Specialty Coffee Business Seminar” students say, “No one should go into this business without first attending Coffee Fest’s Business Seminar.”

Cost

$299 per person. Limited seating – pre-registration required

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