Coffee And Culture - Scotland’s first ever Coffee Festival to take place on November 29
Whether you are cappuccino crazy, mocha mad or an espresso enthusiast, Scotland’s first ever coffee festival, which will take place on November 29 in Glasgow, is guaranteed to sort out your caffeine craving.
Running the inaugural Scottish Coffee Festival are Chris Brown, 29, who works in communications at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.
Chris’ colleague Elisa Dunn, 36, his brother Steven Brown, 35, Stephen Dunn, 41 and Christian Bruneri, 29 will also be joining him in his new venture.
There’s no denying that Chris is caffeine crazy and despite preparing to start up his own PR firm this year, he still has the energy to organise Scotland’s first ever coffee festival.
“I’ve travelled all over the world and came across some amazing coffee festivals in London and Amsterdam where around 40 to 50,000 people attended over the three days that it was on,” he said.
“I’m from Edinburgh, but since living in Glasgow I’ve been drawn to the vibrant food and events scene over the past two years particularly during the Commonwealth Games.
“It seems that people in Glasgow are always quick to catch onto big events so I think it’s best to start things here first and see how it goes from there.
“Scotland has loads of roasters and a big cafe scene at the moment – there’s a big appetite and enthusiasm for these kind of events so it’s a great platform for these brands to showcase their products.”
And hosting the event this year is east end brewery Drygate, which Chris feels is the perfect location following the success of the Craft Beer Rising festival this month.
Chris said he was spurred to launch the coffee festival, which he plans to make an annual event, after spending a lot of time in America, New Zealand and Australia where he came across a variety of unique flavours.
From cinnamon to spicy and bold and mild blends, coffee lovers can learn about how the brew is made, various roasts and how to make the perfect cup of coffee.
On offer will be a large selection of cappuccinos, lattes and flat whites to sample from the different roasters across Scotland.
The Vintage at Drygate will be front of house host serving up street food and coffee inspired cocktails.
Revellers can also take part in creating their own latte art, chat to the cafes coming along, tuck into cakes and Drygate’s tasty grub while enjoying a selection of DJs and live music.
“We want to create something interesting and exciting,” explained Chris.
“Sometimes with the likes of wine festivals there’s a slightly stuffy atmosphere and if you don’t know your stuff then things can get a bit awkward.
“Here, it’s going to be a relaxed vibe where you can find out more about the different suppliers who can talk you through all the processes.”
“Glasgow is exciting and the perfect place to grow the festival before taking it across Scotland, not just in the main cities but more unique smaller venues too.”
As well as being a platform for roasters and cafes, Chris believes the festival will be a great opportunity for local acts to show off their music as well.
“People can spend hours in coffee shops chatting away to their friends – we want to bring that kind of vibe to the Scottish Coffee Festival too.”
“The coffee scene in Scotland is getting bigger and better – people aren’t just heading to Costa or Starbucks anymore,” Chris said.
“There’s so many amazing cafes in Glasgow like the Riverhill, Gordon Street Coffee, Paper Cup and Artisan Roasters.
“They have a good knowledge about what they are producing and the coffee scene is continuing to grow.
The Scottish Coffee Festival will be at the Drygate Brewery on Saturday, November 29 from 11am – 6pm. Tickets cost £8 and are available here.
