FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Shelton, CT — September 19, 2024 

Coffee Fest Los Angeles 2024 wrapped up with unprecedented success, marking a significant milestone in the trade show dedicated to the specialty coffee industry. This year's event, which took place August 25-27 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, saw an impressive turnout with more than 3,200 visitors, including owners, managers, roasters, baristas from coffee shops, cafes, coffee kiosks, bakeries, restaurants and foodservice establishments. The increase in attendance of 29% compared to the prior year solidifies Coffee Fest as the premier gathering for coffee professionals on the West Coast. 

 

Innovative products and services were showcased by almost 200 exhibitors, including the latest coffee, tea and beverages, equipment, business services, packaging/takeout solutions, roasters, food, retail merchandise and more. The show was anchored by sponsoring and exhibiting companies such as Planet Oat as the Title Sponsor, Hollander Chocolate, Torani Syrups, Shoreline Suppply Company, Odeko, Espresso Parts, and The Colombian Coffee Pavillion. 

 

Industry leaders and attendees participated in voting for best products in several categories:  

• Best of Fest was awarded to Kofipass - a mobile app aggregator connecting local coffee shops and coffee lovers in 1 app 

• Best Consumable Product was awarded to Lotus Energy Drinks’ Gold Lotus Plant Power Drink  

• Best Non-Consumable Product was awarded to Grandstand Drinkware and Apparel’s Custom Printed Coffee Products  

 

More than 80% of attendees were new to the event, showcasing the growing interest and investment in the specialty coffee market in this region. 120+ hours of educational workshops and seminars supported these attendees – providing valuable insights into coffee sourcing, sustainability practices, and business strategies to enhance attendee knowledge and operational efficiencies. Over 80 industry renowned speakers joined the event, including Rachel Apple, a consultant who has served as a Head Judge for the Cup of Excellence; Kenneth Davids, Co-Founder of CoffeeReview.com, who has authored four influential books on coffee and has been a key figure in the specialty coffee movement for over 45 years; Lauren Lathrop, Director of Education at Mill City Roasters, who has served as a Head Judge for the US Coffee Championships; and Amanda-Jane Thomas, Co-Founder of Sip & Sonder, who advocates for Black communities through her nonprofit work. 

 

The Los Angeles show introduced several exciting new education sessions:  

• Coffee and Espresso Grinder Essentials: Taught by Jason 'Double J' Johnson of Black Rabbit Service, this hands-on workshop focused on mastering the art of grind size, extraction, and flavor profiles, alongside essential technical training for grinder maintenance and minor repairs  

• Building Your Coffee Vocabulary: Sandra Loofbourow of Loupe Coffee Consulting took attendees through an engaging session on enhancing sensory skills through understanding gustation and olfaction and practicing flavor recall and communication using globally recognizable flavor descriptors.  

• Brewing Up a Buzz: Unconventional Marketing Strategies: Ian Williams of Deadstock Coffee shared his expertise on developing unique, community-tailored marketing strategies. This session provided participants with tools to craft effective, standout marketing plans.  

• Business Planning for Roasters: This hand-on course taught by Marcus Young of goodboybob covered everything from startup costs to branding for roasters looking to grow or establish their businesses. 

 

Education features on the show floor included Business Building Essentials presented by Barista 22 and Dillanos Coffee Roasters, the Roasting Rig presented by Mill City Roasters, Cupping Corner presented by Cafe Imports, and Barista Playground, presented by Synesso, Planet Oat, Simple Cart Systems and Torque Coffee. 

 

A highlight of the show was the highly anticipated Latte Art World Championship Open presented by Pacific Foods Barista Series, Synesso, Espresso State of Mind, Caffe Umbria and Kimera by Slow Pour Supply.  This exciting 64-competitor, bracket-style, sudden-death competition showcased highlighted the skills and creativity of latte artists from across the country and internationally. After three days of competition, judges Terika Raak of Caffe Umbria, Antoine Franklin of Blacksmith and Angie Park of Coffee Code determined the top three latte artists:  

• First place: Kenji Tanaka - Houston, Texas  

• Second place: Marquis Monzon - New York 

• Third place: Kengo Araki - Japan, Nara 
   

"The success of Coffee Fest Los Angeles 2024 underscores the vibrant nature of the coffee industry and the enthusiastic community that drives its growth," said Lisa Berry, Group Vice President at Clarion Events. "We are thrilled with the turnout and the overwhelming positive feedback from both exhibitors and attendees. Coffee Fest not only serves as a platform for showcasing innovations but also plays a crucial role in shaping the future of coffee." 

 
Following the success of the Los Angeles show, Coffee Fest plans to bring the next edition of the event to Minneapolis, in just over a week - October 11-12, 2024, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. This upcoming event will bring the Midwest coffee community together. Highlighted local companies include Mill City, Cafe Imports, Misfits Coffee, Duluth Coffee Company, Bully Brew Coffee, and Instantwhip. Local speakers will include Micah Svejda, Founder of Backstory Coffee Roasters, who has been an influential player in the specialty coffee scene for over 20 years; Dan Anderson, Owner of renowned Dogwood Coffee Company and co-founder of The Get Down; Shaunie Grigsby, Founder of Flava Café, recognized for creating a community hub that inspires connection and equity; Dylan Siemens, Head of Education at Cafe Imports, who won the 2017 US Brewers Cup; and Jared Thompson, Co-Founder of Wesley Andrews, who is dedicated to making the coffee industry more sustainable and inclusive. 

 
For more information and to register for the upcoming Coffee Fest Minneapolis, visit www.coffeefest.com/minneapolis/attend-coffee-fest-minneapolis. 

 
About Coffee Fest:  
Coffee Fest is the premier trade show for specialty coffee professionals, offering a dynamic platform for industry growth, innovation, and community building. Since 1992, Coffee Fest has been connecting coffee shop owners, roasters, baristas, and industry professionals with the latest products, trends, and educational experiences. Each show features interactive workshops, competitions, and an expansive show floor showcasing top-of-the-line equipment, consumables, and business solutions. With multiple shows across the U.S. each year, Coffee Fest provides valuable networking and educational opportunities to foster the growth of coffee businesses. For more information visit www.coffeefest.com or follow us on social media @CoffeeFestShow.