Love a Cuppa? Check Out the Dublin Coffee & Tea Festival

Get a dose of café culture this coming September at the inaugural Dublin Coffee & Tea Festival in the Industries Hall of the RDS in Ballsbridge.

Times they are a changing. And though we’re still partial to a humble cup of Barry’s (or Lyons), our tastes in tea and coffee are broader and more discerning.

We’ve become highly caffeinated enjoying the affordable luxury that is good coffee in Dublin of recent years, and there’s always a new speciality coffee shop or boutique café to try out. A little knowledge on the subject is also de rigueur. So drinker or maker, you’ll find something at the festival to learn or just enjoy: Check out the Roasters’ Village, a hub of coffee and tea micro-roasters and retailers. On the People’s Stage, experts and enthusiasts in the field will convene to share their knowledge and answer questions. The Festival Roastery is a micro-roastery at the show to experience the coffee roasting process first-hand, and the Food Village will have a range of pastry and chocolate makers present to share those tasty tea and coffee accompaniments. Beginners’ latte class – now that’s a skill worth mastering.

The Dublin Coffee & Tea Festival 2014 will celebrate every aspect of the coffee and tea world, from where the tea and coffee come from – there are Indonesian and Guatemalan farmers attending – how they are brewed, to the varieties on offer today, the latest brewing equipment on the market, and all the enjoyment that goes with it. That’s biscuits, cakes, chocolate.

The festival is being supported by some of the key names in the Irish coffee and tea scene such as 3FE Coffee Ltd, Badger & Dodo Boutique Coffee Roasters, Bewleys, Benders Paper Cups, Brodericks, Coffee Mojo, Fair Trade, First Draft Coffee, Fitness Coffee & Tea, Hancock & Abberton Ltd, Heavenly Tea & Coffee, Insomnia, Java Republic, Joes Coffee, la Marzocco, Lillys Tea, Marley Coffee, Mathew Algie, McCabes Gourmet Coffee, Mrs. Doyle’s Tea, NevPak, Niks Tea, Robert Roberts Ltd, Suki Tea, UCC Coffee Ireland and Coffee Culture who are running a pop-up academy at the festival.

Competitions scheduled to take place include The National Brewers Cup, the semi-finals of the Irish Barista Championship and the National Latte Art Championship. The Home Barista competition, sponsored by Totally Dublin, takes place during the festival with various heats and a final between the top 10. If you’re a coffee pro but not actually a professional, you can download your entry form here.

There’s also craft beer (what else?) and entertainment to boot. Tickets cost from €8.40 (incl. booking fee) and may be reserved online.

The Dublin Coffee and Tea Festival runs from 12th to 14th September in the RDS.