This year, we attended the Frankfurt Coffee Festival for the first time. After visiting the Coffee Festival in Honduras, a visit to the Frankfurt Coffee Festival was next on the list. Although both events share the same name, the contrast between them couldn’t be greater. In this article, I’d like to share our experiences and highlight the differences. I also want to let you know who might find a visit worthwhile next year.
What is the Frankfurt Coffee Festival?
The Frankfurt Coffee Festival is still young, as it first took place in 2021. Even back then, it attracted over 3,500 visitors and more than 20 exhibitors. By now, the number of visitors has more than doubled. The Frankfurt Coffee Festival is appealing to every coffee lover. You don’t need to work in the coffee industry or have any special prior knowledge. Among the exhibitors are machine manufacturers, coffee roasteries, and green coffee importers. You’ll also find manufacturers of water filters, packaging, barista accessories, and home roasters. In addition to the booths, there are workshops and lectures. However, you should register for the workshops in advance. Whether you just want to learn more about coffee, dive deep into the subject, or network with others, the Frankfurt Coffee Festival is the place to be.
Everything You Need to Know About the Frankfurt Coffee Festival
Here are a few more details for those who are now excited about visiting next year. By the way, if you do decide to come, let me know! I always love meeting new coffee people, whether you’re a follower, customer, or simply a coffee enthusiast.
This year (2023), the Frankfurt Coffee Festival took place from September 22 to 24 at Klassikstadt (event venue). In my opinion, it’s an ideal location. The building has its own charm, is easily accessible by public transportation, and there are plenty of free parking spaces nearby.
The ticket price for one day was €21.90. Additionally, there was a €4 deposit for a porcelain cup, which could be returned during the festival. This porcelain cup is very practical, as it allows you to sample coffee at various booths. It also shows that sustainability is already a priority here, as it helps reduce waste.
For those planning to attend multiple days, you could—like I did—buy a two-day ticket (€34, or €17 per day) or a three-day ticket (€47, or €15.67 per day) to save money. Unless the process changes next year, you should purchase your ticket online in advance. Buying tickets at the entrance wasn’t possible, which cost us a few minutes.
Our Experiences and Impressions
Now, let’s talk about our impressions. First, I must emphasize how thrilled I am about the coffee community. Contrary to my expectations, I spotted some familiar faces and had inspiring conversations. You’re greeted with a smile at every booth and can easily discuss coffee or many other topics. It doesn’t matter how much prior knowledge you have about coffee.
For example, I recall a conversation with a roaster at one of the booths. In the middle of our chat, a man joined us and revealed that he had discovered at the festival that he liked Robusta. He thought this wasn’t “good” because supposedly only Arabica is high quality. If you look at coffee packaging in supermarkets, often boasting “100% Arabica”, you might believe that. But taste is a matter of preference. This led to a very pleasant and sometimes amusing conversation that I’ll remember for a long time.
Coffee Roasters and Trends at the Frankfurt Coffee Festival
Upstairs, there was an area called “Roaster District.” Here, there were booths from roasters, some of whom I already knew. Naturally, I was curious about the topics currently on my colleagues’ minds, so I exchanged ideas with some of them. The themes of sustainability, transparency, and fair payment for coffee farmers haven’t reached all roasters yet. However, I’m pleased that some already think similarly to us at Novum Coffee.
Of course, we could simply view other coffee roasters as competition. But I believe that collaboration helps us with our broader vision and larger goals. In my opinion, it’s not about selling one extra bag of coffee but about fostering a more sustainable approach to the world and its people, which ultimately reflects in the quality and taste of the coffee.
Manufacturers of Coffee Machines, Grinders, and Packaging
If you’re still looking for the right coffee machine or coffee grinder, you might find what you need at the Coffee Festival. No electronics store offers as much coffee expertise as you’ll find here. Some even offer festival discounts. Naturally, machine manufacturers are also trying to spot and implement new trends. For example, De’Longhi brought a coffee machine that can prepare a Cold Brew Espresso.
With Cold Brew, the full-immersion method is typically used, meaning the coffee is in direct contact with water or steeped in it for an extended period, usually several hours. So how can an espresso be made this way? I was particularly curious about how many bars of pressure were used to prepare the coffee. However, they wouldn’t reveal exactly how it works, even after asking the head of marketing. If you want to see the preparation, check out the video. Taste-wise, the Cold Brew Espresso was surprisingly good.
In addition to manufacturers of coffee machines and grinders, packaging manufacturers were also present. Although Novum Coffee’s packaging is already climate-neutral, I’m always on the lookout for potential improvements. It was great to see that sustainability is high on the agenda for packaging manufacturers as well. I’m excited to see what the coming months will bring.
German Cup Tasting Championship 2023
On Sunday, the German Cup Tasting Championships of the SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) took place. Some familiar faces participated as well. Cup tasting is essentially about professionally tasting coffee. During the championship, participants are given three cups of coffee and must identify the one that contains a different coffee from the other two. They do this gustatorily—through taste—and olfactorily—through smell.
Manufacturers of Home Barista Equipment
If you’ve already found the right coffee machine but are still looking for home barista equipment, you’ll also find what you need at the Frankfurt Coffee Festival. From barista brushes to dosing rings to knock boxes, there’s a solid selection here. The trend is moving toward sustainability, but there’s also a lot of work with wooden aesthetics. In the video, you can see how I checked out eurista’s booth and took a close look at their barista equipment. Thanks to removable wooden parts, the equipment looks great but can still go in the dishwasher.
Who Should Visit the Frankfurt Coffee Festival
Still wondering if a visit to the Frankfurt Coffee Festival next year is worth it for you? Maybe the following questions will help you decide:
- Are you just starting to explore the world of coffee and want to learn more?
- Are you already a home barista but want to improve your coffee knowledge and skills?
- Do you want to connect with other coffee enthusiasts and become part of the coffee community?
- Do you live in Frankfurt or nearby?
- Are you interested in discovering current trends, coffee roasters, and new coffee machines?
If you answered “yes” to one or more of these questions, I’d be thrilled to meet you at next year’s Frankfurt Coffee Festival.
Differences from the Honduras Coffee Festival
If you’ve already seen my videos or read the articles about my time in Honduras, you already know a bit about the Honduras Coffee Festival. There were booths from farmers, traditional dances, a cupping, a farm visit, and a parade. Compared to the Frankfurt Coffee Festival, there were some differences. First, Honduras had far fewer visitors and booths. Also, the booths were not in a hall but on a square in the city center.
However, Honduras offered a parade centered around coffee. Each float was festively decorated, and you could feel the passion for coffee. The traditional dances in Honduras were also very interesting, especially for international guests like me. My conclusion is that both coffee festivals are definitely worth a visit, though I’ll likely attend the one with the shorter distance more often.
