The World of Espresso, an annual commerce occasion organized by the Specialty Espresso Affiliation, passed off June 27-29 in Denmark on the Bella Heart Copenhagen.
BY ISABELLE MANI
SPECIAL TO BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE
Featured photograph courtesy of Elbgold
World of Espresso Copenhagen was a real playground for espresso individuals. The occasion allowed everybody to atone for market improvements and new releases, and get acquainted with the good developments, from professional-grade machines and devices for residence brewers to experimental fermentations in micro-lots introduced by roasters worldwide.
The occasion can be a gathering level the place many enterprise offers and worldwide relations are cast between manufacturers, firms, expertise suppliers, roasters, and international producers. Furthermore, it’s an opportunity for the espresso group to attach and reconnect socially—and have fun it. The vibe was celebratory and light-weight, filled with assist and group spirit, with contests, cuppings, and after-parties. And, after all, there was loads of camaraderie and pleasure within the space the place the World Espresso Championships have been held.
At World of Espresso, the Hygge is Actual
The vitality of Copenhagen amplified the festive ambiance; with Denmark being one of many high coffee-consuming nations globally, its capital’s specialty-coffee scene is characterised by mild, smiling individuals who embrace the sluggish espresso enjoyment in a relaxed and welcoming method.
We at Barista Journal On-line have put collectively a two-part collection highlighting the top-10 developments and highlights from the occasion. As we speak’s half one captures the thrill of the whole lot enjoyable, fashionable, coffee-nerdy, and progressive that occurred on the Bella Heart’s corridors, events, and social scenes.
Half two, coming quickly, will take a deeper dive into the important discussions that formed the occasion, specializing in scorching matters like cutting-edge sustainability initiatives, developments in round economic system practices, and recent perception into the various layers of the espresso market.
1. Swag Fever
Standard swag this yr included coffee-flavored chapsticks produced with espresso byproducts (Toddy), the small espresso cups connected to lanyards in an Oktoberfest model from South Korea’s Stronghold Roasters (enjoyable truth: I initially thought it was a spit cup for cuppings), pink stainless-steel water bottles (by the sponsor BWT), and coffee-themed cool socks (Comandante, Cropster, and Cophi). And the frenzy over the favored Comandante wrist swag—a coffee-fair fan favourite—by no means fades.
However the plain winners of swag have been the coffee-themed tattoos provided each two hours on the Mahlkönig sales space—actual ones made by a tattoo artist on-site. The model, which celebrated its one hundredth birthday on the honest (extra on that later), had probably the most visited cubicles on the occasion. The vibe was all the time excessive, with the sorting of names (papers positioned in an enormous grinder, naturally) occurring to the sound of loud get together tunes, and the model’s emcees calling out the winners whereas standing on high of tables.
2. The Pink Wave
“Pink is greater than a shade; it’s an perspective,” stated Mads Maymann Jørgensen, BWT gross sales director. At World of Espresso, there wasn’t a soul who didn’t line up for the BWT pink water bottle and tote bag. Hario additionally took the pink-themed route for its sales space.
There was additionally the all-pink-themed sales space for Miss Moka Espresso, a espresso firm that sources espresso solely from ladies producers, which had a very fashionable spin-and-win roulette for profitable devices.
One among my favourite new merchandise was the pink-colored Comandante C60 Baracuda. It’s also Comandante’s high-performance guide espresso grinder with essentially the most superior burr set design ever launched, stated Joe McTaggart, the model’s account supervisor. Weighting 1 kg and utilizing processes usually reserved for high-performance motor elements, that is no newbie’s grinder.
3. The Boozing Route
On the final day, I took two volunteers on what I named “the espresso booze route” tour. Having circumnavigated and tasted all of the spirited coffee-related choices on supply, I ranked my favorites and took my check topics for the experience.
As a testomony to Copenhagen’s relaxed vibe, the bar on the Specialty Espresso Affiliation chill-out space started serving alcohol at 4 p.m., whereas “espresso on hygge spirits” provided by the exhibitors of the Roaster Village was accessible all through the day. Even the Retail Consumers Lounge schedule included happy-hour classes. Shout out to the Record + Beisler sales space, which had a DJ taking part in full-time on its “rooftop” and hosted a enjoyable cocktail get together on the second day that lasted till 7 p.m. (the occasion ended at 5).
These are my top-three spirited coffee-inspired drinks.
Fairy-Story Cascara Cocktails
The sales space from Indian firm A Planter’s Daughter had an nearly hypnotizing impact on individuals. Like an Avalon trance, the sales space was all the time crowded as a result of its irresistible small cocktail cups with an Alphonse Mucha-inspired design and total flowery, female decor. Their signature drink was a cascara-infused tequila cocktail.
The model has a wellness method over espresso merchandise, and its proprietor, Sonali Balakrishna, is a fifth-generation farmer. She advised me she targeted on cascara tea with auditions similar to adaptogens and medicinal mushrooms (possibly that explains the trance vibe). I cherished how a lot the sales space stood out and the way distinctive it was, and most significantly, that the model pledges 5% of the income of each sale to anti-human-trafficking companies.
The Gesha Beer
I have to confess that I obtained fully hooked on the Gesha bitter beer created by Elbgold Direct Commerce Specialty Espresso Roastery from Hamburg, Germany. As a bitter and wit beer lover, I couldn’t look ahead to pleased hour to permit myself to drink their beer, brewed with espresso extracted from Gesha arabica beans. I took everybody I knew there, together with my check topics—they cherished it, too.
The Full Punch Espresso Martini Pictures
They did it once more. It took me nearly two days to be taught that the fellows from Elbgold have been additionally serving a draught espresso martini choice, so hooked was I on their Gesha beer. The espresso martini was the whole lot I hoped for: completely foamy, creamy, and chilly.
4. The Greatest Espresso-Associated Merchandise at World of Espresso
I noticed many state-of-the-art automated drip machines on the present, all with their very own complexities. One had so many metrics, guidelines, and prospects to manage the brew that it felt a bit overwhelming to be taught to function it. There have been additionally industrial-scale cold-brew makers, and even a espresso bean blender for smoothies!
However my focus was on discovering the up-and-coming novelties from residence brewers like myself. These have been my favorites.
Water Issues
What’s the sense in shopping for and brewing essentially the most beautiful, costly, and complex-flavored specialty espresso beans on the planet if the brew may be critically compromised by improper water? That’s why I cherished the water filtered by The Penguin desk water filter from BWT, together with one magnesium mineralized water cartridge. Mads advised me that they needed to create a product that may spotlight espresso’s taste profile, and magnesium added to the latest model reduces the pH stage.
Volcano Cups
I’m a easy gal in relation to espresso cups and mugs, however I’ve a tender spot for handleless small cups. I’m loopy about all ceramic home equipment, however the slanted top-edged cups from the Italian model Clubhouse stole my coronary heart instantly.
Their Volcani line consists of two cups, and sipping from the bottom half enhances sensorial traits. They arrive in 5 sizes starting from 3 oz to 9 oz, completely balancing espresso and milk—and I simply had to purchase one (in pink).
Sock Love
Polish model Cophied (created ”by Baristas for Baristas”) boasts rad and enjoyable designs. It’s completely inconceivable to not love them—they’re tremendous cool.
5. The Espresso Celebration Folks
The Fridge Assault
The immersive Copenhagen espresso individuals partying expertise needed to embrace craft beers, as the town is famend for being one of many best artisanal beer producers. The Mahlkönig 100 after-party hosted by Standart journal coincided with what locals described as one of many hottest summer time days they may keep in mind.
Held within the Mikkeller brewery warehouse situated in Baghaven, the occasion passed off in an space historically bustling with summer time docks the place bars and meals vans function seasonally. The lengthy queues and scorching temperatures, blended with an open bar get together, enticed attendees to assist themselves to a fridge stocked with Mikkeller’s state-of-the-art beers and sodas.
Let Them Eat Merch
The La Marzocco get together was held on the second day, at a patio within the constructing the place the Italian large producer arrange their very own World of Espresso week headquarters, on the alternative facet of city.
Famend for his or her party-throwing expertise, La Marzocco didn’t disappoint. Upon entry, friends obtained chips exchangeable for negronis, and a hamburger truck was available.
The DJ performed loud bangers that saved negroni lovers’ spirits excessive regardless of the queues.
Nevertheless, the spotlight of the evening was when the La Marzocco workforce channeled Marie Antoinette with a ”allow them to eat cake” (or catch the biscuit) second: They threw the model’s T-shirts from three totally different flooring, inflicting the gang to go wild.
I rapidly sought cowl, conscious to not get stepped on—or worse, find yourself with a black eye—understanding there was nonetheless a lot of World of Espresso to discover. Thankfully, my good friend Massimo from the Cafezal Milano specialty-coffee cafè chain managed to seize one for me.
The WCC Barista Commencement Ball
The WCC Barista get together passed off on the Copenhagen Live performance Corridor on the ultimate day of the occasion. Attendees arrived a bit late for an essential cause: Denmark was taking part in towards Germany within the UEFA Euro 2024 event, and lots of teams have been watching the match on their telephones. Nevertheless, the gang ultimately grew, and by the top, the dance ground was packed till 2 a.m.
Breakdance circles, individuals taking the stage to bop with the DJ, and even some shirtless revelers exemplified the excessive spirits of the three-day occasion.
It was a memorable wrap-up, and now we should wait till the following World of Espresso occasion in Geneva, Switzerland, scheduled for June 26-28, 2025.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Isabelle Mani (she/her) is a author, journalist, and communicator specializing within the worldwide espresso trade. Since 2017, she has targeted on writing articles and options for varied worldwide espresso information shops. Isabelle has traveled to coffee-producing nations similar to Colombia, Kenya, Rwanda, China, and Brazil to check and analysis espresso. She holds coaching certifications from the Specialty Espresso Affiliation (SCA) and the Espresso High quality Institute (Arabica Q Grading).
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