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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Last year’s first-ever Asheville Coffee Expo was excellent. This year’s event is gonna be bigger and even more fun. See you there:

Stu Helm The Food Fan and CoffeeCrate.co present The 2nd Annual Asheville Coffee Expo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30.

This free, highly caffeinated event will be happening on Saturday, Sept. 30 and located once again on the quiet, shady, and very pleasant Ralph Street, which is just behind PennyCup Coffee Co.’s roaster/cafe on the South-West side of the River Arts District. This year, the Asheville Coffee Expo will expand onto Depot Street for the first time with the 3 Mountains Tea Pavilion and Summit Coffee Co.’s Roasters Cupping Tent, located at the Eco Depot Marketplace, and Jon Sarver Realty, respectively.

IMPORTANT: Depot Street will NOT be closed to traffic during the Asheville Coffee Expo.

The whole coffee community is abuzz about the return of this fun, FREE, family friendly festival, which is the only one of it’s kind in the WNC area! According to co-organizers Stu Helm and Angie Rainey, the 2nd Asheville Coffee Expo will be a repeat of the very successful inaugural event, only bigger and better, with the addition of the Tea Pavilion, Cupping Tent, and an After-Party to be hosted by Counter Culture Coffee at Burial Beer on the South Slope. The 3 Mountains Tea Pavilion will be hosted in the courtyard of the Eco Depot Market Place on Depot Street, right around the corner for the Expo. Featuring tea, treats, yoga, music, and a “chill-out” space. The Summit Coffee Roasters Cupping Tent will also be on Depot Street, in the parking lot in front of the John Sarver Real Estate Company, where Summit will be welcoming all of the attending roasters and the public to participate in the coffee “cupping” process throughout the day. The average coffee lover can learn the terminology and nuances of tasting, describing, and classifying coffee, and the professional roasters can meet each other and compare thoughts and notes.

IMPORTANT: Dogs are NOT allowed in the Expo Area, but will be allowed in the Tea Pavilion on Depot Street.

CONTESTS & COMPETITIONS
The Asheville Coffee Expo features three chances for baristas to show their chops! A panel of “celebrity” judges will preside over the “Triple Espresso Barista Challenge” competitions, in which baristas will compete in making great latte art, the perfect cappuccino, and a “freestyle” espresso beverage of their own creation, with prize packages provided by PennyCup Coffee Co. and Go FRS Asheville Restaurant Equipment Supply going to the winners! The barista throw downs are hosted & sponsored by PennyCup Coffee Co. and PennyCup at The YMI. The public will be invited to cast a ballot for the best cup of coffee among all of the vendors, and at the end of the event, those votes will be tallied, and the “Best House Cup” trophy will be awarded to the winner! The current cup holder is Dynamite Roasting Company (Black Mountain), who will either successfully defend their trophy for another year, or be forced to hand it over to the new champs, a la The Stanley Cup in the NHL!

FOOD
Bakeries, chocolatiers, ice cream makers, and other food makers are a big part of the Asheville Coffee Expo, and some of the area’s best will be represented in both the Coffee and Tea areas. Additionally, Root Down food truck — voted the Best Food Truck in Asheville — will be at the 2017 Asheville Coffee Expo! The amazing and talented Chef Dano Holcomb will be cooking and serving delicious brunch items utilizing and inspired by coffee! Food will be available at the after party from Salt & Smoke, named “2016 Restaurant of the Year” by Stu Helm: Food Fan.

MILK
None of the vendors need worry about bringing or refrigerating milk, because generous folks at Farm to Home Milk are donating both cow and goat milk for the festival again this year!

COFFEE FOR CHAMPIONS
The Asheville Coffee Expo is proud and happy to be teaming up with Buncombe County Special Olympics (BCSO) to raise funds and awareness through their “Coffee For Champions” program. During the entire month of September, participating cafes will be donating 1¢ per cup of coffee sold to BCSO, culminating on the 30th with the Asheville Coffee Expo, where the athletes will be in attendance, and BCSO will be offering fun, games, and coffee sack races to kids and adults alike. Please show up to show your support the athletes and volunteers for Buncombe County Special Olympics!

VENDORS
The public is invited to browse the tables, try free samples, buy coffee, tea, snacks, art, ceramics, and more from among the 40+ vendors from around WNC and beyond! The Asheville Coffee Expo’s 2017 vendors include: 3 Mountains • Africa Healing Exchange • Asheville Bee Charmer • Asheville Tea Co. • Be Well Balanced • Black Powder Roasting Co. • Bomba • Carrboro Coffee Roasters • City Bakery • CoffeeCrate.co • Compost Now! • Dobra Tea • The Dripolator Black Mtn • Dynamite Roasting Co. • Eco Depot Marketplace • Elisha Mitchell Audubon Club • Farm to Home Milk • French Broad Chocolates • Geraldine’s Bakery • Herbiary • High Five Coffee • The Hop Ice Cream • Hotbox Roasters & B. Stiff & Sons Soda • Hot Yoga Asheville • Independent Bean Roasters • Ingenious Coffee Co. • Izzy’s Coffee Den & Coffee House • Jenay Martin Ceramics • Kona Kaffee • Misty Mountain Bakeshop • Motyl Pottery • Mr. Bob’s Donuts • Notorious Coffee Roasting • PennyCup Coffee Co. • Pisgah Coffee Roasters • Qualla Java Cafe • The Rhu • Root Down Food Truck • Scott’s Knots • Shade Raised Organic Coffees • Share Well Coffee Co • Summit Coffee • Sunnyside Trading Co. • Trade and Lore Coffee • Tribal Grounds Coffee • Ultra Coffeebar • Vortex Doughnuts • Well Played Board Game Cafe •

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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