One of the cool parts of the new micro-regional events that are part of the US Coffee Championships is seeing how the local coffee communities embrace their host roles both in and outside of the competition venue. Thus far, none have taken to it quite like Washington, D.C., whose micro-regional takes place this weekend. And starting tomorrow, Coffee District is hosting the D.C. Coffee Festival, a three-day festival of coffee that culminates with the Barista Championship.
Included in the list of festivities are DMV Coffee’s Barista Body Calibration seminar (which Sprudge is pleased to sponsor), a latte art throwdown at La Colombe’s Manhattan Laundry location, a celebration of yeast in coffee processing with Blueprint Coffee, a Modbar guest pop-up cafe, a roaster showcase featuring 13 of the best roasters from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, and a Coffee Fest Afterparty at Blanchard’s flagship D.C. coffee bar, the Crimson Diner in the POD Hotel. The “afterparty” actually happens on Friday the 22nd, but the party is happening after something, y’know.
And perhaps one of the coolest happenings, Cotton & Reed will be hosting a Despaccino Sellout Party on Saturday, where they will both debut and sell out of their limited release (300 bottles total) coffee rum made with Stumptown Coffee’s Hairbender espresso and “botanicals galore.”
The weekend then wraps up with the Barista Championship, taking place on Sunday at Dolcezza Gelato Factory, where eight competitors (and four Brewers Cup competitors from Saturday) will stamp their ticket one of two Qualifying Events to happen later this year/early next year.
For a full list of events or to RSVP, visit the Coffee District’s D.C. Coffee Fest official website. It’s going to be a good time and it just may set the standard for all the micro-regionals to come.
Zac Cadwalader is the news editor at Sprudge Media Network.
*top image via D.C. Coffee Fest
