Sustainability is a central theme of the specialty coffee industry at all parts of the supply chain, and now it is the focal point of a coffee festival. The zero-waste Conscious Coffee Fest is coming to Portland, Oregon in September to highlight local roasters who share a commitment to sustainable practices in their cafes and roasters.
Taking place September 10th at Buckman Coffee Factory, the Conscious Coffee Fest is “all about celebrating local roasters and exploring the complexities of coffee” and will treat attendees to coffee tastings, treats, raffles, and panel discussions from the participating roasters. Attending companies include Futura Coffee Roasters, Fetch Coffee Roasters, Keia & Martyn’s Coffee, Tostado Coffee Roasters, Marigold Coffee, and Cunningham Coffee Roasters.
Discussion topics include “Cutting Waste in the World of Coffee: A Few Shifts for a Big Impact,” “Soil Regeneration: The Key to Coffee’s Future,” “Raising the Visibility of Women in Coffee: From Farm to Cafe,” and a keynote panel “Coffee is Complicated: From Politics to Labels, What’s Behind Your Cup.”
The talks will be led by industry leaders like Baylee Engberg of Ally Coffee, Jen Hurd of Genuine Origin, Sebastian Villamizar of Futura Coffee Roasters, among others.
As part of the zero-waste initiative, cups will be provided by OKAPI Reusables, “a member-based reusable cup network in 33 Portland-area cafes.” Current OKAPI members will receive a $5 discount off the ticket price, and non-members will receive a 50% discount to join OKAPI.
Tickets retail for $30 and can be purchased via Eventbrite. The event goes from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 10th, at Buckman Coffee Factory. For more information, visit the Conscious Coffee Fest’s Eventbrite page.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
