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In the city that never sleeps, New Yorkers take their daily dose of caffeine seriously. That’s why there’s no shortage of amazing coffee shops throughout all the boroughs. NYC loves java so much, there’s an entire festival devoted to the stuff: The New York Coffee Festival is coming to the 69th Regiment Armory on September 16 through 18 for its second year.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to New York Coffee Festival
With more than 70 coffee and food vendors (Bluestone Lane Coffee, La Marzocco, Califia Farms) doing tastings, workshops and demos along with live music, art performances and even an espresso martini bar whipping up buzzed cups of brew, you'll need to make sure you get the most out of the fest. Here’s what you definitely shouldn’t miss:
Coffee Masters Competition
In the ultimate showdown, 16 baristas will showcase their skills across several categories including cupping, brewing and latte art. Finalists including Intelligentsia’s Jennifer Custard-Jarosz, Blue Bottle Coffee’s Stephen Davidson and Toby’s Estate’s Penelope Hearne will display their mastery of taste profiles, grinding and brewing methods and more.
Latte Art Live
Watch some of the world’s best latte artists whip up intricate designs with milk foam. In this interactive segment, visitors can take workshops and watch demos to learn how to wow their coffee companions, too. Your Instagram feed will thank you.
Street Food Market
Too much coffee on an empty stomach can lead to some gnarly jitters, so in addition to all the bean and roast varieties to experience, there’s a hall of street-food vendors serving up both hot and cold meals. The full roster is not yet released, but with local favorites like Dough doughnuts and Joe & the Juice represented last year, there’s no doubt you'll have good grub to choose from.
Steampunk Brew Bar
Brewing equipment maker Alpha Dominche is bringing their special Steampunk MOD² machine to the fest, giving baristas free reign to make coffees and teas according to their own brew parameters, for precise and balanced flavors.
The Lab
Check out the lab for hands-on learning, and hear from coffee experts and industry heroes including Greg Zamfotis, the founder and CEO of Gregory’s Coffee, and Louise Cheadle, co-founder of Teapigs.