The festival will be offering classes, lectures and demonstrations throughout the weekend. Lectures include "Coffee Cupping and Tasting" which is like wine tasting, but for coffee. You will be learning about the different characteristics:
"Rarely seen by the public, cupping is the technique used to evaluate the flavor profile of a coffee. The coffee will be evaluated on five major characteristics: flavor, acidity, aftertaste, fragrance and body."
Another great workshop is a foam making class. I can tell you from my short stint as an espresso sales person that making foam properly is more difficult than it seems. For example: Your foam should never be super hot; you should be able to drink it immediately without burning your mouth. If you can't, then the milk is burnt. You shouldn't have to use a spoon to get the foam, it should just pour out of the frothing cup. If you think it is easy then you might want to go and watch the "Barista Challenge". Saturday starting at noon you can watch to see who can make the prettiest and best foam and become the 2011 Ultimate Barista. Kind of the "Top Chef" of coffee makers.
For you tea lovers out there they have workshops which include tea 101 where you will learn what the differences are between different types of tea, their health benefits as well as some of the myths out there. Or you can learn what goes into making an afternoon tea. That lecture will discuss the traditions and how you can create one in your own home.
Tickets are $20 for the basic 1 day pass (available on-line). There are special prices if you want to go to the evening of Chinese Tea and Tradition. I'm a big fan of drinking tea or coffee, but it just might be fun to learn more about it so I can really appreciate the subtleties.
www.coffeeandteafestival.com
Feb 19th and 20th
11am - 5pm
7 West 34th St.
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