Alfândega do Porto played host to the Coffee Market of Porto Coffee Week 2023 from September 29 to October 1, an event dedicated to coffee that drew a large crowd of professionals, entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and coffee lovers.
The festival spanned a week, starting on September 25, with workshops, talks, and championships scattered throughout the city of Porto. We had the pleasure of attending on Sunday, October 1, and were pleasantly surprised by the event’s potential. If you share our passion for coffee, then Porto Coffee Week should definitely be on your radar.
A Celebration of Coffee Culture
“More than a festival, a celebration of coffee culture.” With this concept, Porto Coffee Week was born, with its inaugural edition in October 2022 and, in this second edition, attracting over a thousand participants from around the world.
The event’s creators, Sofia and Hugo Ferraz, had a clear goal: to bridge the gap between coffee and other markets, such as cuisine and chocolate, and build a community. They have successfully done so in each edition. Sofia, a plant-based chef, entrepreneur, and restaurant owner, and Hugo, the founder and instructor at the abcoffee school’s barista and brewing courses, also secured the 2nd and 3rd places in the National Barista Championships of 2022 and 2019, respectively.
Since the 2000s, with the third wave of coffee, awareness of the quality, origin, and sustainability of coffee beans and the production process has gained momentum, attracting an increasing number of enthusiasts. Since then, specialty coffee has been gaining ground in Europe and worldwide.
Porto Coffee Week offers an opportunity to get closer to this market and discover more about Portuguese specialty coffee. With the presence of ten national roasters from north to south, the event provided entry at €8 per day, granting participants unlimited coffee tastings offered by the roasters, who also made their beans, accessories, and equipment available for purchase during the event.
Championships
Both professionals and amateurs had the chance to put their knowledge to the test in four championships throughout the week at Porto Coffee Week. Under the guidance of the world’s tallest barista (yes, he’s just 2 meters tall!), Morgan Von Manntrip, the Latte Art Throwdown, Espresso Skills, Hario Brewers’ Cup, and Cup Tasters competitions were a great success and garnered enthusiastic audiences. Adroaldo Carneiro, owner of SOLO Brewing, took a chance in the competition and secured the 3rd place in the Cup Tasters championship. Hooray!
Workshops and Talks
Porto Coffee Week offered ten workshops, some free and others with fees ranging from €25 to €45, gathering professionals and prominent figures in the coffee industry, such as Lance Hedrick, Giullia Sbardelott, Rachel Mourad, Emilee Bryant, Hugo Ferraz, Rui Pedrosa, and many others. They shared their knowledge on topics like latte art, mixology, cupping, green coffee selection, sensory analysis, roasting, V60 brewing, and much more.
The event also featured discussions on relevant coffee industry topics, with 20 presentations by experts, influencers, entrepreneurs, and scholars. Topics included new origins of specialty coffee, extraction chemistry, taste memory, plant-based alternatives for milk-based beverages, and guidance on reading coffee labels and improving business communication on social media.
Highlighted Roasters
The second edition of Porto Coffee Week showcased a diverse selection of Portuguese roasters, each presenting their coffee profiles and unique flavors. Representatives from the northern region of the country – Senzu, Vernazza, and 7g – as well as from Lisbon and its surroundings, such as Torra, Sargento Martinho, and Buraca, and to top it off, the southern team – Koyo, The Studio Coffee, Kanuk, and Cométe, all joined the Coffee Market event at Porto Customs House. With unlimited tastings, participants explored the world of specialty coffee through their palates.
Sponsors & Partners
Hug, Faema, Compak, BWT, Sage, DeLonghi, and WAgency sponsored the second edition of Porto Coffee Week, with support from various partners, including Bodum, Loveramics, Hario, abcoffee, the Escola de Hotelaria e Turismo do Porto, and the Porto Municipal Council.
Also present was the Glad bean-to-bar chocolate brand as exhibitors, offering their range of products for sale, as well as tasty bites from André Cabrita (we sampled some fantastic tacos!), Venn Canteen, and Bicho Pão Artesanal as part of the available food service at the Coffee Market.
Looking Ahead to 2024
Porto Coffee Week 2023 was a success and has already become a fixed date on the calendars of coffee addicts in Portugal and Europe. The event holds great value in building a community and uniting partners who exchange ideas, collaborate, and strengthen the Portuguese coffee market.
The third edition is already scheduled for October 1-6, 2024, and we are counting the days to experience this wonderful event once again!
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