Details announced for fifth annual Cincinnati Coffee Festival; Latte Art Throwdown celebrity judge announced
The fifth annual Cincinnati Coffee Festival returns on Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23. The event, which has grown to be the largest coffee festival in the Midwest, will host more than 50 vendors at Cincinnati Music Hall. Proceeds will benefit Ohio River Foundation.
Coffee and tea lovers from all over the region will be able to join world-class roasters, coffee shops, purveyors of fine food, and professional baristas to enjoy hundreds of free tastings of the finest coffees, teas, pastries, chocolates, and savory foods. The weekend will include live music, latte art demos, the chance to see the latest equipment and accessories, and demonstrations by industry experts.
The Cincinnati Coffee Festival is open to the public and will have a large variety of local and regional coffee roasters in attendance such as local favorites La Terza, Deeper Roots, Viva Coffee Roasters, Seven Hills, and Carabello.
Latte Art Throwdown
The festival will feature the always popular Latte Art Throwdown, this year featuring celebrity judge Local 12 news anchor Bob Herzog. The competition will be head-to-head, bracket style and three judges will determine whose milk pouring aesthetics will advance. At the end of the competition, one steady-handed barista will be crowned theSupreme Latte Artist of Greater Cincinnati.
Demonstrations
Attendees can learn from the best in the business about a range of topics including homebrewing 101, coffee myth busters, coffee and tea mocktails, the health benefits of tea and more. Demo schedule and speaker info can be found here.
Art of Coffee
New this year: Attendees will get the chance to celebrate the Art of Coffee by creating their own coffee-themed works of art. Materials and guidance will be provided by the Cincinnati Coffee Festival team. Add this option when you buy your ticket.
Musicians
Attendees can see their favorite musicians perform and check out new talent at the festival. The festival is pleased to feature Ludlow, Kentucky native folk singer-songwriter Jordan Smart, Cincinnati rock and soul artist Matt Waters, the singing and songwriting acoustic duo Rucca, and an eclectic mix of blues, jazz, folk, originals, and pop from Anna & the Deeper Well. Learn more about live music performances here.
Timed Entry
The event will be using timed entry to help manage crowds. A limited number of tickets will be sold for each entry time. Guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance, but tickets will also be available at the door on the days of the event for a higher price. Purchase tickets here.
Ticket Prices
In Advance
- $30.00 Weekend Pass
- $18.00 First Entrance Time
- $16.50 All Other Entrance Times
Day Of
- $35.00 Weekend Pass
- $23.00 First Entrance Time
- $22.00 All Other Entrance Times
Without great water, you can’t have great coffee.
Cincinnati Coffee Festival is produced by and is a major fundraiser for Ohio River Foundation (ORF), a Cincinnati-based nonprofit with successful programs dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and its watershed.
“Many elements go into producing a great cup of coffee, but coffee is actually 98 percent water. Without great water, you can’t have great coffee,” said Judi Cogen, Cincinnati Coffee Festival event director. “It’s a great opportunity to educate people about the importance of protecting our local rivers and streams, so that we can ensure clean water for all.”
The Ohio River watershed is a place of recreation and commerce, wildlife habitat, and source of drinking water to millions of people. The health of the river and its tributaries affects the quality of life of everyone in the watershed.
Ohio River Foundation thanks these current event sponsors for making the event possible: Miir, Ernst & Young, Raymond James, La Terza, Carabello, Deeper Roots, Seven Hills Coffee Roasters and many more.
About Cincinnati Coffee Festival
Cincinnati Coffee Festival is the Midwest’s largest coffee festival, attracting thousands of attendees as well as vendors from around the region. Activities such as the Latte Art Throwdown, Latte Art in Action, coffee- and tea-themed demonstrations and live music make it a can’t-miss event for local coffee lovers. For more information, visit CincinnatiCoffeeFestival.com.
About Ohio River Foundation
Ohio River Foundation (ORF) is dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and all waters in its 14-state watershed. ORF works towards these goals through environmental education and conservation activities that serve to inspire environmental stewardship and bolster climate change resiliency for native species, habitats, and communities. For more information, visit www.ohioriverfdn.org.