Coffee lovers assemble as Manchester Coffee Festival is back for 2022. 

Manchester knows coffee, we have hundreds of great coffee shops around our city-region serving coffee lovers delicious beverages day in, day out. And so, it makes sense that we dedicate a weekend to celebrate the drink and the incredible people behind the coffee. 

Taking place at the BEC Arena in Stretford on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November, The Manchester Coffee Festival is an annual celebration sure to leave you full of beans. Bringing together local talent with some of the UK’s best brewers, it’s a weekend that all coffee fans should add to their diary immediately.  

You can explore the world of coffee through talks, tastings, workshops, demos and more. However there’s also a chance to watch local music acts, shop at a market and enjoy the best that Manchester has to offer. 

The event is designed to be fun for all, whether you’re a coffee professional wanting to learn more about your industry or a coffee fan looking for a great day out full of flavour. 

To help you me the most of the Manchester Coffee Festival, here’s a roundup of some of the event highlights:
 

The Workshops 
 

This year, for the first time, Manchester Coffee Festival will host exclusive workshops with the experts so you can learn more about perfecting your brew. Tickets for each workshop are an add-on to your original ticket and are limited, but it’s sure to be worth it. Whether you’re interested in learning how to identify the unique flavours in your coffee, understanding how the colour of the roast impacts your final drink or discovering how to make the perfect coffee cocktails, these workshops will leave you feeling like a top Barista as you get up close and personal with coffee experts. But that’s not all, they’ll also cover important topics specifically for coffee professionals like how to write transparency and impact reports or the benefits of developing a relationship with your supply chain for a more sustainable, fair business practice. 
 

The Cup Tasters Championships 
 

What’s a day out without some friendly competition? Every year, The Speciality Coffee Association hosts a series of events to put baristas and coffee lovers to the test in a heated championship. For the sixth year in a row, the SCA UK Cup Tasters Championships will return to Manchester. The best coffee tasters in the UK will gather to compete against each other in the ultimate taste test. Contestants will have to taste 8 sets of triangle tests (three “cups” of coffee where two are the same and one differs) to spot the odd one out) and it's harder than it looks. The odd one out is marked with a red dot on the base, so as soon as you miss, you’re out. The SCA calls this the coffee equivalent of a penalty shootout, and trust us, it gets just as intense! 
 

The Tasting Rooms 
 

Drinking coffee is a total sensory experience, and that’s why The Tasting Rooms at Manchester Coffee Festival are often a highlight. It’s a chance to sample some incredible flavours from across the globe and connect with roasters and green importers as you learn from the experts. After all, what’s the point of a coffee festival if you don’t have a chance to sample some great roasts? This year, you can expect tastings from  

Sucafina Specialty, North Star Coffee Roasters, Indochina Coffee, Falcon Coffees, Good Human Coffee and Omwani Coffee Company among others. It’s the best way to immerse yourself in the coffee-drinking experience, making the most of every smell and taste. Plus, you may leave with a new favourite blend. 
 

Insightful Talks 
 

One of the great things about the Manchester Coffee Festival is that it’s educational as well as delicious. In a series of talks and panel sessions open to all ticket holders, you can learn more about where your coffee comes from, the social benefits, how to make the industry more equal and so much more. Grab a coffee, wake up your mind and listen to the host of incredible speakers as they aim to transform what you thought you knew about your favourite drink. Speakers cover all aspects of the coffee industry, so you’re sure to leave feeling inspired. 
 

A great day out 
 

With live music across both days, an opportunity to join an art project, a market with brilliant local crafters and gift makers as well as some mouth-watering local food traders, Manchester Coffee Festival is a great day out. If you usually meet your friends over a coffee, this is a great way to take that to the next level and explore the best of Manchester’s local talent. Eat, shop and of course, drink coffee. There’s entertainment for the whole family too, whether they’re a coffee lover or not. There is even a family party from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm on Sunday 13 November to keep little ones entertained and under 16s go free. 
 

Learn more about The Manchester Coffee Festival, look at the agenda in full and book your tickets here. 

To find out more about events across Greater Manchester this autumn, visit our What’s On Page.