Celebrating all things caffeinated, the Glasgow Coffee Festival will be held at the Briggait on May 11 and 12, 2024.
After last year’s festival sold out with thousands of coffee lovers in attendance, anticipation is brewing for this year’s event, which is organised by Dear Green Coffee Roasters.
Their founder Lisa Lawson, who is seen as a pioneer of Glasgow’s coffee scene and is also the founder of the festival, reflected on the last decade ahead of the tenth event.
She said: “When I started out, the barrier to entry was massive — my first roaster cost £17,000.
“Now, it’s much, much lower. More people can try coffee roasting as a hobby before making it a career.
“The coffee scene has transformed in the decade since we launched the festival. I’m really proud as I think creating an event where the coffee scene could come together as a community has played a big part in that.
“A lot can happen in a decade. There were only a few speciality cafes in 2014, when we launched and we were pushing against a lot of resistance to sell speciality coffee, people just didn’t understand how it was better for taste, quality and ethically in terms of both the supply chain and the environment.
“It happened slowly, then all at once — I think we reached a tipping point around maybe 2015/16. There was real momentum around the coffee scene with roosters and cafes popping up everywhere.
“Now, Glasgow can legitimately say it has one of the best coffee scenes in Europe.“
Lisa has confirmed that the festival will once again be free of single-use cups.
The certified Q grader added: “Sustainability has been at the heart of our festival from day one. This year, as we celebrate a decade of coffee excellence, we are proud to continue our tradition of being environmentally conscious.
“The festival has grown bigger every year and so has its impact; we believe this is the world’s most sustainable coffee festival.
“As the Glasgow Coffee Festival embarks on its landmark year, it’s testament to the passion, resilience, and community spirit that define Scotland’s thriving coffee culture. The festival has not only been a celebration of coffee but a catalyst for change, inspiring people to embrace and contribute to the coffee community.”
Joining the festival is Gillian McIntyre, who attended the very first ten years ago and has since become a trailblazer in Glasgow’s coffee scene.
She will be a project manager, responsible for the festival’s expanded program of workshops, talks, roaster demonstrations, and podcasts designed to provide festivalgoers with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the intricate world of coffee, celebrating its diversity and craftsmanship.
The success of the festival is also underlined by the support of event partners dedicated to excellence in the coffee industry, including La Marzocco, Oatly, Brewed by Hand, Dear Green, Mossgiel, Story Shop, Brew It Group and Best Water Technology.
To keep up to date with the Glasgow Coffee Festival, follow @glasgowcoffee on Instagram.
Tickets are on sale at www.glasgowcoffeefestival.com.
