Category: Events
Hey everyone! It’s finally here. My wife Sue, my son Zion, and I just wrapped up an incredible weekend at Coffee Fest New York. You might know this event runs four times a year in different cities, and this time, it was our turn in Manhattan! We took the train into the city and headed straight to the famous Javits Center, a massive venue that hosts some of the biggest expos.
I’ve been seeing tons of ads for the event on Instagram lately, so I grabbed some tickets (including a child pass for Zion) and we went to check it out. Let me tell you, it was a day full of discovery, tasting, and serious business planning. It’s not just about drinking great coffee; it’s about seeing what the entire industry has to offer.
Beans, Beans, and More Beans!
Walking onto the main floor is an experience in itself. The air is thick with the aroma of roasting and brewing. There were actually a massive number of roasters participating in the event from all over. Because the floor was so huge, we were only able to stop by a few of them, which just means I will definitely have to visit the event again to catch the ones we missed!
Sue and I were on a mission: to find beans for our shelves today and to start identifying partners for our own coffee business opening next year. We tasted a lot of incredible single-origins (our pour-over stations were busy!).
The Highlights on My Shelf Soon:
I found several roasters that I’ve followed and interacted with on Instagram, and it was fantastic to connect with them in person. We found some amazing local gems from Brooklyn and Queens, as well as some heavy hitters from the West Coast:
- Driftaway Coffee (Brooklyn, NY)
- Caffe Vita (Brooklyn, NY)
- Mighty Oak Roasters (Queens, NY – purchased a beautiful single-origin!)
- Kafiex Roasters (All the way from Washington State!)
- Dillanos Coffee Roasters (Also from Washington State, with incredible flavor profiles)
You will definitely be seeing full reviews for beans from all of these amazing roasters right here on the blog in the coming weeks!
Gear, Gadgets, and Innovation
Coffee Fest isn’t just about the beans. The floor was packed with everything a cafe could ever need—from commercial grinders and brewers to syrups, custom packaging, barista apparel, and even juices and desserts. Zion loved watching the Latte Art World Championship; the creativity was unbelievable!
We also saw lots of seminars covering everything from roasting to business management. There were actually so many educational sessions I really wanted to attend, but I couldn’t do it this time around. I am absolutely making plans to return to the next Coffee Fest without Zion so I can really focus on that educational side and take those classes.
Gears that Blew My Mind
Two specific pieces of gear caught my eye:
- RUNNNN Espresso: This is a very high-quality espresso device designed for camping. It feels robust and well-made, and I am desperate to try it out on my next outdoor trip.
- Electric, Ventless Automatic Roasters: This was a game-changer for our future planning. These devices (like the Bellwether Coffee and the Roas Tronix) are electric, automatic, and require no gas lines or vents. For a small business like ours, this significantly simplifies the setup. I’m not a roasting specialist yet, so I still need to verify the final quality of the roasted bean, but this technology may be a huge step for us in the next year or so.
The First Step to the Future
Coffee Fest NY was an overwhelming but truly inspiring experience for my family and our dreams. I’m not sure exactly where my next business will go or how it will expand, but I’m certain that this event will be marked as the first step on that path.
Keep an eye on BeanTheres.com as I start reviewing the amazing beans we brought home, and I hope you join us as we document this exciting journey toward our own coffee shop!
Coffee Fest Mar. 8th – 10th, 2026 Javits Center 429 11th Ave, New York, NY 10001