Press+Release+for+Coffee+Fest

//Specialty Coffee Industry Thrives in Midwest // specialty coffee professionals with a show that proved the specialty coffee industry is alive and thriving. The three-day show closed on Sunday, February 22, 2009, after ushering nearly 4,000 attendees and exhibitors at the Navy Pier through a full-to-capacity educational program and a trade floor crackling with the energy of a bustling marketplace. “The Midwest is cooking, if this show is any indication,” says David Heilbrunn, Coffee Fest Show manager. “People who streamed out of the Navy Pier this weekend were energized and optimistic about their futures. It goes to show if you innovate and work hard, you can capitalize on a myriad of opportunities and use these as a springboard to continue thriving in an uncertain economy.”  Latte art drew in Coffee Fest attendees with its signature combination of theater and skill. One of Chicago’s native sons, Justin Jarrow, burst into the top-three tier of battling baristas at the Sunday morning finals of the Millrock Free Pour Latte Art Championship. It was Kevin Emmons from Caffe D’Arte in Portland, Ore., who poured his way to first place and the $5,000 kitty with a juicy tulip creation. Justin Tiesl, a longtime competitor representing Four Barrel Coffee in San Francisco, crafted a heart-topped rosetta to earn himself the tidy sum of $1,000 and second place. Jarrow, from <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">Brothers K Coffeehouse, in Evanston, Ill., presented the judges with a fine, foamy tulip that brought <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">him third place and $500. The sixth annual competition was presented by //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Italic','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Italic;">Barista Magazine //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">, Nuova <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">Simonelli and Dillanos Coffee Roasters. Coffee Fest also heartily welcomes their newest sponsor, <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">Ghirardelli Chocolate Company to the roster. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">If it appeals to the retailer and represents innovation within the industry, then it makes the grade for <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">the New Product Showcase at Coffee Fest. Caffe D’Amore’s Petals Tea, an antioxidant-rich iced tea <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">mix of green and black teas sweetened with organic sugar took first place, while Poco Dolce Double <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">Shot Espresso Toffee Squares - single serving indulgences - slid into second place. Third place was <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">awarded to Pacific Bag Compostable Natural Kraft Paper Tin-Tie Bags, acknowledging the everincreasing <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">efforts of the specialty coffee industry to conserve energy and resources. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">Steadfast in its commitment to bolstering the business of the specialty coffee retailer, Coffee Fest <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">will unveil two additions to its educational program at the Las Vegas show taking place on June 12- <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">14, 2009, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Italic','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Italic;">Survive and Thrive in Specialty Coffee //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">will guide coffee <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">professionals through a day-long program that will inform and inspire business owners to keep their <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">businesses moving forward. In addition, Coffee Fest will introduce the //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Italic','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Italic;">Coffee Retailer Ultimate // //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Italic','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Italic;">Profitability Seminar //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">– a one-day program that will bring in industry professionals to help retailers <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">hone in on what they need to do to make their profits soar. For more information about the <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">educational program or to register for the show, go to <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">[|www.coffeefest.com] <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: blue; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: blue; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">Coffee Fest has been bringing specialty coffee, gourmet tea and alternative beverage industry <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">professionals together since 1992 when the show first got its start as a consumer coffee festival in <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">Seattle. Since 1998, “the little show that could,” Coffee Fest has gathered coffee retailers, roasters, <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">distributors and manufacturers together for thrice annual trade shows to help attendees build and <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">refine their businesses, get the first peek at new products and remain current with coffee and tea <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">industry trends. Coffee Fest hosted its first show off the mainland in Hawaii in June 2008 and in <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">November 2008, Coffee Fest made its international debut in Hong Kong. For more information <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">about all the shows, go to <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">[|www.coffeefest.com] <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: blue; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: blue; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;"> <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">Kathleen Finn <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">503.528.2652 <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">503.887.2998 (c) <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: blue; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">bellaluna@hevanet.com <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: blue; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">kathleenf@coffeefest.com <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">David Heilbrunn <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">425.283.5058, ext. 113 <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: blue; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">davidh@coffeefest.com **<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">### **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: **
 * <span style="font-size: 14pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Bold;">Coffee Fest Chicago Cooks up Success **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Bold;">Seattle, **<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">Wash. – //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Italic','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Italic;">February 26, 2009 //<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond;">– Coffee Fest blew through the windy city bolstering spirits of
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Bold;">Sparring Latte Artists **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Bold;">A Peek at New Products **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Bold;">Expanding Educational Opportunities **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Bold;">About Coffee Fest **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: black; font-family: 'Garamond-Bold','serif'; mso-bidi-font-family: Garamond-Bold;">Media Contact: **