Coffee and Tea Time

The West7 event center was abuzz as hundreds of caffeine-addled coffee and tea aficionados gathered for the sixth-annual Coffee and Tea Festival NYC February 19-20 in New York City.

In a metropolis where the green twin-tailed siren of Starbucks can be seen from virtually any street corner, it was a breathtaking experience to visit more than 50 different coffee and tea vendors showing their worth. Well-known brands, such as Entenmann’s Coffee, Honest Tea and Peet’s Coffee & Tea, showcased new products alongside some lesser-known organizations like Tavalon, Montauk Beverage Works and Turkish Cultural Center. 

Aroma Espresso Bar (with three locations in New York and one in Sunny Isles, Fla.) delivered one of the highlights of the festival. A team of baristas manned the machine, handing out espressos, macchiatos, and what they claimed was the best hot chocolate in the city. Although Aroma did make an impressive cup of cocoa, potential competition in Manhattan-based The City Bakery—the Union Square restaurant perhaps best known for their month-long Hot Chocolate Festival held each February—was noticeably absent to stake a claim in the chocolate drink realm.

In addition to the offerings from the dozens of vendors, attendees were treated to an abundance of educational programs, such as a traditional Korean tea ceremony and a professional coffee cupping and tasting demonstration.

For those festival goers not content with simple beverage sipping, some coffee-centric competition came into play. Baristas from around the country took part in The Ultimate Barista Challenge (see image on right), a series of events including a latte-art contest and demonstrations of how to make espresso cocktails and how to brew a perfect espresso shot.

Whether you are a coffee connoisseur with a competitive streak or a casual tea drinker, make sure to catch this entertaining event next year. Just make sure to schedule an afternoon nap for when that caffeine crash kicks in. —Sara Rutkowski

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