COLUMBUS, Ohio, U.S. — Calling central Ohio coffee lovers! Check out the Second Annual Coffee ColLab, hosted by Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea, The Columbus Coffee Festival and Columbus Underground.
Coffee ColLab takes place Saturday, August 31, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Crimson Cup Innovation Lab, 700 Alum Creek Drive just south of Bexley. Guests will have an exclusive opportunity to learn about crafting the perfect cup from local coffee roasters and baristas.
“We’re excited to host the Coffee ColLab for the second year,” said Innovation Lab Ambassador Joe Capatosto. “The Coffee Festival main event is busy and fun, but we aim to give consumers and local coffee pros more opportunity to see and hear about what is happening in the Columbus coffee scene.”
Area coffee roasters and baristas will provide insight into brewing techniques and educate guests on a variety of coffee topics. “We invite guests to get curious and ask questions,” Capatosto said.
The Crimson Cup Innovation Lab is a coffee lover’s paradise designed for teaching the finer points of coffee to consumers and coffee pros. The only SCA-certified Premier Training campus in Ohio includes spaces for education as well as preparing, cupping, roasting and enjoying coffee.
During the Coffee ColLab, the facility’s Classroom will host educational presentations from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., capped off with a panel discussion.
The Application Lab will feature a “Roasters Showcase” from 5 to 7 p.m. One or two local roasters at a time will brew their favorite coffees and provide free samples.
Up to 12 competitors will face off in a Triangulation from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Cupping Lab. “This tasting competition consists of being able to discern a coffee that is different from the other samples faster than your opponents,” Capatosto.” Competition bracketing and signups start at 5 p.m.
Attendees can also sign up for a Latte Art Competition beginning at 7 p.m. The throwdown starts at 7:30 to 8 p.m. in the Application Lab.
The event also will include some of the newest coffee equipment for café and home use. Third Wave Water will present its new Tethys unit, Modbar will show off its New Modbar AV unit and LaMarzocco Home will exhibit its Linea Mini Espresso Machine.
Crimson Cup will run a simplified cafe the majority of the event, offering free espresso-based drinks and pour-overs of direct trade Peruvian coffees. Joshua Gandee, beverage manager for Watershed Distillery, will serve complimentary non-alcoholic cocktails from its “Yard Sale” menu.
Guests can purchase food from Schmidts Sausage Truck and Broke Johnny food trucks, as well as sweet treats from Freedom A La Carte and Three Bites.
Tickets, which cost $20 per person, can be purchased through EventBrite. Attendance is limited to 250.
“Parking is limited, and we ask participants to park down at LIFECHURCH or the neighboring lot and carpool if possible,” Capatosto said. “A path connects these lots to the Innovation Lab.”
