Dublin Coffee & Tea Festival

The buzz on the Dublin Coffee & Tea Festival with Melanie May

I’m buzzing and not just because of all the free (yes free) caffeinated beverages that I have just consumed, well partly because of that, but also because I have just been to the first day of Dublin’s Coffee and Tea Festival taking place this weekend in the RDS. This festival is a mecca for tea and coffee lovers and those in the tea and coffee business. I was in my caffeinated element as I tried one coffee after another. Sometimes I broke the coffee chain with a refreshing tea or trendy matcha drink but at all times I had some sort of sugary treat to accompany my beverage of choice. Ditch the diet whilst at the festival, as you will be tempted with samples of donuts, muffins, biscuits, chocolates, brownies and even espresso desserts as you wander around the many villages in the hall.

Inside the main hall, there is a roasters village, where you can try brews from different coffee and tea micro roasters. There is also a food village with lovely Irish artesian food producers as well as stalls from those from further afield. Here you can sample and buy gluten free granola, cakes, and breads as well as handmade cookies the size of your head and chocolates from all over the world. It has to be said, I spent most of my time in this village drooling over the treats.

There is also an interesting brew school, where baristas will show you the many different ways of brewing coffee and how to make the perfect cup at home. The people’s stage will show films and footage throughout the festival and will have talks by a variety of different speakers educating festivalgoers on all things tea and coffee. There is even a photography exhibition for you to enjoy. Outside take advantage of the fine weather and enjoy a full line-up of exciting Irish music on the entertainment stage, as well as a host of food venders and trucks to satisfy your food needs.

As if all that wasn’t enough there are three national coffee competitions taking place on the main stage. Day one of the festival saw Brain O’Keeffe win the Brewers Cup final, on Saturday the country’s top baristas will battle it out in the national semi-finals and on Sunday, the Avonmore Irish Latte Art Competition will take place.

If it all gets a bit too much there are loads of comfy lounging areas and bean bags on which to collapse and take a breather before going again. This festival really is jam-packed with things to do; in fact, one could say the festival coffee cup runneth over!

Phew! Did you take that all in? If not you can check out the Dublin Coffee and Tea Festival website for all the details https://www.dublincoffeefestival.com/

Tickets can be bought on the day at the festival.