The New York Coffee Festival’s extensive Lab Programme is designed to offer visitors an array of interactive demonstrations, workshops and tasting sessions, as well as fascinating talks and lively debates on everything from creating healthier working environments for baristas to sustainability in the coffee industry.
The Lab line-up equips you with the latest industry knowledge, cutting-edge trends and ready-to-action market insights to future proof your business.
Check out the 2023 line-up below!
2:30pm - 3pm | Meet the B-Corps | Industry Panel
Get to know the B-Corp coffee companies! Moderated by Sylwia Padiasek of Ocafi, join industry leaders and sustainability specialists like Fraser Hanson, general manager of decent packaging, for a panel discussion on the process, business benefits, and social and economic impact of becoming B-Corp certified.
3:15pm - 3:45pm | Using Connected Packaging to Boost Engagement with your Brand Story | ePac Flexible Packaging
Serialized QR codes on product packaging can show consumers the journey your coffee has taken from farm to cup. In this session, Paul Rason from ePac Flexible Packaging will demonstrate how you can use connected packing to communicate your mission or leverage it as a tool to trace batches.
4pm - 4:30pm | Taking Cascara into the Mainstream | alldae superfruit soda
What you need to know about cascara: its benefits, its challenges, and its future. In this session Ryan McDonnell, co-founder of alldae superfruit soda, will give you a crash course on cascara's history, the challenges it has had becoming more mainstream, and what new innovations and products are doing to bring cascara to more consumers.
4:45pm - 5:15pm | The Magic of Matcha: An Introduction to Serving Matcha in Coffee Shops | Matcha Direct
Meet the Matcha specialists, all the way from Kyoto, Japan! In this session, join Kenta Numata, chief of Matcha Direct and senior manager, Masahiro Hiraoka as they introduce you to the magic of matcha tea and its fascinating history. Through guided tastings, you'll learn how to identify high-quality matcha and discover how to optimise your tea offering and unlock the potential of matcha in coffee shops.
5:30pm - 6pm | The Next Wave of Coffee: It's All About Taste Control | ansā
Join CXO and co-founder of ansā, Jonathan Scharf in exploring the future of coffee roasting. Delve into the art of taste control, where science and technology merge to empower your coffee experience. Discover how ansā's innovation puts flavor in your hands and marks a shift in coffee culture toward hyper-local roasting.
10am - 10:30am | Mindful Morning Coffee with Jake Leonti | F+B Therapy
Join Jake Leonti, the Cafe Guru behind the
Sensory Experience, and take a moment to enjoy your favorite morning beverage on a new level. Wake up the connection between your mind, body and coffee through this unique mindful meditation combined with your morning joe. Learn the mindfulness practices and body scan practices that you can take with you to enjoy with every cup each morning. 30 minutes and you'll be ready to start your day refreshed and connected.
10:45am - 11:15am | Introduction to Coffee Triangulation | Eight Ounce Coffee
Join
Eight Ounce Coffee's Katie Taylor and top barista Chris Tellez to learn how to taste and identify coffee through triangulation cupping. You'll be given three cups - two containing the same coffee and one containing a different coffee. It's your job to identify which cup is different!
11:30am - 12pm | Brewing Success: How to Break into the Coffee Industry | Industry Panel
Settle in for an inspiring panel discussion with coffee industry leaders and seasoned entrepreneurs as they delve into their careers and offer invaluable insights on kickstarting your very own coffee venture.
Moderated by Selina Ullrich, Director of Coffee,
East One Coffee with panellists Christina Dorr Drake, CEO & co-founder of
Willa's Kitchen, Ryan Garrick, Head of Coffee,
WatchHouse, Zach Israel, Co-Founder,
Slate Cafe. Jaroslav Tuček, Owner,
Doubleshot
12:15pm - 12:45pm | Araku Valley India - Gem of Specialty Coffee
Journey to India's breathtaking Araku Valley with Danny Johns, Global Specialty Coffee Retail Specialist,
Consulate General of India. Learn how this developing region is producing exceptional specialty coffee and discover the journey to elevate India's reputation as a quality coffee producer.
1:45pm - 2:15pm | Sip & Savor: The Art of Chocolate and Coffee Pairing | Chocotastery + Coffee Project New York
Discover the art of mindful chocolate tasting and coffee pairing with Chocolate Sommelier, Glenn Petriello and renowned coffee educator Kaleena Teoh. Explore craft chocolate and coffee samples with
Chocotastery and
Coffee Project New York, delving into their interplay and the transformative effect coffee has on chocolate's indulgent and sensory experience.
2.30pm - 3pm | Getting Started with Rare & Exclusive Coffees
Get ready for an exclusive session on Rare Coffees with Ryan Garrick and Lucy Bond from
WatchHouse! Experience a guided tasting of the world's rarest coffees and learn essential insights to kickstart your own Rare Coffee collection. Discover sourcing secrets, optimal storage practices, and expert brewing techniques to savor these exceptional coffees to the fullest.
3:15pm - 3:45pm | Let's Talk about Value: How Specialty Coffee Roasters Should Prioritize Social Equity Now More Than Ever | Industry Panel
Explore the vital role of social equality in coffee. Moderated by Amaris Gutierrez-Ray of
Joe Coffee Company, the panel will unravel the complexities of coffee supply streams and how businesses forge connections with coffee communities through their values. Whether you're a coffee enthusiast or pro, you'll leave with insights to kickstart value-based conversations on sustainability and accountability.
Panellists include: Jiyoon Han, Roaster/Q grader,
Bean & Bean Coffee Roasters, James McCarthy,
Driftaway Coffee Roasters, Danny Berroa,
The TaiGuey Coffee Company, and Anne Mercer,
Victus Coffee
4pm - 4:30pm | Improve Your Brews with Mar and Chris | Bonavita Brands
Join Mar and Chris of
Bonavita Brands (and a Brewista) as they demonstrate how to dial in your perfect cup of coffee. Pour-over brewing can seem like a daunting task! The coffee pros will help you harness the flavors you're looking for by focusing on one brewing variable at a time. Make sure to grab a seat early, there may be a surprise waiting for you underneath! If you know, you know...
4:45pm - 5:15pm | Clean, Green and Charitable Coffee | Wild House Coffee
Take part in a sensory journey with the co-founders of
Wild House Coffee as they explore the impact of brewing methods on flavor and sustainability. From quality commitment to making a charitable difference, Mike Signorelli, Dhan Ekanayake and Emily Ekanayake will ensure this tasting experience elevates your coffee appreciation.
5.30pm to 6pm | Introducing the world of Dark Matter Coffee to NYC in 2024
Join Dark Matter Coffee for an exclusive tasting of theirSleep Walk chocolate line, specifically an unreleased collaboration project with Chef Rick Bayless. These chocolates will be sampled for attendees to try prior to them being introduced to the market.
10am - 10:30am | Mindful Morning Coffee with Jake Leonti | F+B Therapy
Join Jake Leonti, the Cafe Guru behind the
Sensory Experience, and take a moment to enjoy your favorite morning beverage on a new level. Wake up the connection between your mind, body and coffee through this unique mindful meditation combined with your morning joe. Learn the mindfulness practices and body scan practices that you can take with you to enjoy with every cup each morning. 30 minutes and you'll be ready to start your day refreshed and connected.
10:45am - 11:15am | Matcha Made in Heaven | Willa's Kitchen
In this session,
Tenzo Matcha and
Willa's Organic Oat Milk will be teaming up to show you fool-proof ways to make deliciously rich and smooth matcha lattes. Pro tips - Whisk well. Choose the right milk. Don't burn it.
11:30am - 12pm | Women in Coffee: How to Prioritize Gender Equity across Coffee Supply Streams | Industry Panel
Grab a seat and explore the world of women in coffee. Moderated by Amaris Gutierrez-Ray, Founder of the
Women in Coffee Project, you'll hear from producers and roasters, discovering the actionable steps you can take to help promote gender equality in the coffee industry. Gain insights into the challenges faced by women and learn from our inspiring panelists already driving sustainability and equity.
Panellists include: Jes Martin-Ballard,
Kape Catorce Coffee, Andrea Rubí,
Fincas Ruland, Lucia Bawot, Photographer/Author,
We Belong, Brianna Dickey,
CropConex
12:15pm - 12:45pm | Energize your Coffee! The Future of On-Demand Roasting | ansā
Join CEO & co-founder of
ansā, Yuval Weisglass for an exciting session as they unveil the future of coffee roasting. Witness ground-breaking technology in action with a live demo and savor the extraordinary results of on-demand roasting. Sample the freshest coffee you'll ever try and uncover how innovation is reshaping your daily brew.
1:45pm to 2:15pm | Meet the Bees at Bee10Coffee | Al Salopek and his honey bees!
Join Al Salopek at
Bee10Coffee as they introduce the worker(bee)s that make it all happen! You'll get to try their new coffee paste that is made with 100% whole raw organic honey and concentrated coffee and learn about the creation process and how honey bee's are important for coffee pollination.
2:30pm - 3pm | Improve Your Brews with Mar and Chris | Bonavita Brands
Join Mar and Chris of
Bonavita Brands (and a Brewista) as they demonstrate how to dial in your perfect cup of coffee. Pour-over brewing can seem like a daunting task! The coffee pros will help you harness the flavors you're looking for by focusing on one brewing variable at a time. Make sure to grab a seat early, there may be a surprise waiting for you underneath! If you know, you know...