Instead of avoiding the obvious, Coffee Fest prepares to face the economic downturn head on with advice and tips to help shop owners survive.

It doesn’t seem like anyone in the coffee industry can escape the recession. From budget-minded bloggers screaming about the audacity of $4 lattes to seeing small mom-and-pop cafes shut down, coffee is the one place Americans seem more than determined to tighten their proverbial belts. This year’s Coffee Fest Las Vegas, to be held June 12-14, will seek to help coffeehouse owners survive in that environment.

Ironically held in a city known for its excesses, the trade show will focus on economic matters. Attendees are invited to a special day-long session the day before the event officially kicks off that will give them advice on “Surviving and Thriving in Coffee Today.”

“Our philosophy is to acknowledge the economic downturn, while also encouraging retailers to continue to generate business,” said David Heilbrunn, Coffee Fest show manager. “We will continue to provide retailers with innovative educational programming that evolves to fit the business and economic climate. This isn’t the time to fold your cards and go home. This is the time to dig in and make your shop work for you.”

Café owners and baristas will be asked to swap out their steaming wands for calculators as fest seminars will take a head-on approach to helping them manage their finances, from even the most basic “Understanding your financial statements” to taking a hard look at where and when to cut expenses.

Roundtable discussions will focus on observing economic trends that industry professionals can watch out for as they continue to weather the economic storm.

What is Coffee Fest?

Very simply, it’s a trade show aimed at bringing attention to the coffee and tea industry. It allows professional baristas, shop owners, and coffee lovers to come together and see new products and share ideas.

The organization will host four nationwide trade shows this year, with one in Chicago having already wrapped and two more to take place in Seattle and at the Meadowlands. There’s also an international version that takes place in Hong Kong every year.

In addition to the exhibits and seminars, baristas can also earn their IASC barista certification during any of the trade shows. Interested baristas must pass a written test and prove their knowledge of espresso crafting in a simulated techniques test. Once they pass, the barista, and the shop he or she works for, will have the distinction of world-class barista.

No Comments »