Glasgow Coffee Festival returns for biggest event to date

The event promises to be bigger and better than ever and, at last fully free from the clutches of covid, will see some of the Scottish coffee scene's brightest talents gather for a two-day long extravaganza of cuppings, tastings and talks.

As ever, event founder Lisa Lawson is working her way through a formidable to-do list as we take the chance to catch up, buts still says the festivities can’t come soon enough.

READ NEXT: Glasgow Coffee Festival and Dear Green founder tells her story

Pictured: Lisa Lawson (Image: newsquest)

“Last time was a wee bit stressful," she tells us, after pausing the call to accept a delivery of tablecloths to be dry cleaned before Saturday morning, “restrictions had only just been lifted and we weren't sure how people would feel about being in a big hall.

"But, this year everything feels a lot fresher and we're very excited.”

“Anyone who did come along in 2022 is still buzzing from it and they seem so happy to be coming back. 

“I’m a proud Glaswegian and wanted it to be named the Glasgow festival so that we could celebrate the fact that this amazing event is taking place in our city, but it’s also the biggest if not only, coffee festival in Scotland so we have people from all over coming down.

“It definitely puts us on the map.”

A true pioneer of the local coffee scene, Lisa is also the founder of Dear Green, an independent roastery that was established in 2011 and has since inspired café owners and budding baristas across the city to follow in her footsteps.

While she says there has always been a strong community of hardcore ‘geeks’ in Glasgow, last year’s festival, in particular, showed that lockdown has played a huge part in creating a new wave of speciality coffee lovers.

She explained: “There are people who are really into coffee and always have been, but now there’s this blossoming side to the industry that’s happened because of Covid.

“People suddenly found themselves forced to spend time at home and became a lot more knowledgeable about the process or which different roasteries they could buy from.

“There’s a whole new community coming together that wasn’t there a few years ago.

“It’s really cool, almost like a next generation coming through.”

READ NEXT: Glasgow Coffee Festival launches 'coffee scholarship' for teens

This next generation and long-time coffee fanatics alike are in for a treat at this weekend's sold-out festival with a record number of exhibitors preparing to share their wares and talks from industry professionals offering a fascinating insider’s perspective on crafting the perfect cup.

It’s a far cry from the very first festival eight years ago and looking back to where it all began Lisa said: “It was very humble beginnings for us.

“At first it was just a case of getting people into a hall and seeing what happened, but now it’s really grown arms and legs with afterparties and coffee morning events.

“It really feels like we have this established festival where people know what to expect.

“There’s also a social side to it that continues throughout the year with latte art throwdowns at local cafes or special events at Dear Green.

“It’s what I was searching for when I started working in the industry 20 years ago and now it’s all here.

“I suppose the next step is to get planning for another one.”

The Glasgow Coffee Festival will take place this Saturday and Sunday with a limited number of tickets still available for a special Cycling Event.

Ticketholders are reminded to bring their own cup.

For more information click here.