London Coffee Festival, Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane

London's coffee scene has always been buzzing, in every sense. The innovation, quality and enthusiasm for all things coffee is celebrated in the London Coffee Festival, returning for its ninth year. The four-day event is the largest of its kind in Europe, giving Londoners a chance to taste their way around different bean blends and learn more about the science behind their favourite brews.

Coffee aficionados share Brick Lane's Old Truman Brewery with long-respected companies and fresh startups, classic ideas and strange new subcultures. Live musicians and DJs will soundtrack the varied goings-on, with a huge range of unique industry talks, tastings, workshops and showcases from over 250 outstanding artisans, baristas, exhibitors and innovators.

For those who appreciate the aesthetic in their caffeine fix, there'll be the opportunity to learn how to pour the perfect glossy rosetta, or to indulge their love of a milk-filled cup with Latte Live Art – a Festival stalwart. Having set Instagram alight with their skills, the world's top specialists in latte art will descend to compete, showcase and give workshops.




If you want to know just how your coffee gets from bean to cup, there's also a lot of space for learning about the industry. The festival's famous Lab will feature live interactive demonstrations, talks and artisan tastings. And those looking to deepen their relationship and appreciation for their favourite vice, there is Mindful Coffee Tasting. Or else stoke the competitive coffee-lover in all of us and bear witness as the UK's top 20 baristas do battle over four days for the Coffee Master crown, with £5000 to be won.

The London Coffee Festival is arriving shortly before UK Coffee Week (29 April - 5 May), with both giving their support to Project Waterfall, an initiative aimed a ensuring clean drinking water and sanitation for all of the world's coffee growing communities. Last year, the festival alone raised over £100,000 for the effort.

Ticket-wise, attendees have the options of buying Standard day-tickets, VIP or Weekender VIP tickets. Standard tickets on first release are £14.50 and £5.50 for children over 12. VIP tickets first release is set at £38, while a Weekend VIP ticket is £70.