Cincinnati Coffee Festival returns this weekend with latte art battle, more

Dubbed the "Midwest's largest festival for coffee lovers," the Cincinnati Coffee Festival is returning after taking a year off due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The festival will be three days this year, running from Friday to Sunday at Cincinnati Music Hall in Over-the-Rhine.

New this year will be Friday's event, Platinum Buzz, taking place from 7 to 10 p.m. and will include specialty coffee and tea cocktails, coffee beer, a Latte Art Throwdown competition, gourmet light bites and a silent auction. 

Saturday and Sunday's events will include nearly 50 coffee roasters, and coffee and tea shops. Event-goers can enjoy coffee samples, demos, live music and treats from bakery and pastry shops, and chocolatiers. 

The Cincinnati Coffee Festival serves as a fundraiser for the Ohio River Foundation, and donations can be made here.

Tickets are limited and will be offered by sessions. Tickets purchased in advance range from $60.50 for VIP gold to $10.50 for the coffee lite session. Prices increase for day-of purchases. More ticket information can be found here.

Cincinnati Coffee Festival schedule for Saturday and Sunday: 

Saturday

• 9:30 a.m.: Tea 101/Tea Fundamentals
• 10:30 a.m.: Demystifying Decaf, Demo Stage
• 10:45 a.m.: Allison Mahal, Music Stage
• 1 p.m.: Tea and Chocolate Pairing
• 1 p.m.: Liz Bowman, Music Stage
• 2 p.m.: Coffee Mocktails 101, Demo Stage
• 2:15 p.m.: Scott Carnder and Aaron Jacobs, Music Stage

Sunday

• 10:30 a.m.: The Third Place: Using Coffee as a Catalyst for Deeper Authentic Community, Demo Stage
• 10:30 a.m.: Rucca, Music Stage
• 11:30 a.m.: Beyond the Tea Cup | Seasonal Uses for Tea, Demo Stage
• 2 p.m.: Roasted Fig as a Beverage | Coffee’s Mellow Mate, Demo Stage
• 2 p.m.: Matt Waters, Music Stage
• 3 p.m.: Coffee Mocktails 101,Demo Stage
• 3:15 p.m.: Chandler Carter, Music Stage