Latte art, espresso martinis and more free samples than you can shake a reusable cup at – the Brighton Coffee Festival (BCF) is back, taking over All Saints in Hove for a full weekend of caffeinated chaos on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August.
The sold-out crowds of 2024 (and every year since 2019) prove Brighton just can’t get enough caffeine. BCF throws the spotlight on everything brilliant in speciality coffee – all set against the vibrant buzz of Brighton itself. Get ready for a weekend packed with local roasters, national stars, and a line-up that manages to be both educational and buzzy.
They’re going single-use cup free again, too – you can either bring your own or grab a loan cup for a £2 deposit and make use of the handy rinsing stations between tastings.
The schedule is… well, a bit of a dream for coffee lovers. Think:
- Latte art competitions where milk froth becomes actual art
- Cupping sessions with beans from Brighton to Brazil
- Panel chats covering everything from competition tips to home roasting debates
- Workshops for beginners and pros, from ‘brew like a barista’ to twisting an espresso martini that’ll ruin you for all others
And it’s not all serious sipping – Saturday alone packs in multiple latte art showdowns, a panel celebrating women in coffee (She’s the Roaster), live entertainment, and plenty of moments to wander between stands (over 50 of ’em) , cup in hand, sampling whatever catches your eye (or nose).
It’s the sort of weekend where you might arrive for “just an hour” and somehow find yourself there at closing, vibrating slightly with caffeine and making friends with a barista you now follow on Instagram.
(NB: Dogs on a lead are welcome, but organisers do warn the festival is likely to be very loud and busy.)
When: Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th August
Where: All Saints, The Drive, Hove
Why: Because life’s too short for bad coffee
