The 55th edition of Coffee Fest is an annual convention of exhibitors dedicated to the preservation and advancement of brewed beverages. However, the annual gathering is not just about a cup of joe. Discussions among Java experts and industry vendors range from beans to the coffee plantations that grow them.
There are differences between the types of beans. Arabica beans are ovular, flat and oilier than robusta beans. Robusta beans are smaller and rounder, with an average caffeine content averages of around 2.7% compared to Arabica’s 1.5%. Flavored coffee remains popular, with chocolate and mocha consistently consistently topping the list.
Roasting brings out the flavor of a bean. No longer practiced over an open flame, modern coffee engineers take pride in automated systems that efficiently load, roast, and remove bean product. Specialty coffee shops often purchase portable roasters that can turn a green bean to the preferred shade of dark almost before your eyes.
Coffee Plantations range from those adhering to shade-grown farming practices to others that protect forest-dwelling wildlife. Some receive endorsements from the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center. Sun-coffee farmers generate higher yields and larger profits, but they do so at the expense of the environment. Myriad species of insects, mammals, reptiles, and plants are threatened when large swaths of forest are cleared to make way for coffee fields.
Coffee Fest is two-day experience. It begins tomorrow at the Las Vegas Convention Center.