Has it changed much in the space of two years? I would say yes, in that there’s a buzz about the place, and it’s not all down to coffee.
In fact, in some corners of the venue, you won’t find coffee at all. There are confectioners aplenty; juice producers, soup experts and even a German sausage kiosk. Yet, the beating heart of this event relies on a steady stream of caffeine, which can be found in the shape of distributors and brand owners, large and small.
Cimbali UK, in true Miracle on 34th Street fashion, have announced a coffee machine museum called Mumac, which showcases vintage coffee machines from lots of different manufacturers. It’s based in Italy, but there were some items on show in London today, including an amazing contraption that dates back to the 1930s.
The big names in coffee, such as Starbucks and Costa, framed their brands with fun, summery stands (both with photo booths), while some of the smaller brands enjoyed the communal atmosphere of the shaded spaces, often finding themselves next to excellent chocolate producers and popular bakers.
I particularly enjoyed the juices at the Dr Oats stall, as well as the Natvia-infused iced drinks. And it was nice to see Naked Juice’s Red Machine on show, which is a tough juice to find in our hometown of Bath.
And there lies the conclusion: that despite the coffee on show, it has fallen on the capable shoulders of the non-coffee brand owners to add a little spice and atmosphere to an already popular event in the food and drink calendar. And long may it continue.
Check out the event photos here.
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