The Coffee Festival in Szczecin brought together exhibitors from across Europe alongside local roasteries, and the mood was warmer and more generous than we expected. As a roastery from West Pomerania in northern Poland we were not going to miss it. We put together a stand full of coffee and live demonstrations. Here is what we showed and how people responded.
The Coffee Festival in Szczecin: coffee and good energy
This year’s edition drew exhibitors from all over Europe as well as Polish roasteries, including roasteries based in Szczecin itself. You could feel the mood from the door: exhibitors and visitors alike turned up with energy and enthusiasm. It is a chance to taste unusual coffees, but it is just as much a place to swap notes and meet people in the trade.
What surprised us was how welcoming the whole thing felt, and that is down to the organisers. Clear communication and a well-planned run-up meant the turnout went beyond anything we had expected. Szczecin is becoming a serious point on the coffee map of Poland.
Everywhere we turned there were people who care about coffee, from working baristas to home brewers who had come to find new flavours and new kit. Thank you to the organisers for having us.
The Colbergcoffee stand: coffee, a live roast and conversations with visitors
We felt we had to be there and celebrate the weekend with everyone else. On the stand we built a small coffee oasis where anyone could find a new flavour and watch beans being roasted in front of them.
We made sure there was range: three espressos, refreshing cold coffees and coffees set up for filter. The hit of the weekend turned out to be the roasting demonstration on the sample roaster, which pulled in a steady crowd curious about how a raw seed turns into something you can brew. The smoke, the smell of freshly roasted coffee and the heat coming off the drum made their own atmosphere, and we were happy to talk through how roasting actually works.
Visitors loved being able to watch the roast and they asked a huge number of questions. That kind of direct interest showed us how much appetite there is for craft coffee and for the process behind it.
Equipment in action: advice and demonstrations
Beyond the tastings, the stand drew attention for the brewing equipment. We showed the latest espresso machines and grinders, the kind that work as well in a small café as they do at home.
Plenty of café and restaurant owners made use of us, asking what would suit their own venues. One compact espresso machine drew particular interest, because its modern features make it work in sites where space is tight.
Every conversation was a chance to swap experience, and people appreciated that we were open about what we know. It was not only about showing products, it was about getting to know other local businesses.
The coffee that won Szczecin over: what visitors said
Our stand became a meeting point for regulars and for people meeting us for the first time. The best conversations were with people who already know our coffee from the café in Kołobrzeg or from orders placed in the online shop. Kind words, memories and stories attached to our blends are the thing that keeps us going.
One of the moments we will remember was a lady who had never met us in person and who talked with real enthusiasm about her favourite blend, Good Morning. She was smiling as she asked about other coffees with similar notes, looking for something new to brew at home. It is a remarkable feeling when someone comes up to you like that.
There were also plenty of people trying our coffee for the first time who immediately wanted beans for home or for the office. Meetings like that matter to us. They are what makes the work feel worth doing, and they show that coffee connects people wherever they happen to be.
Our team had a brilliant time, and the praise from visitors kept us going right through the festival. Honest reactions, smiles and long conversations about coffee are the essence of what we do day to day.
Good energy and new ideas: our take on the Szczecin coffee festival
The Coffee Festival in Szczecin turned out to be a real success, both in sales and in the conversations we had. Practically every bag we brought went home with a visitor. That was a pleasure, and it was also proof that what we roast lands with people who love coffee.
We are heading back to Kołobrzeg full of energy and new ideas. Talking to people who care about coffee reminds us the work has a point, and that every cup we roast makes somebody’s day better. We are already looking forward to the next show.
