Coffee Fest Named To TradeShow Weeks Fastest 50

Lifestyle Events Inc.’s Coffee Fest Trade Shows have been named one of the 50 fastest growing trade shows in North America by Tradeshow Week Magazine, the leading trade show and event production publication.

The Fastest 50 competition was open to the more than 3000 trade, consumer and association shows produced in the United States and Canada annually. To be eligible, shows must have been produced in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Exhibitor net square footage was the primary determining criteria and the 50 winners announced today were the shows with the greatest percentage of growth from 2001-2003.

The awards ceremony will be held in Dallas, Texas on November 1 th. All 50 winners will be present at the awards ceremony and the overall top performer in Trade Show, Consumer Show and Association Show will be announced. Of those three, the top performer overall will be singled out and recognized as categories.

“Coffee Fest has enjoyed incredible growth during an extremely tough economic period following the events of 9/11,” said Show Manager David Heilbrunn. “While the trade show industry as a whole was reporting losses along the lines of 7% on average, Coffee Fest has been clipping along at 25 to 40% exhibitor growth and 20% to 50% attendee growth.” Our goal in 2000 was to become the top trade show in the coffee industry. While we are confident that we have achieved that objective, we are delighted that we may be crowned in November as the number one trade show production company in the North America.”

“Coffee Fest is honored to be recognized by our peers because they understand what it takes to organize these shows,” said Heilbrunn. “This Fastest 50 award really acknowledges our entire staff’s hard work and dedication to each of our events. Their energy and enthusiasm breeds success, and we’re looking forward to continuing to make an impact in the Coffee Business for many years to come.”

"Ultimately it is also the coffee industry as a whole that deserves our gratitude for these awards. Attendees and exhibitors alike are free to invest their marketing dollars as they see fit and increasingly they are seeking out Coffee Fest. To them we say thank you and promise to continue to support the coffee industry in the manner they have come to know and expect from us” Heilbrunn concluded.

In 2001 Heilbrunn earned The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year award for managing Coffee Fest. “The Expo Group Show Manager of the Year Award was presented to people who are passionate about providing their customers with a first-rate experience,” said Ray Pekowski, founder and president of the Expo Group. “To be recognized by peers and customers says a great deal about the winners’ talents and abilities.”

Peers and exhibitors nominated award recipients for their innovative show management style, incorporation of new technology and ability to overcome obstacles. Heilbrunn received a trophy and a $1,000 donation was made by the Expo Group in Heilbrunn’s name, which he chose to donate to Coffee Kids, an international organization dedicated to improving lives in coffee-growing regions.

coffeefest.com

Fresh blended

Last year's Barista Champion spills a few secrets to making great coffee

By Martin S. Gonzalez
Staff Writer

At her family's coffee shop -- Coffee Klatch in San Dimas --one busy morning, Heather Perry watches as an espresso she is brewing begins to pour. As the broken stream of espresso dithers into the cup, Perry knows immediately this is not going to be a good cup of espresso.
"You want to have a steady stream of espresso coming out," she said. "It should be like pouring honey or syrup. That's the flow you want to look for."

Having grown up in her family's two coffee shops all her life, Perry has picked up quite a bit of knowledge about coffee and the proper methods of brewing. A testament to her skill and knowledge came last year when the just-turned-22-year-old became the U.S. Barista Champion at the annual competition sponsored by the Specialty Coffee Association of America. Over a span of three rounds, Perry made espressos, cappuccinos and her signature coffee cocktails for a panel of seven judges, beating out 36 other contestants for the top honor of Champion Barista and picking up the $1,000 grand prize as well as a trip to San Francisco.

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The potential move likely is intended to improve the company's margins, which have taken a hit recently from higher milk and green coffee bean prices. Another possible reason for the price increase: Its competitors are charging more.

Turns out that some of Starbucks prices are lower -- albeit in some cases not by much -- than its rivals, according to a recent survey conducted by CIBC World Markets analyst John Glass.

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Saving Jungles May Aid Nearby Coffee Plantations

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Bees can cross over from the jungle to pollinate the coffee trees, resulting in greater yields and healthier coffee beans, the U.S. researchers found.

"Policies that allow landowners to capture the value of pollination and other services could provide powerful incentives for forest conservation in some of the most biodiverse and threatened regions on Earth," the researchers wrote in their report, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers at the World Wildlife Fund, California's Stanford University and the University of Kansas said they focused on coffee because it is such an important crop.

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Coffee shop locations are just a click away

Thanks to the Mapquest now you can find coffee shops in any area, get their phone numbers and directions. Click Here