Specialty Coffee Convention Facts

Charlotte.com
Leigh Dyer

The Specialty Coffee Association of America is expected to draw 8,000 attendees, making it among the higher-attended conventions the group has ever held. The association says it should keep pace with the crowds in Boston in 2003 and San Francisco in 2000 and top Atlanta's 2004 crowd by about 800.

It probably won't top the more than 10,000 last year who went to Seattle, the hot spot for specialty coffee, but organizers are still impressed by the attendance in Charlotte, said association spokesman Mike Ferguson. "The Southeast has become one of the hottest spots in the country for coffee," he said.

The association estimates that attendees will spend $8 million to $11 million on hotel room, restaurant bills and other expenses.

One event is open to the public: Monday, six expert coffeemakers will compete in a barista contest from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Charlotte Convention Center's main floor.