A Brewtastic Weekend at the 2024 Columbus Coffee Festival

A Brewtastic Weekend at the 2024 Columbus Coffee Festival

There are a few events that fill my calendar with pure excitement, and the Columbus Coffee Festival is absolutely one of them. Picture this: thousands of caffeine enthusiasts buzzing with anticipation, the smell of fresh-roasted beans wafting through the crisp Ohio air, and, in the center of it all, Brewtoria's booth — ready to deliver some seriously delightful coffee magic. This year’s festival took place at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, Ohio, and let me tell you, it was one for the books.

The Setup: My Partner in Crime, Joey

First things first, I must introduce you to Joey, the MVP of the weekend. Joey is my Columbus-based booth assistant who was not just there to help; he was my coffee-sidekick, my partner in caffeinated crime. Think of him as the Batman to my Robin, but with more lattes and fewer utility belts. Joey was a master at demoing products, interacting with customers, and somehow, in the middle of it all, managing to keep the booth from turning into a chaotic coffee explosion.

Now, if you’ve ever worked a festival booth, you know how intense it can get. There are waves of people, questions flying at you from all directions, and you’re trying to pour the perfect brew while explaining the benefits of a Chemex versus an AeroPress. But Joey? Joey made it look effortless. He was the calm in the caffeinated storm. While I handled the customer schmoozing, Joey was there, expertly demonstrating our products, brewing perfect samples, and occasionally cracking a joke that had the entire booth laughing.

Saturday Morning, Early: The Calm Before the Coffee Storm

Saturday morning at 7:00 am was set-up day, and the fairgrounds had that pre-festival vibe — a mix of excitement and frantic last-minute preparations. Joey and I arrived early to get everything just right. There’s something oddly therapeutic about setting up a booth. Laying out bags of beans, arranging brew equipment, and, of course, putting out the Brewtoria sign that I’d agonized over for weeks.

Joey and I made sure the booth was equal parts welcoming and educational. We had our display of coffee beans front and center, from light roasts to the darker, more robust blends, and behind that, our lineup of brewing methods — pour-over, French press, and even a siphon for the more adventurous attendees. We decided on a simple layout: demo station on the left, retail products on the right, and enough space in between for people to come in, ask questions, and grab a sample. Oh, and the secret weapon? Joey’s perfectly timed dad jokes. (“Why did the espresso keep checking its watch? Because it was pressed for time!”)

Saturday, 9:00AM:  The Buzz Begins

By 9 a.m. on Saturday, the fairgrounds were already buzzing — both from excitement and, well, the increasing levels of caffeine consumption. Our first wave of customers was a mix of seasoned coffee aficionados and newbies eager to learn. Joey kicked off the morning with a killer pour-over demo. There’s a certain elegance in how he explains the process, making something as complex as the right water-to-coffee ratio sound as easy as making instant noodles. People gathered around, captivated by his calm demeanor and silky smooth brewing techniques.

And let me just say, Joey’s enthusiasm was contagious. He was the kind of booth assistant who could talk to anyone, making connections over a shared love of coffee. Whether it was a hardcore espresso enthusiast or someone who had never heard of a Chemex before, Joey handled every interaction with the same level of care and excitement.

As for me, I was busy juggling retail sales, handing out samples, and chatting with fellow vendors. There was a great sense of camaraderie at the festival. We were surrounded by talented local roasters, specialty coffee equipment dealers, and even some bakeries that paired their goods perfectly with a cup of Brewtoria’s finest. It was the kind of atmosphere where you could take a deep breath (of coffee-scented air) and know you were among your people.

Sunday: A Whole Latte Love

By Sunday, Joey and I had found our groove. We had a steady flow of regulars who stopped by for more samples (they couldn't get enough of our Ambergris Espresso on the SuperKop ). Joey had the French press down to an art, and I found my rhythm with the AeroPress demonstrations, which drew in an impressive number of curious onlookers.

I’m pretty sure Joey secretly runs on coffee — the man didn’t stop the entire weekend. He was running back and forth between the booth and the festival’s water stations, making sure we had everything we needed to keep the demos flowing smoothly. His ability to multitask under pressure was nothing short of amazing. There was one moment, in particular, that I will never forget. We were swamped with customers, and in the middle of a demo, Joey somehow managed to explain the importance of grind size while simultaneously adjusting our display, brewing a perfect cup, and talking to a customer about their favorite local roaster. All I could do was marvel at his efficiency and wonder if he was secretly a superhero.

The QR Code Raffles: Beans and a Dream Grinder

Of course, what’s a festival without a little extra excitement? Joey and I decided to spice things up with not one, but two QR code raffles at the booth. It was a brilliant way to engage with our fellow coffee enthusiasts, and I think Joey had just as much fun promoting the raffles as the attendees did entering them! The first raffle was for a 3-month coffee subscription from Brewtoria — a chance for someone to enjoy our hand-selected, freshly roasted beans delivered right to their doorstep. The second raffle, and possibly the most coveted prize of the weekend, was a Baratza Encore grinder. If you know anything about coffee grinders, you know this is the golden ticket for any home brewer looking to step up their coffee game.

Participants simply scanned our QR codes, which took them to our raffle entry pages — all digital, no fuss. Joey was on top of explaining how it worked to anyone who had questions, and he had a real knack for making it sound like the easiest and coolest thing in the world. And, true to form, we had a steady stream of people scanning away, dreaming of those fresh beans or that shiny new grinder. By the end of the festival, we had hundreds of entries, and the excitement was palpable when we announced the winners on Sunday. It added a fun layer of interaction and was a huge hit — people kept coming back to check if they’d won!

Even for those who didn’t win, they left with the knowledge that the next great cup of coffee might be just a QR code scan away. The raffles really brought an extra buzz (pun intended!) to an already buzzing weekend.

The People: Why We Do It

What really made the festival special was the people. Coffee, at its heart, is about connection, and that was on full display all weekend long. We met so many incredible individuals — from coffee newbies eager to learn the difference between a light and dark roast to seasoned connoisseurs who could identify the tasting notes in our single-origin beans before they even took a sip.

One of my favorite interactions of the weekend happened late Sunday afternoon. A woman approached the booth with her teenage daughter, and they confessed they were total coffee newbies. Joey took them under his wing, walking them through the basics of home brewing. He explained everything with such patience and care that by the end of their time with us, they had bought a starter kit and were beaming with excitement, eager to brew their first cup together at home.

Moments like that are why we do this. Sure, selling coffee and equipment is great, but the real joy comes from sharing our love of coffee with others and knowing that, in some small way, we’ve made their daily cup a little more special.

Packing Up: Bitter but Sweet

As the festival wound down on Sunday evening, Joey and I started the bittersweet task of packing up. There’s always that mix of exhaustion and satisfaction at the end of an event like this. Joey, still full of energy (seriously, where does he store it all?), kept the mood light as we boxed up the remaining beans and took down the displays.

In the end, the Columbus Coffee Festival was everything we hoped for and more. We left with tired feet, full hearts, and a whole new group of Brewtoria fans. And Joey? He was the hero of the weekend. I couldn't have done it without him — and I have a feeling this won’t be the last festival we tackle together.

Until next year, Columbus Coffee Festival! You’ve caffeinated our souls and left us with memories that will last far longer than any espresso shot.

Cheers to the next brew adventure! ☕

Looking to up your craft coffee game? Brewtoria has you covered, from coffee roasts, to equipment, and merch. And of course, we do have cupping supplies as well! We are your one stop shop for brewing amazing coffee at home!