Grounds for Celebration: Jackson Coffee Fest debuts this Saturday at Trade Mart

JACKSON, Miss. (VDN) — The first-ever Jackson Coffee Festival will take place Saturday, May 10, at the Mississippi Trade Mart, giving coffee lovers the chance to sample brews from across the state and learn more about the craft. Admission is $10, and parking is free.

“This event is about more than just sampling great coffee,” said organizer Jim Currie. “We want guests to expand their appreciation of coffee and explore new brewing methods.”

Baristas from a dozen Mississippi coffee shops will offer demonstrations of various brewing techniques, including pour-over, French press, AeroPress, and Hario V60. Coffee Bean Corral of Jackson will host roasting demonstrations using countertop roasters, showcasing the differences between light, medium, and dark roasts.

Dr. Kenneth Thomas of Umble Coffee in Starkville, a national AeroPress competitor and coffee educator at Stanford University, will lead a session on the coffee flavor wheel.

“We believe high-end specialty coffee should be approachable and not snooty,” Thomas said.

Exploradora Coffee of Oxford, a woman-owned roaster working with female-led farms in Central America, will lead a discussion on empowering women in the coffee industry. The company donates part of its profits to single mothers in Jackson.

Northshore Coffee owner Trey Malone will teach a class on crafting coffee cocktails, blending cold brew with spirits and syrups for creative drinks like espresso martinis and non-alcoholic mocktails.

The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature tastings, hands-on classes, and educational talks. Currie said, “Our goal is to connect people with new coffee experiences and the people behind them.”

Tickets are available online at www.JacksonCoffeeFestival.com and at participating Jackson-area coffee shops.