La Paz will host the state’s first Coffee Festival at Velasco Garden on Thursday, April 23, and Friday, April 24, with more than 40 businesses taking part.
A national latte art competition will also be held during the two-day event. Velasco Garden, located across from the La Paz Cathedral, will be transformed into the venue for the historic festival.
Under the direction of Edgar Salazar, the event marks a milestone for the state as organizers seek to professionalize an industry that, while not producing coffee beans locally, serves one of the highest coffee-consuming regions in northwestern Mexico.
The festival’s mission is to raise quality standards for coffee consumers in La Paz. Salazar said the greatest benefit will be for residents who visit local coffee shops daily. “We seek to encourage local consumption and, at the same time, promote professional barista skills,” Salazar said.
The event will feature the Pitcher Cup, a latte art competition organized in conjunction with Simbiosis Cafés de Puebla. Nationally recognized judges will evaluate the talent of baristas from Baja California Sur.
Vendor booths will offer tastings of coffees from different regions, cold beverages and artisanal pastries.
Technology enthusiasts also will be able to view displays of specialized machinery manufactured in Milan, Italy, highlighting that coffee in La Paz is being prepared to international standards.
