No machines at Aromafest 2011?

[TC]

A chat with Attilio earlier this week has revealed the info that there will be no machines expo at Aromafest.

Rents for the passenger teminal skyrocketed leading to the change of venue last year.

The museum location led to a terrible bump in/out and quite a few "never again" responses from those who made the effort in 2010. Its undergoing some sort of a refurbishment this year, so no go- despite taking Attilios $$$ and being very tardy in returning the funds.

Seems the harbour authority are hell bent on sending the event the way of Celebrate the Bean in Melbourne.

One less excuse to travel as far as I am concerned. Any machines which are on display will be on the grass/street.

[topshot]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

Then where do we catch up with other CSs while we are there!

Let alone see what is new on the market!!

Maybe a national convention for CoffeeSnobs might work, have one in a state capital (changing state every year).

It might not work for our sponsors/suppliers as they will be preaching to the converted, concidering the costs involved moving machines etc around the country for a one off event every year let alone planing and timing an event like that!

Just a thought

Warren

[Andy]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

Maybe a national convention for CoffeeSnobs might work

After the first "CoffeeSnobs Beanology" a couple of months ago I have had many requests to try and take it on the road. That has some merit and certainly worthy of some more thought.

Aroma is a fun day out and amazing that they get 100,000 odd people there but due to its size and the huge volume of people it becomes a production line for anyone making coffee which will always cause grief with quality. As a fun day its great, as an event it lacks the learning or sharing aspect.

Cafebiz in Melbourne this year was a huge leap towards a coffee expo that allowed one on one interaction with resellers and was complimented with Beanology which offered info sessions to feed the brain. Get some training in there and you have the makings of a perfect snobbery weekend.

Im pretty sure that CafeBiz will become the "national convention" but that wont stop us from looking at other options interstate during the year that might work too. I think tagging onto other food or coffee events is the best way to kick it off.

[scarey]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

How about the Maitland Aroma?

[Andy]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

Its an outdoor event and a little tricky for a lot of the country to get to but I like the friendly "style" of that event.

The benefit with capital city events is cheap flights, lots of accomodation options and a big local population to attend.

Is there a nearby venue that could work?

[TC]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

Those who missed out on Beanology and CafeBiz missed something really special this year and I see the potential for a bigger event as well.

Although the machinery side of things currently caters more to industry, a larger CS contingent will encourage more CS focussed businesses to consider display of their wares and it can only build from there.

I think this would be a terrific thing.

[Thundergod]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

Is there a nearby venue that could work?

Unaware of the costs but the convention centre at Darling Harbour is always hosting events.

A company I worked for once hired one of the halls for our Christmas Party.

(Each of those halls is HUGE.)

[Andy]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

Unaware of the costs

About double whatever a lot is... will look similar to their phone number including country code I expect.

convention centre at Darling Harbour

Its a great venue. Microsoft used it a few times for TechEd and 2000+ people just disappeared into it without ever looking crowded. Central, easy to get to on public transport, plenty of parking and accomodation but maybe a bit too serious for us just yet.

[TC]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

About double whatever a lot is... will look similar to their phone number including country code I expect.

Thats what makes it tough for the little guy at the majority of these events. A 3x3m space and a trestle table generally comes at (many) thousands.

[Leigh]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

^^ I know!! I inquired about doing the food and wine here in Bris, and the smallest of smallest space was going to cost a few thousand! Which in turn could generate so much business, but I just cant afford that much, then to think about staff and promotional stuff... Far too expensive..

We use to attend this festival when we lived in Sydney.. Back then it was excellent..

I have often wondered why Brisbane dont do something along the same lines here...

I was so impressed with CafeBiz this year, and can see myself attending every year. Being exclusively coffee has its benefits for the industry.

If I had the time (and money!!) I have always thought trying to do some sort of coffee convention up here, possibly just to fuel my own needs.. lol I love getting together with Industry Folk..

[lilmeh]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

Aroma is a fun day out and amazing that they get 100,000 odd people there but due to its size and the huge volume of people it becomes a production line for anyone making coffee which will always cause grief with quality.

Can I just say though, I had some surprisingly good coffee at Aroma last year as a first timer.

E.g. I dont like Lavazza and normally would hate Segafredo but the coffee served at Aroma was pretty good for those brands.

It just goes to show how badly cafes are making coffee these days..

[Barry_Duncan]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

I have been to several Aroma Festivals at The Rocks, Sydney.

Each year the crowds have got bigger and the queues for the $1 coffees have got longer. In recent years it has been better for me to leave my coffee drinking to when I get home.

In early years I enjoyed going to free talks and demos on coffee and espresso making. I found these very informative; however these were wiped. Now there are limited master classes costing $200.

Much of the free entertainment has nothing to do with coffee. It is there to entertain the masses.

The machine displays have been of interest. Now that those have gone I don’t think I will be going this year.

Barry

[Dennis]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

I agree Barry and think its a real shame. Some irony too in the fact that you could always get a much better, quicker coffee for free thanks to the generosity, skill, and expertise of the machine demonstrators.

[Andy]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

I have been to several Aroma Festivals at The Rocks, Sydney.

...as have I but not this year.

Who went?

This must be the first time ever that we didnt have a pile of pics posted up.

[WhatamIdoinghere]

Re: No machines at Aromafest 2011?

I did go to it, for the first time in my life and probably the last. I was expecting a lot more focus on coffee and various machine types. The Breville Dual boiler was on display with free demos. This was just about the only thing of interest that I could see there. Oh and a "sold out" Masterclass as mentioned above.

Afraid the best I experienced was a nice cup of Turkish apple tea after deciding to steer clear of the production line espresso tents   :P:P