First coffee festival in Zagreb to be held in May

At the end of May, the GR8 Coffee Festival is coming to Zagreb. In addition to coffee, at the festival, you’ll be able to sample teas, chocolates, spirits, and craft beers.

From May 23rd to May 25th, 2024, the GR8 Coffee Festival will transform Zagreb into the ultimate meeting place for coffee enthusiasts. Following the example of global metropolises, Pavilion 9 of the Zagreb Fair will host a genuine coffee festival, long-awaited in these parts.

The festival will gather aficionados and professionals around the “cup” of this sublime beverage, embodying culture, innovation, technology, passion, socialising, and connection. Alongside coffee, attendees will taste and explore the finest teas, chocolates, spirits, and craft beers.

“For years, I have been following the global community of high professionals and passionate coffee lovers. Aware that our region lacks high-profile events, I decided to launch the Festival. GR8 Coffee is more than just a festival; it’s a platform that will provide the opportunity for systematic professional development, where coffee enthusiasts can firsthand receive the latest insights on making this age-old beverage exceptional,” said Silvana Fanjek, director of the GR8 Coffee Festival, boasting over 25 years of experience in the coffee industry, in leadership positions.

“I believe that Zagreb, culturally and touristically, absolutely deserves to be positioned on the global coffee map alongside the biggest industry events,” Fanjek added.

Three days of incredible sensory journeys await visitors. They will enjoy a vibrant atmosphere, discovering new aromas and flavors amidst a rich program including tastings, practical workshops, the unmissable Latte Art Show for a unique visual delight, and the recommended Coffee Cocktail Show for an extra kick. 

The Cooking Show by chef David Skoko will ensure an irresistible gourmet experience, a true spectacle for your palate with menus based, of course, on coffee.

The intense Barista Challenge Show will provide an aromatic and dramatic experience where skilled baristas will showcase their talents. The entire competition, alongside the audience, will be judged by a panel including internationally recognized SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) diploma holders such as Domagoj Trusić, a certified trainer and renowned Croatian barista, Zoran Trkulja, a barista trainer, and Ivan Životić, a coffee expert and business development specialist.

Whether you’re a passionate coffee lover, an elitist, a coffee snob, or just embarking on a journey of deeper exploration into the world of coffee, you’ll find something for yourself at the GR8 Coffee Festival.

Guests of the Festival – Honorary Guest Country: Kingdom of Morocco

In addition to lectures, workshops, sensory spectacles, and thrilling thematic competitions, the organizers have prepared a series of surprises. Over the three days of rich content, experts from home and abroad will take the stage, with the Kingdom of Morocco as the Festival’s honorary guest country. 

Visitors will discover Morocco from a completely different perspective through a unique ceremony of preparing green tea with mint and will enjoy sweet delicacies and dates.

If you want to attend this unique festival, you can find tickets on entrio.hr or gr8coffeefestival.com.