Top Picks for Thursday

Featuring an array of over 250 artisan coffee and gourmet food brands, alongside tastings and demonstrations by global baristas, interactive workshops, street food, coffee-based cocktails, music, art exhibitions, and talks - plus the renowned global barista tournament, Coffee Masters™ - there's an abundance of coffee-fuelled delights to indulge in! Whatever time of day you are planning to attend, here are the top picks for Thursday 11th April at LCF24, so you can savour every moment of your day.

Brew School - Dive headfirst into coffee culture
Pull up a pew at Brew School, an engaging hands-on workshop designed to immerse you in the art of coffee brewing. Under the guidance of renowned coffee experts and using the latest precision equipment, you'll refine your skills and hone your coffee making ritual. Each booking includes a coffee cocktail or mocktail, and you'll have the chance to win some fabulous Hario gear valued at over £100! Spaces are limited, so sign up now to secure your place in this exclusive experience.

The Lab - Ones to watch
As consumers' needs and expectations shift, the coffee scene continues to evolve and grow. Kicking off LCF24's The Lab sessions at 10:45am is Rosie Lowery of La Marzocco UK & Ireland. Join Rosie for 'Ones to Watch' as she quizzes three of the capital's top operators - Bugra Marasali of Lodestar Coffee, Katherine Miskulin of Paradox Design and Coffee, and Thomas Sixsmith of Batch Baby - about their operations and shines a light on their visions for the year ahead.

The Lab - Opportunities and challenges ahead
As the UK hospitality sector continues to face significant hurdles from staff shortages to rising costs, among others, growing a business that will stand the test of time is challenging. In this exclusive interview at 11:30am, you'll hear insights from Marta Pogroszewska, Managing Director at GAIL's, who will discuss the growth of GAIL's, the company's expansion ambitions, the coffee industry as a whole, consumer trends and the opportunities on the horizon.

The Lab - Starting your coffee business
Taking an idea all the way through from initial concept to fruition is a complex endeavour. How have the best succeeded in delivering their vision? Thursday's 12:15pm session at the Lab sees La Marzocco speaking to some big coffee industry names who have created unique and wonderful coffee businesses. You'll learn all about where their ideas began, their motivations and inspirations and how they lifted their concepts off the ground and turned them into successful businesses.

Latte Art Live - Refining latte art techniques
Join Rory McGhie of Pause Coffee Shop & Bakery in Birmingham's King's Heath at 1:30pm for ‘A Journeyman's Guide to Coffee' and discover the fine details that make all the difference in achieving the best latte art. Showcasing the legendary Modbar for the ultimate interactive experience, Rory will explore the intricacies of preparing, pouring and evaluating latte art and help you appreciate the beauty of your latte creations while refining your techniques to elevate them further. If you want to take your latte art to the next level, this is a session you won't want to miss!

The Lab - Women in coffee
Head straight over to The Lab at 2:00pm for ‘Women In Coffee: Inspiring leaders showing the way', where you'll hear from influential, inspiring women - from Benugo, Assembly Coffee, Victoria Arduino and Forest Green Coffee - who continue to drive change in key areas that shape the coffee industry. Learn about their journey, what they have achieved and be inspired to make a positive change in your business.

Coffee Masters™ - The fast-paced knockout battle
Head straight over to the Coffee Masters™ final show-down of the day and be wowed by the skill and passion of the competing baristas. Judged by an esteemed panel led by Anne Lunell, co-founder of Koppi, watch live as talented and creative baristas battle it out for a place in the Quarter Finals across a range of disciplines including Cupping, Brewing and Latte Art. The winner will take home the first prize of £2,000 - but who will it be?

Latte Art Live - A ‘pitcher perfect' pour
Round spout or sharp spout - do you know the impact that a different pitcher spout can have on latte art? Join pro pitcher manufacturer WPM - the experts in empowering baristas worldwide to create the perfect cup of coffee - at 4:00pm for an interactive demo at the Modbar and explanation of the different spouts available to baristas and coffee artists. There's a whole lot more to it than you might have imagined!

Top Picks for Friday

Featuring more than 250 artisan coffee and gourmet food brands, along with tastings, demonstrations by world-class baristas, interactive workshops, street food, coffee-based cocktails, music, art exhibitions, and talks - and a global barista tournament Coffee Masters™ - there's a wealth of experiences waiting for you! Whether you're dropping in for morning or afternoon, or planning to stay all day, here are the top picks for Friday 12th April at LCF24 to help you get the most from your day.

The Lab - Sustainability and driving change
The global coffee industry has made significant steps to improve sustainable practices, with many businesses across the supply chain leading by example. In this panel discussion at 10:45am, ‘Sustainability in coffee: Driving change across the supply chain', Beverage Daily's editor Rachel Arthur, sits down with a panel of leaders to discuss the responsibility on the industry to be more sustainable across the entire coffee supply chain, what more needs to be done and what their businesses are doing to tackle the issue.

Brew School - Refine your coffee rituals
Experience Brew School, a dynamic workshop designed to immerse you in the fascinating realm of coffee brewing. With guidance from esteemed coffee experts and cutting-edge equipment, refine your skills in 45 minutes. Additionally, enjoy a complimentary coffee cocktail or mocktail with every reservation, and seize the opportunity to win extraordinary Hario gear valued at over £100! Spaces are limited, so secure your spot now for this exclusive experience.

Latte Art Live - Meet the Wally
Ready to test your latte art skills? Join us at 11:30am for Latte Art Live and see if you've got what it takes! The La Marzocco team invites the London Coffee Festival audience to get behind the Modbar and try their hand at creating latte art using the Wally Milk automatic milk steamer that's designed to increase efficiency at the touch of a button. Whether you're a novice or a pro, come on over and give it a shot!

Latte Art Live - ‘Double Trouble'
Jump into a one-of-a-kind latte art journey with 'Pourfect Bonds' at 12:15pm, where two baristas morph into a synchronized masterpiece. Clad in a colossal t-shirt, this challenge blends skill and teamwork, stretching the limits  of creativity! Witness a distinctive 'pour'-formance that transcends the norm - an unforgettable mix of latte art and partnership skills swirling into artistic brilliance. The Double Trouble challenge is the ultimate fusion frenzy for baristas eager to blend together!

The Lab - Extract more out of your business
SumUp has helped empowered countless small businesses, many of them coffee shops. Join ‘Small change, big business' at 1:15pm and you'll hear about how small changes can have big impact. This session is all about how technology can boost sales and loyalty, and how getting the ‘boring basics' right can unlock creative potential. Ultimately you'll hear how to manage your money more efficiently to help your business thrive.

Latte Art Live - Milk steaming and pouring
This interactive Latte Art Live workshop at 1:45pm invites you to get involved on stage and have a go! First, Adam will run through the core fundamentals involved with pitcher positing and his approach to steaming milk followed by covering the three pillars of pouring latte art. Then it's over to you, as we invite you on stage for assisted pours with Adam!

Coffee Masters™ - The fast-paced knockout battle
Catch the Coffee Masters™ as they wrap up Round One of the competition and vie for a place in Saturday's Quarter Finals. Judged by an esteemed panel led by Anne Lunell, co-founder of Koppi, watch live as talented baristas battle it out for a place in the Quarter Finals across a range of disciplines including Cupping, Brewing and Latte Art.

Latte Art Live: Mastering complex latte art
Texturing milk to a velvety micro-foam consistency is essential for creating intricate latte art designs with artistic flair and individual style in each cup. But what is the indispensable tool that Ernie relies on? Join him at 4:00pm to find out and watch as some of the coolest latte art patterns inspired by world champions come to life.