Coffee Festival and Rock&Roll in Łódż !

Now you're talking!

After attending the coffee corner at Warsaw exhibition I was a little disappointed. Too many expectations, I guess. Worth going anyway. Later I came across another coffee event. This time in Łódż city, middle May, an hour and a half trip away from Warsaw. This coffee fest was visa versa. minimal expectations, maximum result!

Straight on entering you go through a Rock&Roll area. Sweet idea! Why not enjoy some good music while getting drunk...on coffee))). Okey, what is in the next room? I glanced at the itinerary and was still wondering what actually was happening there. My biggest hope was to find new coffee and valuable information for my obsession (read hobby:)).

René is a roaster from Brno, Czech Republic shared some of the current challenges with water in coffee brewing. He was presenting Rusty Nails micro roastery. I never really went deep into water quality issue but it seems like there is still much to learn and try. I'm no chemist but the main thing I learned from this guy was that water can be soft and hard, and the most suitable for coffee is the one which is not too soft or too hard, in the middle of the scale, so to say. 

Rusty Nails did a good job presenting the water seminar so I stopped for couple minutes at their corner and tried some tasty coffee husk drink. It had a pretty good taste, not that sweet and a bit sour at the same time. Must be fantastic for hot weather! I'm getting a pack, and also a microlot arabica from Peru. Nowadays it is popular to create your own packaging, so it was not a surprise to see a 270 gr pack (not 250 gr standard pack).

These are the Wroclaw guys from Wroasters company. Great chat and tasty coffee! I'm low on budget already. My coffee tank is full now. Let's keep moving, for there is lots to see. My wife Tetyana is on her search for tea. I am curious if they have any at the fest.

Another Wroclaw roastery called Blueberry Roasters had a really cool boutique at the fest. On top of coffee, they had a fun looking lady selling syrups of various tastes and tea. Coming from a slavic country, we have a special love for tea as a main drink for any season basically. At this stand we found ALBERT tea and bought a little of chinese green Sencha. There were also other more expensive options slightly too much for our budget).

I must admit we saw and drank so much that some of my impressions are mixed in my head now. Yet what I definitely will not forget was the drink made with green tea in it from this tea stand. It reminded me of a fresh fruit and vegetable drink. Unbelievably yummy! If only the lady was in the mood to tell us their secret ingredients! Not the case.

In between all the coffee drinking we stopped by the creative corner with many cute little things to see and buy. Then had a chat with a lady selling water filters and had really tasty water with fruit and vegies in it. I guess that was the trick to make us believe these particular filters make any water taste awesome). Selfy box was quite fun too! Not easy to catch the right moment if you are not looking into the camera, ha-ha. 

Another dream of mine finally came true! I had the chance to hold and play with Comandante grinder. This German brand makes some of the best ever manual coffee grinders. And I see why, the cost like gold (around 1000 zł/250$ per one). Maybe some day I'll be that lucky to own one. In the meantime my thoughts are on checking out Zassenhaus grinders (also steel burr but cost around 100$) to replace my current small one made by Japanese Hario.  

When we made it to the chocolate fountain, it was already cold and hard. Ahhhhh...No luck was also finding a restaurant for it was Trinity and most places were closed. For such occasions, McDonalds is always there. I never thought I would be happy to eat at a fast food so much))). However, the Coffee Festival at Łódż city was a real treat! I absolutely loved it. I wish I could make it to the Krakow one too. Well, next year it is on my calendar. We basically drove only the main street and saw this gorgeous tram stop and a cute old house right next to the festival's location. The first one reminds me the stained-glass windows in Kraków churches and the second brings up the best memories of pretty old red swedish houses. I bet you would think of something too when out there. Poland has indeed a lot to see.