THIS JUST IN: From… ME! Yes, that’s right! This time, I’m posting one of my own press releases, and I write a hell of a press release, if I do say so myself! That’s because I receive & post so many press releases from other people, that I know what I personally like to see in a press release, so my press releases always have every single little ol’ thing that I think should be in a press release.

When I write a press release, it’s kinda like Cap’n Crunch with Crunchberries and Gummy Worms.

So, without further delay, here’s my press release for the upcoming 2017 Asheville Coffee Expo, which I am one of the Co-producers of, along with my partner Angie Rainey from CoffeeCrate.com, a coffee subscription service based here in Asheville. Angie and I did the first ever Asheville Coffee Expo together last year, and it was a success from every angle, so this year we’re doing it all over again, only bigger and better, with more area being added, which means more vendors, and more features! Plus we’ve added an After Party at… well… please read my press release!

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GETTING JAZZED FOR THE 2ND ANNUAL ASHEVILLE COFFEE EXPO!

Asheville, NC, River Arts District – Stu Helm The Food Fan and CoffeeCrate.co present The 2nd Annual Asheville Coffee Expo! This FREE, highly caffeinated event will be happening on Saturday, September 30th, 2017, from 10am – 2pm, and is located once again on the quiet, shady, and very pleasant Ralph Street, which is just behind PennyCup Coffee Co.’s roaster/cafe on the South-West side of the River Arts District. This year, the Asheville Coffee Expo will expand onto Depot Street for the first time with the 3 Mountains Tea Pavilion and Summit Coffee Co.’s Roasters Cupping Tent, located at The Eco Depot Marketplace, and Jon Sarver Realty, respectively.

MPORTANT: Depot Street will NOT be closed to traffic during the Asheville Coffee Expo.

The whole coffee community is abuzz about the return of this fun, FREE, family friendly festival, which is the only one of it’s kind in the WNC area! According to co-organizers Stu Helm and Angie Rainey, the 2nd Asheville Coffee Expo will be a repeat of the very successful inaugural event, only bigger and better, with the addition of the Tea Pavilion, Cupping Tent, and an After-Party to be hosted by Counter Culture Coffee at Burial Beer on the South Slope. The 3 Mountains Tea Pavilion will be hosted in the courtyard of the Eco Depot Market Place on Depot Street, right around the corner for the Expo. Featuring tea, treats, yoga, music, and a “chill-out” space. The Summit Coffee Roasters Cupping Tent will also be on Depot Street, in the parking lot in front of the John Sarver Real Estate Company, where Summit will be welcoming all of the attending roasters and the public to participate in the coffee “cupping” process throughout the day. The average coffee lover can learn the terminology and nuances of tasting, describing, and classifying coffee, and the professional roasters can meet each other and compare thoughts and notes.

IMPORTANT: Dogs are NOT allowed in the Expo Area, but will be allowed in the Tea Pavilion on Depot Street.

VENDORS
3 Mountains • Africa Healing Exchange • Asheville Bee Charmer • Asheville Tea Company • Be Well Balanced, LLC • Black Powder Roasting Company • Bomba • Carrboro Coffee Roasters • City Bakery • Coffee Crate • Compost NOW • Dobra Tea (Asheville, NC) • The Dripolator Coffeehouse Black Mtn • Dynamite Roasting Company • Eco Depot Marketplace • Elisha Mitchell Audubon Society • Farm to Home Milk • French Broad Chocolates • Geraldine’s Bakery • Herbiary – AVL • High Five Coffee • The Hop Ice Cream Cafe • Hotbox Roasters & B. Stiff & Sons Old Fashioned Soda Pop • Hot Yoga Asheville • Independent Bean Roasters • Ingenious Coffee Roasters • Izzy’s Coffee Den & Izzy’s Coffee House • Jenay Martin Ceramics • Kona-Kaffee • Misty Mountain Bakeshop • Motyl Pottery • Mr. Bob’s Do-Nuts Marion, NC • Notorious Coffee Roasting • PennyCup Coffee Co. • Pisgah Coffee Roasters • Qualla Java Cafe • The Rhu • Root Down food truck • Scott’s Knots • SRO – Shade Raised Organic Coffees • ShareWell Coffee Co. & Roastery • Summit Coffee Asheville • Sunnyside Trading Co • Trade and Lore Coffee • Tribal Grounds Coffee • Ultra Coffeebar • Vortex Doughnuts • Well Played Board Game Cafe

CONTESTS & COMPETITIONS
The Asheville Coffee Expo features three chances for baristas to show their chops! A panel of celebrity judges will preside over the “Triple Espresso Barista Challenge” competitions, in which baristas will compete in making great latte art, the perfect cappuccino, and a “freestyle” espresso beverage of their own creation, with prize packages provided by PennyCup Coffee Co. and Go FRS Asheville Restaurant Equipment Supply going to the winners! The barista throw downs are hosted & sponsored by PennyCup Coffee Co. and PennyCup at The YMI. The public will be invited to cast a ballot for the best cup of coffee among all of the vendors, and at the end of the event, those votes will be tallied, and the “Best House Cup” trophy will be awarded to the winner! The current cup holder is Dynamite Roasting Company (Black Mountain), who will either successfully defend their trophy for another year, or be forced to hand it over to the new champs, a la The Stanley Cup in the NHL!

FOOD
Bakeries, chocolatiers, ice cream makers, and other food makers are a big part of the Asheville Coffee Expo, and some of the area’s best will be represented in both the Coffee and Tea areas. Additionally, Root Down food truck — voted the Best Food Truck in Asheville — will be at the 2017 Asheville Coffee Expo! The amazing and talented Chef Dano Holcomb will be cooking and serving delicious brunch items utilizing and inspired by coffee! Food will be available at the after party from Salt & Smoke, named “2016 Restaurant of the Year” by Stu Helm: Food Fan.

MILK
None of the vendors need worry about bringing or refrigerating milk, because generous folks at Farm to Home Milk are donating both cow and goat milk for the festival again this year!

COFFEE FOR CHAMPIONS
The Asheville Coffee Expo is proud and happy to be teaming up with Buncombe County Special Olympics (BCSO) to raise funds and awareness through their “Coffee For Champions” program. During the entire month of September, participating cafes will be donating 1¢ per cup of coffee sold to BCSO, culminating on the 30th with the Asheville Coffee Expo, where the athletes will be in attendance, and BCSO will be offering fun, games, and coffee sack races to kids and adults alike. Please show up to show your support the athletes and volunteers for Buncombe County Special Olympics!

THE BASICS

WHO:
Produced and organized by: Stu Helm: The Food Fan, and Angie Rainey of CoffeeCrate.co
Hosted by PennyCup Coffee Co.
Sponsored by: 3 Mountains, Cafe Imports, Counter Culture Coffee, Summit Coffee, Farm to Home Milk, Go FRS Asheville, Food Life Magazine, Dig Local Asheville, Eco Depot. PennyCup at The YMI, Ashvegas.com, and Harrold & Rainey Law Offices.

WHAT:
The Asheville Coffee Expo is a celebration of coffee and all things coffee-relayed! Vendors, demos, roasters, cafes, barista competitions, prizes, coffee sack races, bakers, ice cream makers, artists, more! This is a FREE event, open to the public, that is family friendly.

WHERE:
Ralph Street in Asheville’s River Arts District
Centered in and around the PennyCup Coffee Co. cafe and roaster located in the RAD, near the corner of Depot and Bartlet Streets.

WHY:
Part festival for the public and part convention / social event for the coffee community, where anyone and everyone who enjoys coffee can gather, meet, exchange ideas, relax, laugh, eat, and drink together!

WHEN:
Saturday, September 30th, 2017, 10am – 2pm
After Party at Burial Beer starts at 3:00

HOW:
The coffee loving public is invited to join the fun by simply showing up!
There is plenty of street parking, but walk or ride a bike if you can!

This event is free!

Media Contacts:
Stu Helm
The Food Fan
stuhelmavl@gmail.com

Angie Rainey
CoffeeCrate.co
AshevilleCoffeeExpo@gmail.com

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