CoffeeCON 2013 Celebrates All Things Coffee May 4

Coffee lovers from Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles are among the target audience for CoffeeCON 2013, a celebration of all things coffee that takes place May 4 in Warrenville.

The event was held for the first time last year and was the brainchild of Kevin Sinnott, a Warrenville resident and coffee authority, who has written extensively on the beverage.

Held in Warrenville at the IBEW building, the conference is geared to the consumer and last year drew about 1,200 people, including large number of residents from the surrounding area, including Naperville, Wheaton, Geneva, St. Charles and Lisle.

Attendance this year is expected to be higher and is capped at 2,000, said Patricia Sinnott, the event manager.

“It is a very fun local event,” she said. “If you are going to go out on that Saturday and spend some money on coffee at Starbucks, you may as well come out and enjoy some of the best coffees in the world.”

In fact, the Indonesian government is sending its minister of trade to the event, along with some of its finest coffee, which will be roasting and available to sample.

Those who attend the event will have the opportunity to take seminars on a variety of topics, including how to brew a great cup of coffee at home, how to host a cupping party and coffee and food pairing.

The classes will be geared toward the home brewer and how to maximize the in-home coffee experience.

Coffee roasters will have beans roasting on the veranda during the event and Sinnott said attendees will be able to ask for a free bag of beans.

Cost to attend the event is $15 in advance, $20 at the door, but the swag bag will make up for the cost, Sinnott said. The bag will include beans, Walkers shortbreads and other items.

“This promises to be the ultimate coffee brewing event. I’ve learned so much, and I’ve had a great desire to share this knowledge with others. The web has brought a coffee information boom. Yet, we need to taste, see and touch all the available beans and gear – and we need to meet each other. What better way than to bring industry leaders, expert amateur icons, the top ten coffee bloggers and manufacturers all together to mingle and share with passionate coffee drinkers,” Kevin Sinnott said in a news release. “I know everyone who comes will learn so much and be absolutely awed by the experience.”

CoffeeCON 2013 will be held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 4 at the IBEW building, 28600 Bella Vista Parkway in Warrenville. Tickets are $15 if purchased in advance online or $20 at the door. Patch readers who use the dicsount code: Patch will receive a $5 discount when purchasing tickets online. Swag bags are limited and will be available to the first 1,000 attendees. Learn more and register online.