The Sheffield Coffee Festival is an annual event that brings together coffee enthusiasts, baristas, roasters, and vendors to celebrate the rich and diverse coffee culture in the city of Sheffield. This festival is a must-visit for anyone who appreciates a good cup of coffee and wants to learn more about the art and science behind this beloved beverage.
Full Festival Wrap-Up Video
Capturing The Event on Video
Conor McEwen (@stillmakingcoffee), a coffee enthusiast and good friend of mine, brought to my attention that the @sheffieldcoffeefestival team were on the hunt for a Videographer to capture the weekend.
I reached out with my portfolio of work, and after a pitching process and contending with 30 other budding filmmakers, the Sheffield Coffee Festival team kindly chose to work with me!
But of course... it couldn't be that easy! The Thursday morning before the Friday where I would start shooting the festival, absolute disaster struck.
Around 7:30AM I got a call from Harriet who I share an office with, with the absolute worst news imaginable.
Our office had been broken into.
The crooks had forced their way in through a window, and began kicking down internal doors. After rushing into the office as quick as I could, I did a quick scan of my kit and realised the worst.
All my camera gear had been stolen.
Fortunately, after sharing around the terrible news with my incredible network of friends and filmmakers alike, I had more offers to borrow kit than I knew what to do with. Within hours I had picked up a camera from the very generous James Plummer and, although pretty rattled and very stressed, I was ready to shoot the festival.
I charged around the city on Friday morning, visiting all of the participating venues and capturing the shopfronts to work into an edit that afternoon. Before the end of that day, I had put together this video to be posted the night before the festival officially began!
Friday Hype Video
Event Highlights
Coffee Tastings: Visitors had the opportunity to sample a wide variety of coffees from local roasters and international brands. From single-origin beans to specialty blends, there was something to suit every palate.
Barista Competitions: Talented baristas showcased their skills in competitions that tested their precision, creativity, and speed. These competitions are not only entertaining to watch but also a great way to appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making a perfect cup of coffee. Over the course of the weekend we saw both the English Aeropress Championships at Marmadukes, and the Latte Art Throwdown at Mows.
Workshops and Seminars: Coffee experts lead informative sessions on topics such as coffee brewing techniques, coffee bean sourcing, and latte art. Whether you are a coffee novice or a seasoned enthusiast, there is always something new to learn at the Sheffield Coffee Festival.
Food: In addition to coffee-related activities, the festival also features a selection of food vendors offering delicious treats that pair perfectly with a cup of coffee.
English Aeropress Championships
Saturday Filming
Over the course of the Saturday at the festival, I captured wristband collection at Marmadukes, cupping at Husk, pottery painting workships at Kilnfolk, roastery tours at Frazers and the English Aeropress Championships in the evening. All in all, apart from having a few hours in the middle of the day to start to digest and cut up footage, I was shooting from 9AM - 9PM, and then headed straight back to my office to crack on with the edit.
Getting a few hours edit in upstairs of Marmadukes
before the Aeropress competition.
This part of the weekend was the most difficult. I was physically and mentally exhausted, with a big job to do, but completely terrified of being in my office late at night on my own. It was challenging to feel safe in that environment anymore. It was the last thing I needed piling on top of an already very stressful day of work.
But we made it through!
Here are the Saturday Round-Up & Aeropress Championships videos I made that evening:
Saturday Round-Up Video
Aeropress Championships Video
Community Engagement
Besides being a celebration of coffee, the Sheffield Coffee Festival also aims to promote sustainability and support local businesses. Many of the vendors at the festival prioritize ethically sourced beans and eco-friendly practices, contributing to a more sustainable coffee industry. By highlighting the work of local roasters and artisans, the festival helps to strengthen the community and showcase the talent and creativity present in Sheffield's coffee scene.
Getting my morning oat flat white
to power me for the next day!
Sunday Filming
After having the least restful, caffeine fueled sleep imaginable, I was straight back into the action on Sunday morning. I started the day capturing a talk by Dark Woods at Kollective, shot across the city to Depot Bakery, and rubber banded back across over to Cloud in Crookes to learn about agroforestry in Brazil. I finished the day with the latte art throwdown hosted at Mows hosted by Dark Arts Coffee.
The day ended with some emotional and heartfelt speeches by the main contributors to the festival, and the vibes were absolutely immaculate.
Then it was back to the office to edit!
That evening I managed to do the same again, churning out two more videos to show off the festival.
Sunday Round-Up Video
Latte Art Throwdown Video
A Massive Thank You!
So grateful to Josh and Matt over at Sheffield Coffee Festival for putting on such an incredible event, to all the venues that hosted events across the weekend, to the brands and organisations that visited the city to bring workshops, tasters, experiences and more, and to the people of Sheffield and beyond that participated in the event! It would have been nothing without the lovely humans attending that made the event so special.
Josh & Matt - The team behind the Sheffield Coffee Festival
And of course, to my friends and family who propped me up during this incredibly difficult weekend, helping me to get back on my feet after such an incredible blow to my business only 4 months after branching out to go freelance.
Join the Celebration
Whether you are a coffee aficionado, a curious beginner, or simply someone who enjoys a good cup of joe, the Sheffield Coffee Festival offers a unique and immersive experience that celebrates all things coffee. Don't miss your chance next time to be a part of this exciting event and discover the wonders of Sheffield's vibrant coffee culture!
If you're looking for a videographer to capture your next event, or a camera operator to come on-board your next production, please get in touch with me over on my contact page. If you'd like to see more of my work, take a look at my promotional portfolio too.
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