Tenth Anniversary for Glasgow Coffee Festival

Glasgow Coffee Festival to return in May as it celebrates tenth anniversary

“It happened slowly, and then all at once”Lisa Lawson

Says the founder of the Glasgow Coffee Festival as she describes the ascendance of the city to becoming one of Europe’s best for coffee.

Lisa spoke as she looked back on ten years since the first Glasgow Coffee Festival as she launched this year’s event, which will take place on May 11th and 12th at The Briggait.

Lisa, who is widely regarded as a pioneer of Glasgow’s coffee scene, said: “When I started out, the barrier to entry was massive — my first roaster cost £17,000. Now, it’s much, much lower. More people can try coffee roasting as a hobby before making it a career.

“The coffee scene has transformed in the decade since we launched the festival. I’m really proud as I think creating an event where the coffee scene could come together as a community has played a big part in that.

“A lot can happen in a decade. There were only a few specialty cafes in 2014, when we launched and we were pushing against a lot of resistance to sell specialty coffee, people just didn’t understand how it was better for taste, quality and ethically in terms of both the supply chain and the environment.

“It happened slowly, then all at once — I think we reached a tipping point around maybe 2015/16. There was real momentum around the coffee scene with roosters and cafes popping up everywhere.

“Now, Glasgow can legitimately say it has one of the best coffee scenes in Europe.“

After last year’s coffee festival sold out with thousands of coffee lovers in attendance, anticipation is brewing for the anniversary celebration in May. The event, which is organised by Dear Green Coffee Roasters – a certified B Corp – will once again be single-use cup free.

The certified Q grader added: “Sustainability has been at the heart of our festival from day one. This year, as we celebrate a decade of coffee excellence, we are proud to continue our tradition of being environmentally conscious. The festival has grown bigger every year and so has its impact; we believe this is the world’s most sustainable coffee festival.

“As the Glasgow Coffee Festival embarks on its landmark year, it’s testament to the passion, resilience, and community spirit that define Scotland’s thriving coffee culture. The festival has not only been a celebration of coffee but a catalyst for change, inspiring people to embrace and contribute to the coffee community.”