One could almost taste the excitement Saturday and Sunday morning as coffee lovers lined up tasting local roasters’ finest coffee blends. From single-origin specialty coffee to a cold brew take on an old fashioned, the Austin Coffee Festival had it all.

The third annual Austin Coffee Festival took place over Sept. 28 and 29 at the Palmer Events Center, hosting over 50 roasting companies including local Austin businesses such as Fara Coffee, Medici and Cuvée Coffee. Some vendors also offered specialty teas and matcha while the venue presented live panels, discussions and musical performances.

“We’re on a mission as a business to have good coffee for all people, no matter race, gender or ethnicity, we want everyone to have access to good coffee,” said Billy Wiginton, owner of Haciendo Coffee Roasters.

Wiginton said Haciendo first participated in the Austin Coffee Festival last year after hearing about the event from some friends, and he returned this year. He said he started roasting at home because of his friends in the industry and an interest in specialty coffee.

“I lost my job during COVID and had to pivot,” said Wiginton. “I started selling beans at the farmers markets around and now we have an online business, (a) wholesale and brick and mortar store.”

Trippy Buck Coffee, another local Austin roaster, also hosted a booth at the festival. Roaster Addison Neikirk said the name Trippy Buck nods to his high school nickname.

“It’s a family business,” said Neikirk. “My dad was a foreign exchange student in Ecuador and he stayed in contact with the host family. He wanted to find a way to help them out and help us out, and he (also) has a love for sustainable farming, so we decided to open up the coffee (cart).”

Trippy Buck’s coffee cart, located less than a mile from campus, is just behind the University Co-op on Guadalupe and 23rd. Another West Campus coffee shop, Medici Roasting, was represented at the event.

“My brother got super big into coffee, and I kind of followed him on the journey,” said Brennan Parker, a Medici employee. “We have a thriving coffee scene here in Austin, and he would take me around to try all the different coffees that we have, locations like Proud Mary, Medici, Merit and Barrett’s.”

Coffee lovers Allison Petro and Katelin and Daniel Reberger first attended the Austin Coffee Festival two years ago. Daniel Regberger said the festival provides a unique opportunity to experience coffee in a way worth coming back for.

“We had gone two years ago and decided to come back (because) it was going to be bigger and grander,” Katelin Reberger said. “We highly recommend it. Next year we’ll bring a bigger group of people.”