The 2018 Seed to Cup Festival happens Saturday August 4, 2018. Courtesy photo.

The Maui Coffee Association is hosting its 11th Annual Seed to Cup Coffee Festival on Sat. August 4  from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Maui Tropical Plantation in Waikapu. This free event is open to the public.

Did you know? At the 2017 Hawai‘i Statewide Cupping Competition, Maui placed four coffees in the Top 10 and placed 1st overall in the state. There is a full line-up of fun activities, workshops, food and entertainment.

Entertainment by some of Maui’s top entertainers, including Benny Uetake and Eric Gilliom, runs from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.   Coffee brewing and roasting will be demonstrated throughout the day and the talented chefs at Mill House Restaurant will be serving up coffee-inspired food for sale from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be displays and demonstrations of coffee processing equipment, along with award-winning coffee farmers selling their coffees.

Be sure not to miss the Barista Throwdown competition, sponsored by Maui Coffee Roasters. The Throwdown takes place from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Chef’s Table where local baristas from across the state challenge one another head to head in a free-pour latte art competition. Lots of action!

The newest lineup of activities for 2018 includes “Taste the Roast.” This interactive event was created to shed light on the many talented coffee roasters of Maui. Attendees will gather to taste several roast profiles and vote for their favorite coffee. All the roasters will use the same coffee origin, just various roast profiles.

Schedule of Events:
9 a.m. Opening ceremony – Blessing and Music – Joe Hawkins (Emcee)
9:30 a.m. Taste the Roast – Roast profile comparisons and tasting – Chef’s Table
10:30 a.m. Brewing Demonstration – Mill House Roasting Co. – Chef’s Table
11:30 a.m. Food Booths open – Mill House
12 p.m. Irrigation Demonstrations
12:30 p.m. Soil and Leaf sampling demonstrations (CTAHR)
1 p.m. Taiko Drummers
1:30 p.m. Barista Throwdown – Free Pour Latte Art Competition
4:00 p.m. Pau

Organizers say will be a fun educational day for coffee fans to learn what goes into a carefully crafted cup of 100% Maui coffee.  For more information call David Gridley at 808-280-1623.