Platinum Buzz

Cincinnati is all abuzz with talk about the return of the Cincinnati Coffee Festival October 23rd and 24th. And  what could be better than starting festivities the night before with an exclusive evening event, Platinum Buzz.

The all-new Platinum Buzz event on Friday night includes specialty coffee and tea cocktails, coffee beer, the always-popular Latte Art Throwdown competition, gourmet light bites ("in a box") by Eat Well, a scavenger hunt, and an incredible silent auction. 

Our Latte Art Throwdown draws talented baristas from around the region creating beautiful latte art coffees. They will vie for cash prizes and the title of "Best Latte Artist in Greater Cincinnati."

Attendees will also have the opportunity to try specialty cocktails featuring bourbon from Green River Spirits, paired with tea from Churchill's Fine Teas and coffee from a local specialty coffee roaster. These are new recipes created just for the Cincinnati Coffee Festival's Platinum Buzz.

Accompanying these stylish beverages will be gourmet foods from caterer Eat Well. Offerings will include coffee inspired foods, and vegan and gluten-free options. Depending on the current COVID situation, meals may be provided in a fashionable box to reduce health risk. 

Platinum Buzz hours are 7-10 p.m. Friday, October 22. Tickets are now on sale at www.cincinnaticoffeefestival.com/tickets. Friday night Platinum Buzz tickets are $50.50 in advance; $65.50 day of the event. A full-weekend VIP Gold Ticket priced at $60.50 in advance; $75.50 day of the event includes Platinum Buzz, all regular sessions, and a premium cappuccino cup (as long as supplies last).

"After being unable to host the Cincinnati Coffee Festival in 2020 due to COVID, we're thrilled to be gearing up for this year's event," said Rich Cogen, executive director of Ohio River Foundation (ORF), which produces the event. "With the addition of our Friday night Platinum Buzz and our new session format for Saturday and Sunday, attendees are in for the best festival yet."

The largest coffee and tea festival in the Midwest will take place at Cincinnati Music Hall, 1241 Elm St. in Over-the-Rhine. To minimize overcrowding and improve the guest experience, the event has moved to a session format: A limited number of tickets will be sold for each of the 5 sessions.

Attendees on Saturday and Sunday can sample their way through nearly 50 coffee roasters, coffee and tea shops, bakers, pastry shops and chocolatiers from around the region. Vendors will also be selling items such as bagged coffee and teas to take home. Live music, demos and presentations will also be offered.

Tickets are now on sale at www.cincinnaticoffeefestival.com/tickets. Session tickets for Saturday and Sunday are $15.50 in advance; $20.50 day of the event. (Saturday late-day "Coffee Lite" tickets, which include sampling but no music or presentations, are $10.50 in advance; $15.50 day of the event.) Friday night Platinum Buzz tickets are $50.50 in advance; $65.50 day of the event. 

Cincinnati Coffee Festival is a major fundraiser for Ohio River Foundation, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit with successful programs dedicated to protecting and improving the water quality and ecology of the Ohio River and its watershed. Coffee has a natural connection to that mission.

"After all, you can't have great coffee without great water," Cogen said. 

Platinum Buzz runs Friday evening from 7p.m. to 10p.m. Regular festival hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday. 

For more information, visit CincinnatiCoffeeFestival.com.

Others Details

Category: Community | Fundraisers