Coffee & Chocolate Expo to whip up crowds, exhibits

The upcoming Coffee & Chocolate Expo promises to draw thousands of visitors to the convention center and generate up to $350,000 in sales, according to the planners of the activity.

Such a volume of sales would be a record for the Coffee & Chocolate fest, a yearly event now in its fifth year, said Orlando Montañez of CUBE Group Events, organizers of the event.

This year, more than 140 exhibitors have signed up to participate and more than 15,000 people are expected to attend.

Coffee & Chocolate Expo will run for two days: Sept. 20 and 21 at the Puerto Rico Convention Center. Talks, tastings and entertainment will be the order of the day.

“The main idea behind this event is to continue displaying these two industries to coffee and chocolate lovers and to merchants and individuals who wish to learn more about both products,” said Pedro Fernández-Jerez, at a press conference to promote the event.

For would-be entrepreneurs interested in starting a coffee-related business there will be talks courtesy of the Special Coffee Institute of the Caribbean and the School of Coffee and Baristas of Puerto Rico. And for the public in general, the Coffee & Chocolate Academy has also arranged informative talks.

Likewise, there will be tastings courtesy of different exhibitors and food professionals, including Chef Ricardo de Obaldía from Casa Cortés Choco Bar.

When it first kicked off in 2010, the expo was exclusively devoted to coffee. Chocolate did not officially come on board until 2012, when it was added due to its growing appeal.

This time around tea is also getting into the act with a small pavilion to be dedicated to this brew, which is gaining popularity in Puerto Rico as evinced by several tea stores that have recently opened.

Tickets for the Expo are $7 and may be purchased at the www.coffeeandchocolateexpo.com website.