Seattle, WA Coffee Fest Washington DC 2006, held February 24 through 26, 2006, at the Washington, DC, Convention Center, showcased more than 175 service and supply booths and more than 65 free educational sessions. In addition, several winners were crowned in competitions including the Millrock Latte Art Competition and the Best New Product Awards. Final attendance (not including exhibitors and staff) was nearly 2,750 a solid turnout for this biannual East Coast trade show.

The ever-popular Millrock Latte Art Competition presented by Barista Magazine featured some of the country's finest baristi going head-to-head in an action-packed display of coffee creativity. Reid Hickman of Zoka Coffee Roasters & Tea Co. of Seattle was crowned the Millrock Free-Pour Latte Art Champion. He walked away with the $1,000 prize. Jon Lewis of Grinders Coffee in Coeur Alene, Idaho, took second place and won $500, and Jaime VanSchyndel of Simon Coffee Shop in Cambridge, Massachusetts, took third, winning $250. Judges for the competition were Chris DeFerio of Carriage House Coffee and former multiple-time Latte Art Champion, Sarah Allen, editor of Barista Magazine, and Henry Patterson, owner of Patterson Coffee.

Also at the show, awards were presented for the best new products on display. New products were judged by members of the specialty coffee industry media, with results as follows:

First Place: Bloomsberry & Company, Think Chocolate. Great chocolate meets funky design. The high-quality ingredients and fun packaging sell themselves. Learn more at www.bloomsberry.com.

Second Place: Talk In A Box�.  A card deck of 300 questions crafted to stimulate fun and meaningful conversation with friends, family and colleagues. For more info, visit www.talkinabox.com.

Third Place: StixToGo.  StixToGo are an accessory for single-use cup and lid products. A unique patented design delivers two key functions (eliminating spills and keeping the beverage warm) for improved customer satisfaction. Visit www.stixtogo.com for more information.

Coffee Fest is dedicated to the growth and proliferation of the specialty coffee, gourmet tea and alternative beverage industries. Coffee Fest remaining 2006 show schedule is as follows: Coffee Fest Las Vegas, June 9-11, at the Las Vegas Convention Center; and Coffee Fest Seattle, October 28-30, at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center.

For more information, contact:
David Heilbrunn at 425.283.5058, ext. 13