Prominent in the show were major sponsor Torani, North America’s spearhead manufacturer of specialty syrups, Torani flaunted a variety of their flavoring syrups and products. Torani has been at the forefront of beverage creativity since 1925, introducing Italian Soda to the US and pioneering the first flavored latte twenty years ago.
The Continental Associated Food Products Export Inc. (CAFEX) showed off their coffee expertise, offering a number of coffee services ranging from espresso machines to specialty coffees. CAFEX is a kingpin in providing specialty coffee to institutional as well as retail markets in the Philippines. CAFEX coffee blends extend from interesting European coffees to the adventurous decaffeinated beans from Colombia. CAFEX has also ventured into distributing premium coffee and equipment in the Asian market, and offers coffee consultancy for coffee bars and potential coffee investors.
The official milk-sponsor of the event Alaska drew crowds by lacing taste buds with a tang of free samples. And the Specialty Association of the Philippines provided an educational background on the varieties of Philippine coffee and a helpful guide to coffee exporting.
The participation of successful espresso bar The Coffee Experience (TCE) highlighted the event with their passionate coffee line-up. The Coffee Experience instituted the coffee-to-go concept in the Philippines. It started in the early 90’s and sculpted an accomplished name in the local coffee industry with their commitment and innovation.
The trade show presented the Espresso Education Series, a learning experience for espresso preparation "Beyond the Cup", the flair of latte art making, coffee brewing with "Brewing Coffee with the Siphon Method", cupping, and Tasseography or tea leaf reading.
The event squared-off the countries chief baristas at the Philippine Barista Cup 2004. Winner of the competition will participate at the World Latte Art Competition in Singapore this coming October.
Champion Wency Dalano of Cravings impressed judges by creating his latte art blindfolded and fostered more amazement with his nationalistic signature drink "Tropical Espresso Freeze". Next in line is greenhorn Calvin Roald Cruz of McCafe, who failed to reach the top spot by a hairline, but put up quite a fight with his original "Sweet Child of Mine" an espresso and almond drink which he describes as a "Drink that will perk up the child in you."
The trade show was sponsored by Torani Syrup and Sauces, The Manila Bulletin, Reneka, Continental Coffee, Club Panoly Resorts, Inc., F&B World Magazine, Tupperware Philippines, Inc., Chase Technologies Corp., and Audio Voca, and supported by the Specialty Coffee Association of the Philippines, DTI-Int’l. Coffee Organization Certifying Agency, and the Coffee foundation of the Philippines, Inc.
