all images with thanks from We Heart It

Today sees the start of UK Coffee Week™ 2012 (23rd- 29th April 2012). This isn’t important just because it gives everyone a fantastic excuse to drink as much of the black stuff as they like but also because the nation gets involved with raising money for Allegra Foundation’s Project Waterfall, an initiative providing clean water projects in Africa in conjunction with WaterAid. A country that we have much to thank for as they provide us with a lot of our daily fix. There is a vast number of high street stores (Costa, Debenhams, Caffe Ritazza, Pumpkin Cafe, Muffin Break, Crussh, Soho Coffee Co., Greggs, Benugo) getting involved, where you can donate a tiny-weeney 5p to every coffee you buy on top of the store’s coffee price. When you consider that approximately 20,000 Tanzanian children under five die every year from diseases contracted from dirty water and poor sanitation, what’s 5p, eh?

But on a fun note, there is the London Coffee Festival, which promises to be a lot of fun with barista demonstrations, artisanal coffee, specialist tea, food stalls, live music and of course, coffee. Lots of it. It’s also playing host to the UK Barista Championships 2012. 50% of the ticket sale proceeds will go to Project Waterfall.

London Coffee Festival
Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, E1
27- 29th April, 2012
tickets: £9.50 in adv, £12 on the door. Get a deal on coffee tokens when you buy on-line.