Austin Coffee Festival to Open at Palmer Events Center
The fifth annual celebration of specialty coffee roasters will take place in Austin this coming weekend.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Coffee
Live Poll
Do you prioritize coffee brands based on their stated fair trade and ethical sourcing practices?
The Austin Coffee Festival returns for its fifth edition at the Palmer Events Center on October 17-18, 2026. Local coffee roasters will host panels and tastings to showcase their craft.
Why it matters
The festival highlights the dedication of independent roasters while offering the community an opportunity to learn about the origins of their daily cup. Attendees can engage directly with local roasters committed to ethical sourcing and farmer empowerment.
Creature Coffee Co., founded in 2017, pays farmers between 2 and 4 times the fair trade rate. Women account for 70% of the labor in global coffee production.
The players
Steven Kerner
He has led Barrett's Coffee since 2019 and participates in the local coffee roasting scene.
Michael Craig
He is the founder of Creature Coffee Co., which he established in 2017.
Sightseer Coffee Roasters
This roasting company sources coffee exclusively from women producers to encourage farm growth.
Barrett's Coffee
This coffee roaster sources its beans from Royal Coffee and is managed by Steven Kerner.
Creature Coffee Co.
Founded in 2017 by Michael Craig, this company prioritizes paying farmers significantly above fair trade rates.
The details
Local roasters at the event will showcase their sourcing projects and business models, such as Sightseer Coffee Roasters' exclusive focus on women-led farms. Participants like Barrett's Coffee, led by Steven Kerner since 2019, will provide insights into the craft of roasting.
Timeline
2017: Michael Craig founded Creature Coffee Co.
2019: Steven Kerner began leading Barrett's Coffee.
October 17-18, 2026: The Austin Coffee Festival takes place at the Palmer Events Center.
Culture Shift
The festival highlights local roasters who extend the impact of the fair trade certification standards for agricultural labor by exceeding those baseline pay requirements. This shift reflects a broader consumer trend toward prioritizing supply chain transparency and direct support for producers.
Attendees can learn about the sourcing practices behind their favorite local brands and directly support roasters that prioritize higher farmer wages. Residents should plan for potential crowds at the Palmer Events Center during the two-day festival.
The takeaway
Supporting local roasters that use direct-trade models can ensure that a larger portion of profits reaches the farmers. When visiting, try to speak with roasters about their specific sourcing projects to better understand the impact of your purchase.
Further reading
Learn more about the local industry at the Austin Coffee section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Austin Chronicle.
Live Poll
Do you prioritize coffee brands based on their stated fair trade and ethical sourcing practices?
