Flatiron’s 23rd Street perked today as the NYC Coffee Fest drew 6,000. Over 40 roasters—cold brew, espresso—poured 10,000 cups; a Brooklyn blend’s $5 latte won raves. Free barista demos—200 learned pours; X hit 8,000 posts. A $500 brew contest—Harlem’s champ—buzzed; 58°F sun warmed. NYC’s caffeine—Flatiron wakes.
Roaster Wei Chen, 45, slung 500 pour-overs—his Ethiopian bean a hit. A Queens café’s latte art—200 snapped hearts. New compost cups—300 pounds diverted—kept park clean. Live jazz at 2 p.m.—150 swayed near Madison Square. Coffee’s soul—NYC’s morning hum.
It’s not perfect—lines hit 20 minutes; cups spilled. Some prices—$7 brews—raised brows. Still, 40 roasters, 6K sips—fest’s a hit. Post-event, Nomad cafés buzzed—bean talk flowed. Weekend run—NYC brews.
Chen’s 45—coffee king? Barista’s 28—art pours. Flatiron sipped; NYC glowed. Coffee Fest—buzz on.