Northern Ireland at London Coffee Festival

Two Northern Ireland companies will be showing a wide range of products at the annual London Coffee Festival in the city's Old Truman Brewery from 12-15 April.

The Northern Ireland participants are both from Belfast and are Bailies Coffee, one of the region's leading coffee roasters, and Suki Tea, a producer of gourmet teas, including loose-leaf, as well as herbal infusions.

Bailies specialises in roasting the world's finest beans for coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and corporate customers. The company has achieved over 30 gold stars in the UK Great Taste Awards and also supplies equipment. It also operates a Barista Academy.Founded in 2004, Suki Tea is a boutique blender which supplies foodservice and retailers throughout the UK, Ireland, parts of Europe and Japan.

They are among over 100 participants and 250 coffees at the event being held as part of Coffee Week.

As well as opportunities to sample and taste various coffees, there will also be competitive coffee-making fun with the first ever Coffee Master event being held at the festival, which is being held to showcase the best coffee and other beverages.

The aim of the Coffee Master competition is to find the best all-round, multi-disciplined barista in the UK. As with other food and drink festival, there will also be a programme of demonstrations, coffee cocktail recipes, an array of high class street food along.

In addition, visitors will have a chance to attend Milk & Sugar, a pop-up event that showcases the most exciting new brands in London covering everything from food to fashion.

Held in London's Old Truman Brewery, a building with a very distinctive feel and a lot of history, the London Coffee Festival is open to coffee enthusiasts.