Austin Coffee Festival to Return This Weekend
The fifth annual event brings local roasters to the Palmer Events Center on October 17-18.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Coffee
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Austin coffee lovers will gather at the Palmer Events Center this weekend, October 17-18, 2026, for the fifth annual Austin Coffee Festival. Local roasters are using the event to showcase their commitment to ethical sourcing and direct relationships with farmers.
Why it matters
The festival offers a look into how Austin roasters are changing the economics of the coffee trade by prioritizing higher pay for farmers and supporting women-owned operations. It serves as a chance for the local community to connect directly with the people behind their morning cup.
Creature Coffee Co. pays farmers 2 to 4 times the fair trade rate, and Sightseer Coffee Roasters directs its purchasing to women-owned farms, who contribute 70% of global coffee production. The full list of participating vendors remains unknown.
The players
Steven Kerner
He has led Barrett's Coffee since 2019.
Michael Craig
He is the founder of Creature Coffee Co., which he established in 2017.
Barrett's Coffee
An Austin roaster that sources its coffee from Royal Coffee.
Sightseer Coffee Roasters
A coffee company that sources beans exclusively from women-owned farms.
Creature Coffee Co.
An Austin-based roaster known for paying farmers significantly above fair trade rates.
The details
Local shops are highlighting the craft of specialty coffee by explaining their unique sourcing models. For example, Creature Coffee Co. pays producers up to four times the fair trade rate, while roasters like Sightseer Coffee prioritize farms led by women. These roasters often fund infrastructure projects, such as schools, by using proceeds from specific coffee lines to cover costs upfront.
Timeline
The Austin Coffee Festival occurs October 17-18, 2026.
Michael Craig founded Creature Coffee Co. in 2017.
Steven Kerner and Travis Kizer acquired Barrett's Coffee in 2019.
The Texas Context
The festival showcases a shift in Austin business practices toward direct-trade models that exceed the fair trade certification pay standards. This approach follows an ongoing trend among local roasters to create more equitable financial outcomes for coffee producers.
Austin coffee drinkers can visit the Palmer Events Center this weekend to sample local roasts and learn about farm-level supply chains. This offers a chance to see how your local morning coffee purchases support farmer cooperatives abroad.
The takeaway
Keep an eye on how local roasters are balancing their craft with social impact, such as Sightseer Coffee's focus on women-owned farms. Visit the festival this weekend to see these sourcing models in action.
Further reading
Learn more about the local industry at the 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?
