The Smell That Separates Night From Day

Jessica Hunter

Dark roast, blonde, espresso; drip, French press, pour over, iced; whatever your preferred coffee style, you'll get to try them all (and get a serious caffeine buzz) from various local cafes all gathering for St. Martin's Center's Erie's Best Coffee event.

Sunday, Feb. 26

February is a cold month that welcomes a cozy and loving Valentine's Day, a holiday that can warm the hearts of all the lovers out there. But what happens when Valentine's is over and the month dominated by Aquarius turns cold again? The annual answer is Erie's Best Coffee Convention hosted by St. Martin Center.

Starting in 2015, St. Martin Center CEO David Gonzalez wanted to come up with a completely original fundraising effort to help benefit programs such as their food pantry, rent and mortgage assistance, Early Learning Center, and more. Being a native of Puerto Rico, coffee has always been an important part of Gonzalez's life and he knew that Erie would enjoy this kind of event. "Everyone wins," says event organizer Jess Krugger. "We are really excited to host this event again this year after not holding one in either 2021 and 2022. We hope the community is just as excited for the return as well."

This year has a number of local coffee shops itching to serve you their best cup of joe. These include (but are not limited to): Andora's Bubble Tea, BullAndCoffee, Coffee In The Park, Ember & Forge, Pampered Palate, and Purrista Cat Cafe (sans the kitties). The shops compete for a few awards that are voted on by attendees which include: Overall Erie's Best Coffee, Best Decaf, Best Flavored, and, new this year, Best Specialty Drink. A panel of celebrity judges will conduct a blind taste test for the Judges' Choice award.

Though coffee may not be for children, you can count on this as a family affair. St. Martin Center will have kid's activities, live music from Doug Phillips Trio, a photo booth, and some fun raffles. And there will be plenty of free parking. A snugly invigorating environment awaits the Erie community this winter.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. // Bayfront Convention Center, 1 Sassafras Pier // $10 advance $15 at the door (kids under 12 free) // For tickets and info: smcerie.org