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ANAHEIM, Calif. (Aug. 7, 2023) — As the aroma of great coffee fills the Anaheim Convention for Coffee Fest, 9,000 pounds — or about 300,000 cups — of specialty gourmet coffee has been served at the convention center in the past year as part of a collaboration with local craft roaster Bodhi Leaf Coffee Traders.
The pairing of Orange-based Bodhi and the Anaheim Convention Center started in late 2021 and saw 9,000 pounds of coffee served at catered convention center events in the first full 12 months of working together.
Bodhi is an importer, roaster and operator of coffee bars, including two in Anaheim. The specialty, gourmet coffee company brings a taste of our area’s authentic local coffee culture to the convention center.
The milestone comes as Anaheim Convention Center hosts Coffee Fest, one of the coffee industry’s leading shows. The show takes place from Sunday through Tuesday and is open to industry professionals.
Coffee Fest brings coffee and tea providers, sellers and professionals together. The show is made up of retailers including coffee houses, restaurants and others, as well as coffee growers, roasters and suppliers and industry professionals.
Bodhi coffee will be served as attendees enjoy events catered by the convention center’s food service provider Aramark Sports and Entertainment.
In just more than a year, the Anaheim Convention Center has become one of Bodhi’s larger wholesale accounts, according to Ronnie Maestas, sales manager for Bodhi.
Bodhi coffee served at the Anaheim Convention Center is expected to grow this year as the venue returns to the 1 million annual attendee mark for the first time since the 2020 pandemic closure and 2021 reopening.
The convention center previously served quality coffee from a large national supplier.
“Part of coming to the Anaheim Convention Center is experiencing what makes Anaheim so unique, right down to our locally roasted gourmet coffee,” said Tom Morton, executive director of Convention, Sports and Entertainment for the city of Anaheim. “This is one part of what makes Anaheim Convention Center an award-winning venue and such a unique experience for conventions, conferences and events.”
Bodhi provides the convention center with a blend of various gourmet coffees from single-estate farms in Brazil.
The pairing also has brought new customers to Bodhi’s Orange County coffee bars, including two in east Anaheim and one in neighboring Orange near Angel Stadium of Anaheim and Honda Center.
