Paint Me a Cup of Christmas
Coffee & Tea Tasting AND CHRISTMAS Drawing Workshop
No drawing experience or coffee and tea knowledge needed! This workshop is all about getting creative and enjoying the cosy spirit of the festive season.
- Discover the worlds of (christmas) coffee and tea, from origins to processing and preparation.
- Explore how processing, roasting and brewing influence flavour, aroma and colour.
- Taste a selection of specialty coffees and teas during a guided sensory tasting.
- Find inspiration in the colours, shapes and aromas of your favourite winter drinks.
- Learn to create your own hand-drawn and painted Christmas cards, guided by illustrator Alessia.
- Experiment with pencils, oil pastels, markers and paint to make personal Christmas cards to take home.
NOTE: Spots are limited to 10 persons!
For special requests, please send an E-mail to [email protected]
Christmas Cards, Coffee & Tea
There's something about a warm cup of coffee or tea that makes the festive season feel even cosier. But this time, we're taking those comforting cups beyond the tasting table and onto paper! During this intimate two-hour workshop, ONAN and illustrator Alessia from Arkkiale bring together coffee, tea and Christmas creativity. You'll taste a selection of coffees and teas, discover their different aromas and colours, and use them as inspiration (and even as paint!) to create your own Christmas postcards!
What you will learn
Before we pick up our brushes, we’ll start with what’s in our cups. Together with Elena from ONAN, you’ll explore a selection of coffees and teas, including decaffeinated options.
We’ll take a closer look at what makes each drink unique, from its origins and preparation to the aromas, flavours and colours that develop along the way. During a relaxed, guided tasting, you’ll discover just how different coffee and tea can be, and how their natural colours can become part of the creative process.
And don’t forget to look around for inspiration! Think festive cups, fragrant spices, winter greenery and all those little details that make Christmas feel like Christmas.
Draw What You Taste
Who knew your morning coffee or favourite tea could double as paint?
Guided by illustrator Alessia from Arkkiale, you’ll experiment with concentrated coffee and tea as natural watercolour-like paints, alongside other creative materials. Play with warm brown tones, delicate washes, festive shapes and seasonal illustrations to create Christmas postcards with a personal touch.
Whether you’re an experienced doodler or haven’t picked up a paintbrush in years, there’s no need to worry about getting it perfect. Alessia will guide you through the techniques, leaving plenty of room to experiment and develop your own style.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll have created around 10 unique Christmas postcards to take home, ready to pop in the post and surprise friends and family with a little handmade Christmas cheer.
Join Elena for an insightful workshop and experience her mastery firsthand !
Meet Elena, YOUR TEACHER
Elena’s coffee story began in Russia in 2009, where she started as a barista and quickly advanced to coffee roaster. Her expertise in coffee grew as she earned a Q-grader certificate and received training from the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) in roasting, barista skills, and green coffee. Elena’s commitment to quality and innovation is evident in the perfect roasts she creates.
But Elena’s knowledge extends far beyond coffee. She spent four years studying at the Japanese Tea Ceremony School of Omote Senke, mastering the rituals and philosophy behind tea. Her passion for tea led her to work in a tea store in Russia for two years, where she gained valuable experience hosting tea workshops. Elena’s travels in Asia further deepened her tea expertise, as she participated in numerous ceremonies and classes.
With a deep understanding of both coffee and tea, Elena brings a holistic approach to brewing and tasting, always striving for perfection and sharing her wealth of knowledge with others.
Meet ALESSIA, YOUR TEACHER
For the creative part of this workshop, we’re collaborating with Alessia, the illustrator behind Arkkiale. Alessia has loved drawing since childhood. During her studies in Architectural Engineering at the University of Genova, she developed a passion for architectural sketching and visual storytelling. After more than ten years working in architecture across Europe, she founded Arkkiale in 2017 and developed her own illustration practice.
Inspired by architecture, meaningful places and everyday life, Alessia uses drawing to capture atmosphere and tell stories visually. After living in Australia, specialty coffee and café culture also became an important source of inspiration.
As a teacher, she believes drawing is not about perfection, but about observing, expressing and communicating. Her workshops are relaxed, encouraging and open to complete beginners as well as experienced sketchers.
“Draw not for perfection, but for the pleasure of discovery.”
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
LOCATION
Onan’s Coffee Bar: Drie Engelenberg 6, 3000 Leuven
LANGUAGES
ENGLISH / DUTCH
TIME
The workshop will be starting at 6PM and finish around 8PM.
Please come in time, as we have a tight schedule and we really want to offer you the best experience possible!
DRESSCODE
Dress comfortably and keep in mind tea stains are possible! Feel free to bring a cosy sweater as we will try to do the workshop on our terrace.
REFRESHMENTS
Of course, we provide delicious tea, and water.
SPECIAL REQUESTS/QUESTIONS
Please contact us by sending an E-mail to [email protected]
Paint Me a Cup of Christmas
Coffee & Tea Tasting AND CHRISTMAS Drawing Workshop
No drawing experience or coffee and tea knowledge needed! This workshop is all about getting creative and enjoying the cosy spirit of the festive season.
- Discover the worlds of (christmas) coffee and tea, from origins to processing and preparation.
- Explore how processing, roasting and brewing influence flavour, aroma and colour.
- Taste a selection of specialty coffees and teas during a guided sensory tasting.
- Find inspiration in the colours, shapes and aromas of your favourite winter drinks.
- Learn to create your own hand-drawn and painted Christmas cards, guided by illustrator Alessia.
- Experiment with pencils, oil pastels, markers and paint to make personal Christmas cards to take home.
NOTE: Spots are limited to 10 persons!
For special requests, please send an E-mail to [email protected]
