You will see the specialty coffee expo change its name to world of coffee. The last specialty coffee expo will take place in Houston in April 2025. The first world of coffee event will happen in San Diego in April 2026. The Specialty Coffee Association wants to connect more people around the world. This rebranding builds on a thirty-year legacy and opens new doors for the coffee community.
Why Specialty Coffee Expo Is Rebranding
SCA’s Global Strategy
You might ask why the specialty coffee expo is getting a new name. The SCA wants you to meet people from the global coffee community. In the last ten years, the SCA has tried to reach more coffee professionals worldwide. Changing the name to world of coffee helps the SCA become more known around the world. The event will now be part of a global series. There will be other world of coffee events in Central America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.
Here is a table that shows how the SCA’s plan has changed:
Key Detail | Description |
|---|---|
Previous Event Name | Specialty Coffee Expo |
New Event Name | World of Coffee |
First Event Date under New Name | April 10-12, 2026 |
Location | San Diego Convention Center, California |
Purpose of Rebranding | To help the global coffee community and grow North America’s part in the world coffee industry. |
Legacy Recognition | Named one of Trade Show Executive’s 2024 Fastest 50 events for more people attending. |
Global Series | Part of the World of Coffee series, with events in Central America, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. |
“Changing the name to World of Coffee makes North America’s top coffee show part of the famous World of Coffee brand. This shows we want to grow, work together, and bring new ideas to the coffee industry.”
Aligning with World of Coffee Events
Now, the specialty coffee expo is part of a bigger group of world of coffee events. This change lets you meet coffee professionals from many places. The SCA wants you to work together and learn from leaders in the coffee world. The new event style lets you see new trends and ideas in specialty coffee.
Promise to grow around the world
Working together with coffee professionals
Connecting leaders and important people everywhere
The SCA expo will look and feel like other world of coffee events. You will get more chances to meet people and share your thoughts with others who love coffee. The SCA thinks this change will help you and your business do better in specialty coffee.
Thirty Years of Legacy
The specialty coffee expo has a long history. For thirty years, coffee fans have come together to enjoy specialty coffee. The event has broken records and added new things to help you meet people and learn. Here are some big moments:
Milestone/Achievement | Description |
|---|---|
Attendance Record | About 17,000 coffee and tea professionals came, which is 23% more than the record in 2019. |
New Features | Green Coffee Connect and Retail Buyers Lounge started to help people meet and do business. |
Sustainable Expo | Caravela Coffee helped plant over 6,000 trees and support more than 150 farms. |
World Coffee Championships | Held in the US for the first time since 2019, showing hand-brewed coffee and cupping skills. |
Awards Programs | Best New Product Competition and Coffee Design Awards honored new ideas in coffee. |
You will see the last specialty coffee expo in Houston from April 25-27, 2025. The first world of coffee san diego event will happen from April 10-12, 2026. This timeline starts a new chapter for the SCA and for you as part of the specialty coffee community.
Changing to world of coffee brings you into a worldwide group. You will join others who care about specialty, new ideas, and caring for the planet in coffee. The SCA wants you to join this exciting future.
What’s New at World of Coffee
Expanded Global Reach
World of Coffee is going to more places now. The Specialty Coffee Association wants you to meet people from many areas. The event will add new markets in the Middle East and North Africa. You can meet coffee professionals from Saudi Arabia and Morocco. This helps you learn about how different cultures make specialty coffee.
New Market/Region | Details |
|---|---|
Middle East | First events in Saudi Arabia |
North Africa | First events in Morocco |
You will hear more voices from around the world at World of Coffee. The event brings together people who care about specialty coffee and new ideas. You can share your thoughts and learn from others in coffee. This bigger reach shows how coffee brings people together everywhere.
New Opportunities for Exhibitors and Attendees
World of Coffee gives you more chances to grow. You can join a bigger international event. The event welcomes more exhibitors from many countries. You will find great workshops and new technology. You can meet leaders in specialty coffee and trade. The event helps you make new friends and find new ideas.
Exhibitors and attendees say good things about the event. Many people like the new spaces and programs. You can join Green Coffee Connect to learn about green coffee and sustainability. The Retail Buyers Lounge lets you meet retail experts and join a contest. Education is important at World of Coffee. You can go to over 55 lectures and 25 workshops. People think this will be the biggest show with the most visitors ever.
You can use new spaces to meet people.
Green Coffee Connect helps you make business friends.
Retail Buyers Lounge is a place to meet and compete.
You can learn from many lectures and workshops.
The event gets bigger every year.
Special Programs and Features
World of Coffee has special programs to help you learn and grow. You can join the Coffee Design Awards to see new packaging and design ideas. The Best New Product Award lets you pick your favorite new products. You can taste and find coffee at the Cupping Exchange. Roaster Village shows you new roasting ways and coffee choices.
You can join workshops about coffee value and quality. The Coffee Business Lounge is a place for business talks. Green Coffee Connect teaches about the green coffee supply chain. SCA workshops and lectures teach you about specialty coffee. You can learn about caring for the planet through special programs.
Coffee Design Awards show new packaging ideas.
Best New Product Award lets you pick top products.
Cupping Exchange has tasting sessions.
Roaster Village shows roasting innovation.
Coffee Value Assessment teaches about quality.
Coffee Business Lounge helps with business networking.
Green Coffee Connect focuses on supply chain.
SCA workshops and lectures help you learn.
Sustainability in Focus teaches about caring for the planet.
You will find more ways to meet, learn, and grow at World of Coffee. The event helps you find new trends and meet people who love coffee too.
Impact on Attendees and Industry
Benefits for Participants
When you go to the world of coffee event, you get many good things. You can meet people from over 90 countries. More than 17,000 visitors and 650 exhibitors will be in San Diego. You will see farmers, roasters, café owners, and equipment makers there. Over 76% of the people at the event make big choices for their companies. This helps you share ideas and grow your business. The specialty coffee association gives you a place to learn about new trends and ways to help the planet. You can join networking sessions and workshops. You also get to taste specialty coffee from many places.
Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
Event Name | World of Coffee San Diego 2026 |
Date | April 10–12, 2026 |
Location | San Diego Convention Center |
Expected Visitors | Over 17,000 |
Number of Exhibitors | 650+ |
Countries Represented | More than 90 |
Key Participants | Farmers, roasters, equipment manufacturers, importers, café owners |
Decision-Makers Percentage | More than 76% of attendees are confirmed decision-makers |
Opportunities Offered | Greater visibility, growth opportunities, access to international buyers |
Opportunities for Coffee Businesses
Your coffee business can find new chances at this event. The coffee industry in the U.S. has grown very fast. It now gives over 2.2 million people jobs and pays more than $100 billion in wages each year. For every $1 spent on coffee from other countries, about $43 is made in the U.S. People spend over $300 million on coffee every day. This adds up to almost $110 billion each year. The world of coffee event helps you meet more buyers and partners. You can join trade shows and find new markets. You will get more chances to network and learn about new trends.
The coffee industry in the U.S. had a total economic impact of $343.2 billion in 2022.
It supports over 2.2 million jobs and generates more than $100 billion in wages annually.
For every $1 of coffee imported, approximately $43 in value is created domestically.
Daily consumer spending on coffee products exceeds $300 million, totaling nearly $110 billion per year.
Influence on Specialty Coffee Community
The specialty coffee expo has helped the specialty coffee community get bigger. You have seen more teamwork, learning, and new ideas at each event. The new name, world of coffee, will connect you to more people around the world. You will get more chances for your business to be seen and to learn new things. The sca expo and sca want you to join a group of coffee lovers from everywhere. You will see more special events and trade shows. The specialty coffee association will help you meet new people and learn about ways to help the planet. You will help shape what happens next in the coffee industry.
Event Timeline and Participation
Key Dates and Locations
It is important to know when and where the coffee events will happen. The last Specialty Coffee Expo will be in Houston in April 2025. The first World of Coffee San Diego will be at the San Diego Convention Center from April 10 to 12, 2026. You can also get excited for World of Coffee Europe in Brussels from June 25 to 27, 2026. These events will bring coffee professionals from many countries together.
Specialty Coffee Expo: April 25–27, 2025, Houston
World of Coffee San Diego: April 10–12, 2026, San Diego Convention Center
World of Coffee Europe: June 25–27, 2026, Brussels Expo
Registration and Involvement
You can sign up for World of Coffee by picking the badge that fits you best. There are early bird prices for paid members and regular prices for everyone else. You can join workshops, listen to lectures, and meet people from the coffee world. The table below shows how much badges cost for World of Coffee San Diego:
Badge Type | Early Bird Regular | Early Bird Paid Member | Regular Price | Paid Member Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1-Day Badge (Friday or Saturday) | $210 | $170 | $230 | $195 |
1-Day Badge (Sunday Only) | $105 | $85 | $115 | $95 |
Workshops | $250 | $210 | $275 | $230 |
IWCA Breakfast | N/A | N/A | N/A | $150 |
You can join workshops that last between two and a half and three and a half hours. These workshops help you learn about how coffee moves from farm to cup. If you want to teach others, you can send in your workshop ideas. Meeting other coffee professionals helps you make friends and grow your business.
Transition Tips for Exhibitors and Attendees
You should get ready for the change from Specialty Coffee Expo to World of Coffee. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Look at the new dates and places for the events.
Sign up early to save money on your badge.
Check out workshops and send in your ideas if you want to speak.
Meet people from around the world at networking sessions.
Visit the event website for news and important dates.
Tip: Be ready to try new things. The World of Coffee event will give you new ways to learn and grow in the coffee world.
You will be part of a global event series that helps coffee businesses and lets you meet people who love coffee.
You will get lots of good things from World of Coffee.
The new name helps people everywhere know about the event and brings everyone together.
You can meet coffee professionals from many countries.
The event helps people work together and celebrates everyone who loves coffee.
This change helps you keep up with what is new and make strong friendships. You can join workshops, learn about new trends, and find ways to grow your business. Stay informed and join the next World of Coffee event to help shape the future of specialty coffee.