There are coffee events, and then there are coffee events. The ones where the beans are hand-picked from regions you’ve barely heard of, the baristas compete like athletes, and you accidentally spend $40 on a pour-over and don’t even regret it.
If you're serious about your brews, and maybe a little obsessed like me, you’ll want to keep these 12 coffee festivals on your radar in 2025. These aren't just vendor booths and paper cups; they're where the global coffee culture gets stirred (and shaken).
1. World of Coffee – Jakarta, Indonesia
This one's run by the Specialty Coffee Association, and it's heading to Jakarta in July 2025. Expect cutting-edge tech, origin producers, roasters, and endless cuppings. The barista championships alone make it worth attending.
📅 Dates: July 10–12, 2025
🎯 Why go: Best place to experience the entire global supply chain under one roof.
2. New York Coffee Festival – New York, USA
This event is equal parts indie cool and big-name legit. Art installations, live music, coffee cocktails, and workshops all mixed into a loud, flavorful chaos. Perfect if you want more than just sipping espresso.
📅 Dates: October 3–5, 2025
🎯 Why go: It blends coffee, creativity, and culture in one of the world's best cities.
3. Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) – Australia
Australia doesn’t play around when it comes to coffee. MICE is the southern hemisphere’s biggest specialty coffee event. Every major player in Oceania shows up. Expect innovation, competitions, and surprisingly good dairy alternatives.
📅 Dates: May 1–3, 2025
🎯 Why go: Discover how seriously Australians take their flat whites.
4. London Coffee Festival – London, UK
One of the OG European coffee events. It feels like a cultural happening as much as a caffeine gathering. There’s espresso martinis, workshops, latte art battles, and even silent discos.
📅 Dates: April 10–13, 2025
🎯 Why go: To see how London mixes its punk vibes with high-end coffee craft.
5. SCA Expo – Houston, USA
The Specialty Coffee Expo in the U.S. is the industry event. It’s where deals are made, gear gets launched, and roasters scout new beans. If you’re in the business or trying to be, this is mandatory.
📅 Dates: April 25–27, 2025
🎯 Why go: Serious networking, endless tastings, and exclusive origin talks.
6. Tokyo Coffee Festival – Tokyo, Japan
Held in the stylish Omotesando area, this outdoor festival is a beautifully curated experience. It’s more relaxed than others, but the quality is exceptional. Japanese precision meets third-wave passion.
📅 Dates: November 8–9, 2025
🎯 Why go: To try single-origin brews served with samurai-like discipline.
7. Brazil International Coffee Week – Belo Horizonte, Brazil
This one dives deep into the origins of coffee, especially from Brazil the world’s largest producer. If you want a full-on coffee farm-to-cup experience, this is the place.
📅 Dates: October 22–24, 2025
🎯 Why go: To connect with growers, taste coffee at the source, and explore sustainability up close.
8. Coffee Masters – Milan, Italy
This isn’t a casual festival. It’s a fierce competition where baristas go head-to-head in disciplines like brewing, latte art, and sensory. Think Iron Chef meets barista warfare.
📅 Dates: November 15–17, 2025
🎯 Why go: To witness high-stakes coffee battles and taste drinks you won’t find anywhere else.
9. CAFÉ! Festival & Expo – Paris, France
A newer but rising star, this Parisian event blends the chic vibe of French cafés with the seriousness of specialty coffee. It's less crowded than others, but the curation is top-tier.
📅 Dates: March 14–16, 2025
🎯 Why go: To sip third-wave brews surrounded by Parisian elegance.
10. Coffee & Tea Festival – Seoul, South Korea
Korea's coffee scene is booming, and this festival proves it. From innovative cold brews to hybrid drinks, Seoul’s event brings East Asian trends to the forefront.
📅 Dates: June 6–8, 2025
🎯 Why go: To experience the future of coffee (yes, even robot baristas).
11. Athens Coffee Festival – Athens, Greece
A mix of consumer-friendly vibes and serious coffee tasting. The open-air setting, music, and Greek hospitality give it a unique flair. Also, Greeks know their cold coffee.
📅 Dates: September 19–21, 2025
🎯 Why go: For the sun, freddo espressos, and vibrant coffee community.
12. Riga Coffee Festival – Riga, Latvia
This one might fly under the radar, but it's one of Eastern Europe’s coolest coffee gatherings. It’s hipster, affordable, and packed with indie roasters. Plus, Riga is beautiful.
📅 Dates: May 16–18, 2025
🎯 Why go: Unique coffees from the Baltics and fewer crowds.
Final Brew
If 2024 was all about brewing better at home, 2025 is shaping up to be the year of going out for coffee way out. These festivals are a great way to learn, taste, and connect with people who treat coffee the way sommeliers treat wine. Whether you're booking a trip or just bookmarking ideas, these are the events where the future of coffee is being poured, one cup at a time.
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