Coffee Events and Festivals: Where to Go to Discover the Best Specialty Coffee

published on October 28, 2024 — by Marc-Alexandre Emond-Boisjoly — 11 mins of reading —


The world of specialty coffee is booming, with a rich scene of events and festivals dedicated to enthusiasts. For lovers of quality coffee, these gatherings are much more than just tastings: they offer the opportunity to meet experts, attend interactive workshops, discover innovations, and of course, taste exceptional coffees from various regions of the world. Here's an overview of the must-attend events where coffee enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the culture of specialty coffee, with a particular focus on key events in which 94 Celcius has participated.
Latté préparé lors d'une compétition de Barista

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA): The flagship Specialty Coffee event

Visit Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) is the organizer of North America's largest specialty coffee show, the Specialty Coffee Expo. The event brings together thousands of industry professionals, from producers to roasters to baristas. In 2024, the show was held in Chicago, offering a unique platform to explore the latest innovations and share knowledge within the industry. High-level competitions, such as the barista and latte art championships, took place, providing a captivating spectacle and showcasing international talent.

94 Celcius was honored to participate alongside many key industry players, including our friends at Forest Coffee. This experience allowed our team to connect with other enthusiasts, promote our coffees and exchange on sustainable practices in the coffee sector. The famous Roaster Village was a highlight of the event, where coffee lovers had the chance to taste and compare coffees from the world's best roasters.

Le Café Collectif de Montréal: A Local Initiative for Coffee Enthusiasts

In Montreal, the Café Collectif is a unique event co-organized by 94 Celcius. This local festival is dedicated to specialty coffee lovers in and around the city, bringing together the region's best roasting houses and coffee producers. The event allows participants to discover exceptional, often unpublished coffees, and to promote the local specialty coffee scene in a friendly, immersive atmosphere.

Le Café Collectif offers a mix of workshops, tasting sessions (cupping), and discussions, enabling visitors to learn more about different preparation methods and flavor profiles. As co-organizers, 94 Celcius is proud to contribute to the momentum of this event by promoting a sustainable approach and strengthening ties within the local specialty coffee community.

Deux baristas de Montreal qui goûte du café lors d'une dégustation organisé chez 94 ceclis

Other Not-to-be-missed Coffee Festivals

In addition to these flagship events, here are a few international festivals celebrating specialty coffee, each with its own particularities and unique atmosphere:

  • World of Coffee World of Coffee: Organized by the SCA in Europe, this travelling trade show is a benchmark for European coffee professionals. In addition to competitions, World of Coffee features technical conferences, workshops and demonstrations of the latest coffee innovations.
  • London Coffee Festival : Held annually in the English capital, this festival is a must for lovers of specialty coffee. On the program: tastings, latte art competitions, interactive workshops and a total immersion in London's coffee culture.
  • Melbourne International Coffee Expo (MICE) MICE: This Australian trade show brings together the country's finest producers, roasters and baristas. As one of the largest coffee events in Asia-Pacific, MICE is an essential meeting place for specialty coffee enthusiasts who want to discover unique coffees from this part of the world.
  • The New York Coffee Festival - An iconic event for the East Coast, this festival focuses on New York's coffee scene, offering tastings, workshops and barista competitions. It attracts not only coffee enthusiasts, but also creatives and chefs who explore associations between coffee and other gourmet products.
  • The Paris Coffee Show - This annual event in France is organized by coffee professionals to introduce the public to the riches of specialty coffee. In addition to tastings and demonstrations, the focus is on sustainable coffee, which echoes the values of many artisan roasters.

Why participate in these events?

For coffee lovers, attending these events is much more than just going out. These festivals and fairs offer the chance to discover new trends, immerse yourself in unprecedented flavors and meet passionate experts. Whether it's to gain a better understanding of fermentation methods, discover innovative roasting techniques or simply savor an exceptional coffee, each event offers enriching experiences.

For 94 Celcius, these events are also an opportunity to share our passion for specialty coffee and reinforce our commitment to ethical and sustainable production. These experiences enable us to stay in touch with global trends while continuing to innovate and offer exceptional coffees to our customers.

Ready to dive into Specialty Coffee Culture?

Whether you're an industry professional or a coffee aficionado, there's a coffee event for everyone. For 94 Celcius, these festivals are not only an opportunity to showcase our coffees, but also to reinforce our commitment to the specialty coffee community. Join us at upcoming events, and discover how each cup can tell a unique story.

In the meantime, dive into our selection of specialty coffees directly on our site to discover for yourself the passion that drives each bean.



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