Header CTA Button

Chicago 2026 Schedule

Enhance your Coffee Fest Experience

Discover the benefits of each badge type:

General Admission

The General Admission badge provides access to all lectures, panel discussions, and showfloor events, offering valuable insights and networking for coffee professionals.

General Admission Individual or Team Badge Holders can add paid workshops and Hands-On Training sessions to their badge a la carte, allowing you to customize your experience as you go.

Team Bundle

The Team Bundle includes 5 General Attendee badges for a discounted price! Bring the entire team!

General Admission Individual or Team Badge Holders can add paid workshops and Hands-On Training sessions to their badge a la carte, allowing you to customize your experience as you go.

Gold Pass

The Gold Pass includes everything in the General Admission badge, plus free access to the majority of our paid workshops.

Gold Pass workshops span multiple tracks and run throughout the event, allowing you to build a full schedule based on your interests. A small number of small-group Hands-On Training workshops are offered as paid add-ons for attendees seeking more intensive, instructor-led instruction.

Workshop seating is limited. Pre-registration is recommended to secure your spot; walk-up entry may be available if space allows.

Who's Speaking at Coffee Fest Chicago?


 

THANK YOU TO OUR EDUCATION SPONSORS


 

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

 

Click To See Your Saved Sessions: 

Wishlist

Favorite some sessions to get started!
Generating...

Loading
01:00 PM
  1. Latte Art Venue
    60 mins
    New to espresso or still building your confidence on bar? This hands-on, small-group workshop will walk you through the essential steps of dialing in for a balanced, flavorful shot. Designed for begin ...
02:30 PM
  1. Latte Art Venue
    150 mins
    Taught by Antoine Franklin, our Latte Art World Championship Open (LAWCO) judge, and Seidy Selivanow, 2026 Roaster of the Year and USBC competitor, this 2.5-hour small-group workshop offers intensive ...
03:00 PM
  1. Cupping Corner
    120 mins
    This beginner-friendly course introduces the fundamentals of cupping, the coffee industry’s standard for evaluating coffee quality. You'll learn what cupping is, why it’s used across various sectors o ...
08:00 AM
  1. Roasters Row
    120 mins
    Led by Anita Tam, owner and founder of Slow Pour Supply, this workshop teaches the essentials of brewing coffee using the pour-over method. Using equipment consistent with contemporary roast profiles, ...
  2. Cupping Corner
    90 mins
    Blending coffee is both a science and an art. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore how individual coffees interact to create balance, complexity, and consistency in the cup. Working in small team ...
  3. Latte Art Venue
    120 mins
    Ready to pour your first heart? This beginner-level workshop introduces budding baristas to the building blocks of free pour latte art. Taught by judges from LAWCO (Latte Art World Championship Open), ...
  4. 306
    45 mins
    Everyone loves a beautiful bar. That is, until they have to work on one that was improperly designed. Then we curse the architect and all involved for creating such a beautiful monster. With the rise ...
  5. 307
    45 mins
    In this session we will go over the business side of your business. While numbers can be confusing, they are critical to your success. Topics will include: how to have a healthy business, metrics you ...
  6. 305
    45 mins
    Join Monin Gourmet Flavorings as we uncover the formats and ideas shaping 2026 menus, including emerging flavors designed to stand out in today’s visually driven, share-worthy world. Whether you're a ...
08:30 AM
  1. Meet at Registration
    90 mins
    From trends and recipes to efficiency and profits, you will learn how to create and implement a successful energy program. We will share data on the latest trends and help you understand how to best m ...
  2. Roasting Hub
    90 mins
    Foundational Coffee Roasting Skills is a practical workshop designed for aspiring and early-stage roasters who want a clear, working understanding of production roasting. This session covers drum roas ...
  3. Tech Lab
    90 mins
    Join one of Synesso's senior technicians for an in-depth training designed to elevate your espresso machine installation skills. This session will provide essential knowledge and practical guidance to ...
09:00 AM
  1. 305
    45 mins
    Signature drinks provide an excellent opportunity to build profitability, brand identity and customer loyalty. This seminar will help get your wheels turning on how to develop these beverages, looking ...
  2. 307
    45 mins
    This is a must attend session for existing coffee and tea shop owners facing lease renewal negotiation and for new start-up tenants leasing space for the first time. Learn the 13 costly mistakes tenan ...
  3. 306
    45 mins
    Today’s coffee market is crowded; great coffee is no longer just enough. You need packaging that communicates quality, differentiates your brand, and drives real sales across retail shelves, farmers m ...
09:45 AM
  1. Cupping Corner
    120 mins
    This sensory session guides participants through a curated cupping flight that follows coffee through time - from its earliest traditions at origin to its modern expressions shaped by engineering, cul ...
10:00 AM
  1. 306
    45 mins
    In the current landscape of coffee shops, managing a younger work force is the top challenge faced by owners and operators. For many it feel like an impossible task trying to connect, communicate, and ...
  2. 305
    45 mins
    Despite increasing technical knowledge and improved brewing consistency, many filter coffee brewers experience a plateau where perceived quality, excitement, and sensory clarity stop improving. This l ...
  3. 307
    45 mins
    Wondering how to set & adjust your prices or arrange your menu? Mark Calhoun and Jim Starcev of PerfectCube discuss optimal ways to determine your prices, increase your prices and make your menu work ...
10:15 AM
  1. Latte Art Venue
    90 mins
    Alternative milks have gone from a popular trend to absolute necessity in the past few years, and their unstoppable rise has resulted in many barista designed dairy milk alternatives that are easily s ...
  2. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Este panel, realizado en español, se adentra en el mundo del café de especialidad, explorando sus características únicas y lo que lo distingue de los cafés comunes. Debatiremos la pregunta: ¿Es el caf ...
11:15 AM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    As specialty coffee continues to grow it may seem that there's a shop on every corner, including across the street from yours. If that's got you stressed about how to distinguish your café from your c ...
  2. 305
    90 mins
    Marketing your coffee shop doesn’t have to feel overwhelming or out of reach. In this session, we’ll strip away the jargon and focus on straightforward strategies that actually work. Whether you’re ju ...
11:30 AM
  1. 306
    90 mins
    The opportunity to grow and scale your cafe is a dream of shop owners everywhere. But for many cafes, their growth can become a nightmare when the proper considerations are not addressed. When you are ...
12:00 PM
  1. Latte Art Venue
    60 mins
    Barista Workflow and Efficiency is an interactive 60-minute workshop crafted for baristas, managers, and cafe owners eager to build a faster, smoother coffee bar operation. This class dives deep into ...
  2. Cupping Corner
    60 mins
    Asia is home to some of the fastest-growing and most exciting coffee-producing regions in the world. From the earthy, full-bodied coffees of Indonesia to the rich, nutty flavors of India and the intri ...
12:15 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    The coffee shop experience is constantly evolving, driven by changing customer expectations, advances in equipment, and emerging business models. For current and aspiring coffee professionals, staying ...
01:00 PM
  1. 305
    90 mins
    Placing an espresso machine isn’t just about counter space - it’s about setting your café up for smooth operations, service flow, and long-term equipment performance. This session walks through key co ...
01:15 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Your brand is more than just a logo - it’s the personality, story, and experience that keep customers coming back. In this panel, industry experts will dive into what makes a coffee brand truly memora ...
01:30 PM
  1. 307
    90 mins
    Ready to maximize your profitability? In this session, we'll do a deep dive into 4 of the most important areas of your business: Sales, COGS, Inventory, and Waste. We'll talk about and show examples o ...
  2. 306
    120 mins
    A great cup of coffee gets customers in the door, but a strong brand strategy keeps them coming back. In today’s competitive market, cafés need more than good beans and latte art — they need a clear s ...
02:00 PM
  1. Latte Art Venue
    180 mins
    The road to latte art glory starts here! In this qualifier, baristas will battle in a sudden-death, 32-competitor bracket for a coveted spot in the next Official Competition in Los Angeles. Only the t ...
  2. Cupping Corner
    90 mins
    From co-ferments to infused lots, coffee processing is entering a bold new era—one that’s redefining how we think about flavor, quality, and innovation. In this tasting-focused workshop, you’ll explor ...
02:15 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Know how to make a great espresso, but not sure what sort of food your cafe should serve? An expert in latte art, but confused what types of pastries are on trend this year? Join this panel discussion ...
03:15 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Join Roast Magazine and a panel of local roasting leaders for an engaging exploration of the most pressing topics in the specialty coffee industry today. This session brings together influential roast ...
03:30 PM
  1. 307
    90 mins
    Forget follower counts and viral videos... what if your social media strategy actually brought people through the door? In this refreshingly honest workshop, Jeremy Lyman of Birch Coffee and @coffeedo ...
04:00 PM
  1. 306
    60 mins
    Your team is the heartbeat of your business - and managing labor effectively is key to both your bottom line and your store culture. In this session led by PerfectCube, you'll discover actionable stra ...
  2. Cupping Corner
    60 mins
    Africa is widely regarded as the cradle of coffee, offering some of the most dynamic and sought-after flavors in the world. From Ethiopia’s bright, floral profiles to the fruity, wine-like notes of Bu ...
04:15 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    In a saturated market, one way coffeeshops can stand out is by creating unique and interesting rotating beverages for their seasonal menus. From coffee cocktails through to flavored cold brew, coffee ...
08:00 AM
  1. Latte Art Venue
    150 mins
    Taught by Antoine Franklin, our Latte Art World Championship Open (LAWCO) judge, and Seidy Selivanow, 2026 Roaster of the Year and USBC competitor, this 2.5-hour small-group workshop offers intensive ...
  2. 305
    45 mins
    Behind every great roast is a world of chemical engineering - energy transfer, heat flow, entropy, molecular shifts, and the controlled chaos that transforms a coffee seed into a sensory experience. I ...
  3. Cupping Corner
    120 mins
    Evaluating coffee’s sensorial qualities is a skill that one develops over time, but just how does one begin to develop these skills? In this workshop, you will learn the basic theory behind taste and ...
  4. Tech Lab
    120 mins
    Join us in the Tech Lab for a hands-on introduction to grinder fundamentals. This workshop covers how grind size impacts flavor, how to dial in for different brew methods, and how to troubleshoot inco ...
08:30 AM
  1. Roasting Hub
    90 mins
    Growing Your Roasting Business is a focused workshop for roasters ready to move from survival mode to sustainable growth. This session breaks down the core revenue streams available to roasting busine ...
  2. Meet at Registration
    90 mins
    Dive into the essentials of crafting trending tea beverages with a strong focus on matcha. This interactive workshop starts with tea basics, and from there we explores what makes quality matcha, prepa ...
09:00 AM
  1. 306
    45 mins
    Discover the latest insights driving menu innovation and profitability in the specialty beverage market. This seminar will provide: A high-level overview of consumption and purchase trends influencing ...
  2. 307
    45 mins
    Customer service is what can either set your business apart or do your business. It's also not simply about that charming smile or sharp wit, it's about so many underlying concepts. While most people ...
  3. 305
    45 mins
    New to cold brew or looking to build a stronger foundation? This session covers the essentials: a brief history of cold brew, common brewing methods, and the basic science behind great results. We’ll ...
10:00 AM
  1. 306
    45 mins
    What does the future look like in the business of coffee? What established trends will continue (hint: digital ordering), what new trends are emerging and what will have less of an impact on your busi ...
  2. 305
    45 mins
    Do you feel like you and your team are frantically filling orders at the last minute? Do you wonder whether or not you are making a profit? Do you feel like your coffee releases are rushed and your bu ...
  3. 307
    45 mins
    The difference between an excellent cafe that stands out in the pack and one that is just average comes down to how you care for the small but significant details that make up the whole experience. An ...
10:30 AM
  1. Cupping Corner
    60 mins
    Explore the incredible diversity of coffees grown across the Americas, from the nutty and chocolatey flavors of Brazil to the vibrant, fruity profiles of Colombia and the complex nuances of Honduras a ...
  2. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Coffee connects cultures worldwide, but systemic barriers continue to shape the experiences of many professionals across the industry today. This panel brings together owners, managers, and employees ...
11:00 AM
  1. Latte Art Venue
    60 mins
    We all know the recipe: 18 grams in, 36 grams out, 30 seconds. It works great... until it doesn't. When you put a bright and complex single origin coffee in the grinder, that tried-and-true formula ca ...
11:30 AM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Sustainability is a complex and ever-evolving topic in the coffee industry, touching every stage of the supply chain - from farming and sourcing to roasting, packaging, and café operations. This panel ...
  2. 306
    120 mins
    Just opened a coffee shop, getting ready to open or thinking about opening a coffee shop? Mark Calhoun and Jim Starcev of PerfectCube will share their experience developed from running retail stores a ...
  3. 305
    120 mins
    Behind every great café experience is more than great coffee — it’s consistent training and clear systems. Whether you’re building from scratch or refining current processes, this session offers pract ...
11:45 AM
  1. Cupping Corner
    120 mins
    Este taller de cata se realizará en español - una oportunidad para catar y compartir en nuestro idioma. Este curso introductorio te enseñará los fundamentos de la cata de café, el método estándar de l ...
12:30 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Whether your shop is in a small town, suburb or major metropolitian area, come to Specialty Coffee Success No Matter the Size of Your City at the Conversation Corner to get some tips, expert advice, a ...
01:00 PM
  1. 307
    60 mins
    Today’s coffee consumers expect more than great flavor - they’re looking for brands that stand for people, planet, and purpose. This workshop is built for small roasters who want to integrate ethical ...
01:30 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Starting or growing any business comes with a steep learning curve. In this panel discussion, local café owners and brand founders share what they’ve learned from the ground up – from early missteps t ...
02:00 PM
  1. Latte Art Venue
    120 mins
    The road to latte art glory starts here! In this qualifier, baristas will battle in a sudden-death, 32-competitor bracket for a coveted spot in the next Official Competition in Los Angeles. Only the t ...
  2. 306
    120 mins
    Make more money from the sales you already have - This session is for owners who already understand cost of goods sold (COGS) and want to go beyond the basics. We’ll walk step-by-step through how to a ...
  3. The Connections Lounge
    60 mins
    If you've come to Coffee Fest because you're looking to get into the business or really dig into how to open a coffee shop all your own, this is an essential meetup. Knowing what steps to take can see ...
  4. Cupping Corner
    90 mins
    Do you really know what “washed,” “natural,” and “honey” mean—and how they differ from newer terms like anaerobic, carbonic maceration, or double fermentation? In today’s rapidly evolving coffee lands ...
  5. 305
    120 mins
    A thriving coffee bar runs on more than great coffee - it runs on great systems. Yet many cafes struggle with inconsistent or unclear standard operating procedures (SOPs), leading to operational hiccu ...
02:30 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Dive into an engaging panel discussion with seasoned entrepreneurs and discover the diverse arsenal of marketing techniques utilized by these industry leaders. From leveraging social media platforms l ...
  2. 307
    90 mins
    Coffee businesses can only be great if they have great people policies. With a rapidly changing employment landscape presenting constant challenges in compliance and managing employees with diverse ex ...