Enhance your Coffee Fest Experience

Coffee Fest is dedicated to fostering growth and knowledge in the coffee industry, offering a dynamic lineup of lectures, workshops, networking sessions and hands-on training sessions for professionals at every stage.

With insights from industry leaders and opportunities to deepen practical skills, our program is designed to inspire, educate, and connect the coffee community.

Looking for the New York schedule? Scroll down (or click here) for the full day-by-day breakdown. 

THANK YOU TO OUR EDUCATION SPONSORS

Discover the benefits of each badge type:

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.

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.

The Gold Pass includes everything in the General Admission badge, plus access to select workshops that normally have an additional fee.

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 New York?


SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

Loading
12:30 PM
  1. Seminar Room (1A04)
    90 mins
    Coffee shops don't need fame - they need familiarity. Marketing your shop doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, expensive, or reliant on chasing viral trends. In this session, we’ll strip away the jargon …
02:15 PM
  1. Seminar Room (1A04)
    60 mins
    One of the biggest struggles coffee shop owners face is hiring. In this workshop, Jean Brillman, owner of White Horse Coffee & Creamery, will guide participants through the essential steps in creating …
08:00 AM
  1. Latte Art Venue
    150 mins
    Taught by our Latte Art World Championship judges, this 2.5-hour small-group workshop offers intensive instruction on the core techniques of crafting espresso-based beverages. You'll receive personal, …
  2. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    Demystify the balance sheet and take control of your bottom line. Led by experienced operators who have built and run multiple food and retail businesses, this session breaks down the critical metrics …
  3. Cupping Corner (Room 1A03)
    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 …
08:30 AM
  1. Tech Lab
    90 mins
    In this workshop, learn how different grinder features and designs can affect your coffee quality and bar flow. Explore real-world impacts of differences in features like burr size and style, motor sp …
  2. Tasting Theater (Room 1A02)
    90 mins
    Signature drinks offer an incredible opportunity to boost profitability, brand identity, and customer loyalty. In this workshop, we take menu development from theory to practice. After exploring the m …
09:00 AM
  1. Business Building Essentials
    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 …
  2. Sponsored
    Seminar Room (1A04)
    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 …
10:00 AM
  1. Seminar Room (1A04)
    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 …
10:30 AM
  1. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    This lecture provides aspiring and new coffee shop owners with a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities that arise during the first year of business. From creating a successful bra …
  2. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    As coffee menus evolve to include "swavory" global flavors (miso, pandan, ube) and functional ingredients (mushrooms, proteins, adaptogens), the role of green coffee sourcing is changing. This panel b …
10:45 AM
  1. Tasting Theater (Room 1A02)
    90 mins
    Coffee professionals already know how to taste; this session bridges that sensory expertise to tea, the second most consumed beverage in the world. Designed for owners and managers evaluating tea's pl …
11:00 AM
  1. Latte Art Venue
    90 mins
    Build a faster, smoother coffee bar operation without compromising cup quality. Designed for baristas, managers, and cafe owners, this interactive workshop pairs the core theory of daily bar setup and …
  2. Cupping Corner (Room 1A03)
    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 …
11:30 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. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    A great cup of coffee brings customers through the door, but a thoughtfully designed food menu can give them another reason to stay, spend, and return. Discover how to create a distinctive, profitable …
12:30 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 …
  2. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    Discover what it takes to transition a mobile coffee business into a successful brick-and-mortar operation. Drawing on the speaker's real-world experience building a vintage trailer business into a pe …
01:30 PM
  1. Sponsored
    Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Join Roast Magazine and a panel of local leaders in the roasting world for a panel discussion on the hot topics surrounding the industry today. Hear from local roasters and business owners and get the …
    Panel Moderator
  2. Business Building Essentials
    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 …
02:00 PM
  1. Seminar Room (1A04)
    90 mins
    Ready to maximize your profitability? In this session, we'll do a deep dive into four of the most critical back-of-house drivers of your business by covering: How to accurately track and measure daily …
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 …
03:30 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    A Note on Sustainability: "For years, "sustainability" has focused on mitigation - how to keep taking from the earth and our people while doing slightly less damage," says author, scientist, and membe …
  2. Cupping Corner (Room 1A03)
    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 …
  3. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    Tea can be a highly profitable anchor on a café menu, but sourcing great tea is only the first step - pricing, recipes, and staff training must all work together. Using a real-world case study of a te …
08:00 AM
  1. 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 our very own LAWCO (Latte Art World Championship Open) …
  2. Cupping Corner (Room 1A03)
    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. Tasting Theater (Room 1A02)
    120 mins
    Textures, layers, and inclusions are currently leading the charge in signature drink innovation. From silky cold foams and decadent cream tops to vibrant fruit purées and playful, crunchy inclusions, …
  4. Business Building Essentials
    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 …
08:30 AM
  1. Tech Lab
    90 mins
    Espresso equipment keeps your café doors open. Keeping that equipment running properly requires more than just backflushing and changing gaskets, it requires regular deep cleaning and thorough prevent …
09:00 AM
  1. Sponsored
    Seminar Room (1A04)
    45 mins
    Join Monin Gourmet Flavorings as we uncover the formats and ideas shaping 2027 menus, including emerging flavors designed to stand out in today’s visually driven, share-worthy world. Whether you're a …
  2. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    Catering allows coffee businesses to unlock substantial new revenue, attract repeat group accounts, and expand reach across the local community - without adding seats to the café floor. Tailored for c …
10:00 AM
  1. Cupping Corner (Room 1A03)
    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 …
10:15 AM
  1. Seminar Room (1A04)
    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 …
10:30 AM
  1. Tasting Theater (Room 1A02)
    120 mins
    Learn the essentials of brewing coffee using the pour-over method. Using equipment consistent with contemporary roast profiles, this class is perfect for both beginners and coffee enthusiasts looking …
  2. Sponsored
    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 …
  3. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    This is a must attend session for existing coffee and tea shop owners facing a lease renewal negotiation and for new start-up tenants leasing space for the first time. Learn the 13 costly mistakes ten …
  4. Sponsored
    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 …
11:30 AM
  1. Cupping Corner (Room 1A03)
    120 mins
    A small-group cupping that helps cafe owners and managers reconnect with flavor and learn to communicate it in ways customers understand. Participants will taste coffees from different origins, explor …
  2. Seminar Room (1A04)
    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. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Starting any coffee 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 to tu …
  4. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    Your menu is probably carrying heroes, dead weight, and a couple drinks that actively lose you money. In this session, we’ll walk through how to use the sales data you already have to identify which d …
12:30 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 …
  2. Business Building Essentials
    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 …
01:15 PM
  1. Seminar Room (1A04)
    90 mins
    Wondering how to set, adjust, or defend your prices while making your menu work harder for your bottom line? Join Mark Calhoun and Jim Starcev of PerfectCube for a data-driven deep-dive into menu engi …
  2. Seminar Room (1A04)
    90 mins
    Wondering how to set, adjust, or defend your prices while making your menu work harder for your bottom line? Join Mark Calhoun and Jim Starcev of PerfectCube for a data-driven deep-dive into menu engi …
02:00 PM
  1. Cupping Corner (Room 1A03)
    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 …
02:30 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    What's actually filling cups, and what's just a fleeting TikTok fad? Join our industry panel for a fast-paced look at the flavors, ingredients, and consumer habits driving beverage menus right now. Ou …
03:00 PM
  1. Seminar Room (1A04)
    90 mins
    Baristas are the heartbeat of every café, but when reactive hiring and constant turnover take over, your bottom line suffers. Far too often, owners find themselves in dire need, leading to erratic hir …
03:30 PM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    Coffee connects cultures worldwide, but inequities continue to shape the experiences of BIPOC professionals in the industry today.  This panel brings together owners, managers, and employees to share …
08:00 AM
  1. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    Customer service is what can either set your business apart or do your business in. It's also not simply about that charming smile or sharp wit, it's about so many underlying concepts. While most peop …
  2. Latte Art Venue
    150 mins
    Taught by our Latte Art World Championship judges, this 2.5-hour small-group workshop offers intensive instruction on the core techniques of crafting espresso-based beverages. You'll receive personal, …
  3. Cupping Corner (Room 1A03)
    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 …
08:30 AM
  1. Sponsored
    Tasting Theater (Room 1A02)
    90 mins
    Customizing and crafting trending non-coffee beverages is a 1.5-hour theory and tasting class covering the essentials of offering non-coffee (tea!) based beverages. This class is designed to enhance t …
  2. Tech Lab
    90 mins
    Choosing coffee equipment that will help your business grow is an important step for a new café. Ensuring that equipment is installed properly is essential. Experienced independent technicians from th …
09:00 AM
  1. Sponsored
    Seminar Room (1A04)
    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 …
  2. Business Building Essentials
    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 …
10:00 AM
  1. Seminar Room (1A04)
    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 …
10:30 AM
  1. Conversation Corner
    45 mins
    "We've made these mistakes so you don't have to!" Join a panel of seasoned industry experts who’ve seen it all - from the chaos of delayed build-outs to the perils of hiring family. Through hard-won l …
  2. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    The difference between coffee roasters that experience accelerated growth, and those who struggle to gain traction, is typically marked by one key factor: a process, plan, and strategy for how they se …
11:30 AM
  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 …
  2. Business Building Essentials
    45 mins
    Opening a shop and trying to make sure people actually show up, your team is ready, and your menu will make money? In this session speaker Jason DeVelvis will walk you through exactly what he did befo …
12:15 PM
  1. Seminar Room (1A04)
    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 …
02:30 PM
  1. Cupping Corner (Room 1A03)
    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 …
  2. Business Building Essentials
    30 mins
    A great cup of coffee brings customers through the door. How you stay connected can help bring them back. In this practical session, Elizabeth Jacobi will show coffee shop owners and marketers how to …
  3. Seminar Room (1A04)
    90 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 …