Lani Kingston

Lani Kingston is a coffee and food anthropologist, author, consultant, and educator with over 15 years of industry experience. She has written four internationally renowned books on coffee, including the bestselling How to Make Coffee: The Science Behind the Bean, with her work translated into over 17 languages. Her latest releases are Spill the Beans: Global Coffee Culture & Recipes and Designing Coffee.

Alongside teaching, writing, and consulting, Lani directs conference and education programming for Coffee Fest nationwide, overseeing four annual events, satellite community events and workshops, the official merch line, and the upcoming Coffee Fest Podcast.

With a deep understanding of global food and coffee culture, she has developed coffee brands and chocolate factories in London and Singapore, consulted for leading food and beverage businesses worldwide, and contributed to the specialty coffee industry through research, writing, business development, and education.

She also teaches The Anthropology of Coffee and The Anthropology of Chocolate at Portland State University, exploring the cultural, historical, and economic significance of these commodities. Additionally, she sits on the Board of Directors for Slow Food Portland, supporting initiatives that promote sustainable and equitable food systems in the Pacific Northwest.

Lani’s work bridges academic research and real-world industry expertise, making her a sought-after voice in coffee & food education, business strategy, and cultural analysis.