Key takeaways

• The primary North American version of World of Espresso will happen from 10 to 12 April 2026 in San Diego, California.
• The US’ specialty espresso consumption hit a 14-year excessive in 2025, making it one of many world’s key espresso markets.
• WoC San Diego will host the 2026 World Latte Artwork Championships.
• Attendees also can take part in a variety of afterparties and occasions, and expertise town’s established specialty espresso scene.

After three many years, North America’s Specialty Espresso Expo joins different SCA commerce exhibits by rebranding as World of Espresso. The primary version will happen in San Diego from 10 to 12 April 2026.

WoC San Diego will host the 2026 World Latte Artwork Championships, Roasters Village, Finest New Product Competitors, Espresso Design Awards, lectures, workshops, cuppings, and extra.

Exhibitors, reminiscent of Ecotact, Good Moose, OutIn, and extra, can even organise their very own occasions and afterparties.

Attendees can even have the chance to go to a few of the metropolis’s finest specialty espresso retailers and roasters.

Take a look at the PDG Occasions Calendar right here. We’ll proceed to replace the article as extra occasions and afterparties are introduced.

Competitions and awards at WoC San Diego

WoC San Diego will probably be held on the San Diego Conference Middle within the Marina district, close to the Gaslamp Quarter.

The occasion will characteristic the 2026 World Latte Artwork Championships, the place worldwide baristas will showcase their expertise and creativity to pour extremely advanced latte artwork designs.

As with earlier Expos, WoC San Diego can even embody the Espresso Design Awards and the Finest New Product competitors.

Why North America is important for espresso occasions

North America is without doubt one of the world’s most necessary markets for espresso consumption. The Nationwide Espresso Affiliation’s Fall 2025 NCDT Report discovered that aside from bottled water, espresso is America’s favorite beverage. Specialty espresso consumption additionally hit a report excessive within the US final yr, with 48% of US adults ingesting it previously day.

“North America, significantly the US, is a key marketplace for the worldwide espresso business for 2 main causes: worth affect and consumption scale, each of which proceed to form new international traits within the specialty espresso commerce,” says Hanuman Jain, the CEO of Ecotact, which is able to exhibit at sales space 3723.

“It’s one of many largest coffee-consuming markets on the earth, with monumental demand from main roasters, retailers, and specialty espresso corporations,” he provides. “Due to this fact, occasions listed below are important for us; they supply a useful platform to showcase our sustainable, progressive options whereas advocating for round financial system practices that profit the whole provide chain.”

World of Espresso North America (previously generally known as Expo) is the most important B2B specialty espresso commerce present in North America.

“The North American espresso scene strikes extremely quick, and cafés are continuously pushing for higher workflows, greater consistency, and nice buyer experiences,” says Jan Adriaens, the founding father of Good Moose, which is able to exhibit at sales space 1549.

“WoC is the best place to indicate how automation can assist baristas as an alternative of changing them,” he provides. “It’s additionally the place we get trustworthy suggestions from the folks behind the bar, and that’s what retains us evolving.”

The occasion attracts 1000’s of holiday makers yearly, bringing collectively roasters, baristas, producers, exporters, importers, gear producers, and extra. 

“For us, it’s greater than a commerce present. It’s an opportunity to attach instantly with a core viewers that values high quality, mobility, and knowledgeable espresso expertise,” says Ariana Wang, the International Advertising and marketing Supervisor at OutIn, which is able to exhibit at sales space 4027 and host a pop-up house at LP6. 

“By collaborating in WoC, we strengthen our international model presence, trade insights with business pioneers, and showcase our transportable espresso options to key companions.”

Greater than 670 exhibitors will probably be current on the occasion, making WoC San Diego one of many yr’s most necessary occasions.

“Our job is knowing espresso roasters, and WoC places us in the identical room as 1000’s of them,” says Mark Zhou, the founding father of MTPak Espresso, which is able to exhibit at sales space 3916. “Strolling a present flooring, you choose up on what roasters are genuinely enthusiastic about and what issues they’re attempting to unravel.

“Espresso strikes quick. What was thought of a premium unboxing expertise two years in the past now appears atypical. Reveals like WoC are the place you see what’s subsequent in packaging earlier than it turns into normal.”

Afterparties & actions

Quite a few corporations and organisations will host their very own actions and occasions throughout WoC San Diego:

Wednesday 8 April

Thursday 9 April

“As a pre-event catch-up forward of WoC, we’re internet hosting an RSVP dinner at Royal India restaurant for Ecotacters, companions, and shut mates of the model,” says Hanuman. 

“We sit up for a night of genuine Indian flavours and significant conversations, bringing collectively individuals who have been a part of our journey and people becoming a member of us as we proceed to develop.”

Friday 10 April

“We’re conserving issues a bit extra casual this yr, however WoC San Diego is all the time an awesome alternative to spend time with our North American distributors and companions who assist carry Good Moose to cafés throughout the US and Canada,” says Jan. 

“We’ll be assembly with them all through the occasion to share concepts, speak in regards to the market and strengthen these relationships.”

Saturday 11 April

“We invite everybody to affix our devoted pop-up house and interactive CUPO actions all through the occasion days, the place we give attention to neighborhood, connection, and low experiences,” Ariana says.

“Individuals will expertise a whole, skilled espresso workflow utilizing OutIn’s private espresso stations. The occasion can even characteristic visitor judges and business professionals collaborating and scoring alongside members.”

Sunday 12 April

This listing will probably be up to date as extra events are introduced. Please observe that some occasions are invite or RSVP solely.

San Diego espresso store tour

Famend for its beautiful Pacific shoreline and sights such because the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park, town additionally options historic websites, together with the Gaslamp Quarter and Previous City. 

San Diego additionally has a world-class craft beer scene and a few of the US’ finest specialty espresso retailers and roasters. Charlie, the Chief of Employees at Goldchild Espresso, recommends:

Different notable espresso retailers embody:

• Goldchild Espresso – award-winning roaster based by 2025 American AeroPress Champion Jeff Rambo and Mariela Mosquera, recognized for its hip-hop-influenced type and Swedish Fika bakery programme
• Sur Espresso, opened in 2015
• Unison Espresso, which hosts a pop-up four-course omakase-style expertise inside Pizza Kaiju in Barrio Logan
• Chook Rock Espresso Roasters – Roaster of the Yr and Good Meals Award winner
• Genteel Espresso Roasters, which sources espresso from a variety of origins, together with Thailand
• James Espresso Co., providing housemade pastries baked on-site
• Selva Espresso Home, positioned inside a plant nursery
• Darkish Horse Espresso Roasters, based in 2013
• Flor and Seed Espresso Roasters, which focuses on Mexican coffees
• Ladies-owned and community-focused S3 Espresso Bar
• Talitha Espresso, which helps survivors of intercourse trafficking
• Communal Espresso, which operates a number of areas
• Lofty Espresso, which additionally runs a bakery
• Jaunt Espresso Roasters, which serves meals and baked items
• Queer and women-owned Mnemonic Espresso
• Mexican-influenced Por Vida!
• Latinx-owned Provecho! Espresso Co., which specialises in importing Mexican coffees
• Lengthy Play HiFi, positioned inside a report retailer
• Nomade, a report retailer and tapas bar
• Fuzz Espresso, which doubles as a report retailer
• Little Whereas, with an in-house pastry programme
• Excelsa Espresso Firm, which solely sources Excelsa, a climate-resilient espresso species primarily grown in Southeast Asia and components of Africa
• Award-winning Torque Espresso, which makes use of its Proportional Pricing system, making certain 20% of the retail worth goes instantly again to producers

The place to eat & drink in San Diego

San Diego’s meals scene is vibrant, providing Baja-Med delicacies, world-class Mexican road meals, and recent Pacific seafood.

Charlie recommends Cowboy Star for the most effective steakhouse experiences within the metropolis and Ciccia Osteria for distinctive, thoughful Italian meals.

The World’s 50 Finest recommends these bars and eating places:

• Addison
• Kindred
• Noble Experiment
• Well mannered Provisions
• Raised by Wolves
• Youngblood

Eating places on San Diego Journal’s 9 Should-Strive Meals embody:

• Books & Information
• Puesto
• Piacere Mio
• Lucien
• Le Coq
• LuckyBolt Kitchen + Bakery
• La Corriente
• Vinum Locus
• Mirin Café

What can we anticipate at WoC San Diego?

World of Espresso occasions are a few of the most influential and impactful B2B commerce exhibits within the international espresso sector.

“You’ll be able to all the time anticipate new improvements, from experimental traits like co-fermented coffees to shifts in how espresso is traded and transported,” Hanuman says. “Ecotact will launch the Ship Defend Airtight Bulk Liner, designed to assist bulk logistics throughout long-haul transit. 

“We’re additionally launching our new monitoring system, Hint IQ, a digital logging answer designed to watch and safeguard high-value espresso throughout storage and transit,” he provides. “Earlier this yr, we launched Pour Lock, a design-forward extension of our sampler bag vary, which we are going to showcase, in addition to our Fermentation Package, which supplies farmers with a easy, dependable and field-tested technique to conduct anaerobic fermentation.

“We’re additionally offering a gathering room in our sales space for personal periods, which you’ll prebook right here.”

The final North American version, held in Houston, Texas and branded as Expo, introduced collectively 1000’s of espresso professionals from over 89 nations.

“At WoC San Diego, guests can expertise the Good Moose in motion and see how automated milk steaming can carry pace, precision, and consistency to café service,” Jan says. “However extra importantly, we’re there to hear. Good Moose was initially constructed to unravel an actual barista downside, and that philosophy hasn’t modified. 

“Occasions like WoC are the place we collect extra suggestions from café house owners, baristas, and companions within the North American market,” he provides. “These conversations typically form what the subsequent technology of Moose innovation appears like.”

Given the dimensions and affect of WoC, many manufacturers try to create memorable experiences at their cubicles, partaking with guests in new methods to construct lasting connections.

“OutIn’s pop-up embodies this shift with a digital nomad, tropical-island, and tenting resort aesthetic, providing a relaxed, vacation-like ambiance that stands out on the present,” Ariana says. “This distinctive setup not solely creates a memorable expertise but additionally highlights the core of our merchandise: transportable, versatile, and designed for all times on the transfer.

“We’ll additionally showcase our LattoGo two-tone milk frother, which aligns completely with the spirit of the World Latte Artwork Championship and serves because the official designated gear for the Group Lounge.”

The North American espresso market is without doubt one of the most dynamic on the earth, typically setting traits that affect different international espresso sectors.

“The MTPak Espresso group is happy to showcase our fully-customisable packaging options,” Mark says. “Count on to see cutting-edge designs and the newest improvements in sustainable supplies, and we’ll be available to information guests by way of our full vary of companies.”

WoC San Diego is without doubt one of the most necessary occasions within the espresso business this yr. Alongside the commerce present, competitions, and afterparties, attendees will have the ability to expertise town’s vibrant specialty espresso scene.

If you’re collaborating in any capability, be sure that to register and e-book any actions upfront of your attendance.

To study extra about WoC San Diego, go to the web site.

Picture credit: Specialty Espresso Affiliation

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Please observe: Ecotact, Good Moose, and OutIn are sponsors of Good Each day Grind.

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