On Friday 25 April, the Specialty Espresso Expo will happen in Houston, Texas. The annual occasion is the most important B2B specialty espresso commerce in North America, with hundreds attending yearly.

Expo brings collectively a various vary of espresso professionals, together with roasters, café house owners, exporters, producers, gear producers, importers, and baristas. Attendees have the chance to community, style new coffees, participate in academic classes, and see the most recent improvements in specialty espresso firsthand.

This 12 months’s occasion additionally marks the primary time that the World Espresso Roasting Championships will happen within the US.

Learn on to study extra about what’s taking place on the 2025 Specialty Espresso Expo, in addition to who’s exhibiting on the three-day commerce present.

Take a look at the PDG Occasions Calendar right here.

Which competitions and awards are happening?

Organised by the Specialty Espresso Affiliation, the Specialty Espresso Expo is hosted in a special US metropolis yearly.

The 2025 expo will happen in Houston, Texas – a metropolis with a thriving specialty espresso scene. The occasion will happen on the George R. Brown Conference Heart.

Expo is maybe finest identified for its intensive commerce present and exhibition, however the occasion additionally hosts a number of competitions and awards programmes.

For the primary time ever, the US will host the World Espresso Roasting Championships. Licensed judges rating roasters based mostly on their potential to evaluate the standard and traits of inexperienced espresso, develop a roast profile that finest highlights its sensory attributes, and in the end obtain the best cup high quality.

The Specialty Espresso Expo additionally holds the Greatest New Product and Espresso Design Awards yearly.

The Espresso Design Awards – an initiative which recognises and celebrates design excellence within the specialty espresso trade – is cut up into three classes: Branding, Packaging, and Areas.

All entrants will likely be showcased on the Espresso Design Award show at Expo, and judging can even happen on the occasion.

The Greatest New Product award, in the meantime, honours new merchandise which add worth to the specialty espresso sector. The classes embody:

• Espresso equipment
• Business espresso preparation and serving gear
• Shopper espresso preparation and serving gear
• Specialty espresso beverage additive
• Specialty non-coffee beverage standalone
• Open class (for merchandise which don’t slot in every other class)

This 12 months, all entries will likely be thought of for the Folks’s Alternative Award, the place all attendees can have the prospect to vote for his or her favorite product.

Lectures, workshops, and cuppings

There will likely be over 50 lecture classes on the 2025 Specialty Espresso Expo, together with a variety of subjects – from easy methods to begin a cellular espresso enterprise to the macro impression of enhancing monetary entry for ladies at origin.

Workshops can even be held throughout the three days to offer a extra hands-on studying expertise for attendees – masking previous crop profiling, espresso store workflow effectivity, understanding fruit flavours in espresso, and extra. The Cupping Trade will characteristic each private and non-private cupping classes, together with among the main producers and merchants within the trade.

The Espresso Science Basis will show the most recent espresso analysis at this 12 months’s Specialty Espresso Expo, too. Featured subjects will embody sensory science, espresso genetics & breeding, market analysis, espresso high quality & evaluations, and extra. 

Posters will likely be displayed in a distinguished location for the complete occasion and highlighted throughout an official Espresso Science Basis Poster Session.

Who’s attending Specialty Espresso Expo in Houston?

The Expo commerce present all the time encompasses a broad vary of exhibitors. From producers and co-operatives to roasters and occasional retailers to merchants and gear producers, among the most distinguished corporations and types within the international espresso sector will attend.

Roaster Village

The Roaster Village is on the coronary heart of each Specialty Espresso Expo, serving as a key assembly level for attendees to talk with among the most revolutionary and pioneering roasters within the specialty espresso trade. Roaster Village exhibitors will likely be showcasing among the newest developments in roasting, sourcing, and brewing – along with the broader Expo commerce present, which options among the greatest manufacturers within the international espresso sector.

This 12 months, the Roaster Village will embody over 55 exhibitors, akin to These Espresso Folks, Forest Espresso, InConexus, Lohas Beans, JNP Espresso, Osito Espresso & Cacao, Kaffeelix Roastery, Espresso Coalition for Racial Fairness, and extra.

Inexperienced espresso packaging options

Inexperienced and roasted espresso packaging corporations are all the time current at trade occasions. At this 12 months’s Specialty Espresso Expo, Ecotact – a number one producer of nine-layer airtight packaging options – will showcase its full vary of merchandise.

With a worldwide footprint in over 54 nations, Ecoatct’s recyclable and reusable luggage are engineered across the core perception that freshness is non-negotiable. From compact 200g holding capability pattern luggage to 40ft container liners, the model’s full vary empowers farmers, exporters, importers, merchants, and roasters to guard high quality, scale back waste, and lengthen shelf life. 

“We assist and rejoice every transition within the espresso chain with our revolutionary airtight packaging options that shield what issues most in espresso: freshness,” says Hanuman Jain, the CEO of Ecotact. “Freshness isn’t simply a regular; it’s a accountability we uphold with care. By our #PassionForFreshness marketing campaign, we’re dedicated to serving to the trade ship espresso at its finest.”

Backed by high-barrier expertise, Ecotact packaging ensures that espresso stays as recent because the day it was harvested from farm to cup. 

To study extra about Ecotact and the way its sustainable packaging options are shaping the way forward for high quality preservation and round financial system practices within the espresso trade, go to the web site and cease by sales space 1237 at Expo.

Automated brewing options

Each Specialty Espresso Expo all the time attracts among the greatest espresso gear manufacturers within the trade. This 12 months, SEB Skilled’s 4 manufacturers – WMF, Schaerer, Curtis, and La San Marco – will showcase their vary of automated options for espresso enterprise operators.

World espresso costs are at historic highs, pushed by excessive climate, provide shortages, and rising worldwide demand. For meals service operators, meaning rising prices and added stress to ship constant, high-quality espresso.

“Rising espresso costs don’t have to lift your stress ranges,” says Adam Pobiner, the Director of Strategic Gross sales at SEB Skilled. “Automated gear options are constructed to assist operators keep worthwhile and ship distinctive espresso, even when the market isn’t cooperating.”

At Specialty Espresso Expo Houston, SEB Skilled will showcase how sensible automated brewing options might help espresso store operators navigate right now’s challenges. Automated gear is designed to offer operators higher management over each cup, guaranteeing precision, decreasing waste, and delivering constant outcomes throughout areas, staffing ranges, and dayparts. 

Whether or not an operator serves fast grab-and-go or customised crafted drinks, SEB Skilled’s automated options might help shield their backside line.

To study extra about SEB Skilled’s manufacturers, go to the web site and cease by sales space 1821 at Specialty Espresso Expo Houston.

Plant milk manufacturers

Every Specialty Espresso Expo brings collectively pioneering plant milk manufacturers. At this 12 months’s occasion, Blue Diamond Growers, the world’s main almond marketer and processor, will debut its new Barista Mix Almondmilk, revealing a package deal redesign to strengthen the model’s legacy in supporting small, family-owned almond orchards and occasional retailers nationwide.

As a farmer-owned cooperative, Blue Diamond Growers works with its roughly 3,000 California almond farmers to develop and harvest high quality almonds which are reworked into a various line of merchandise.

“The Barista Mix Almondmilk’s new packaging tells the story of our greater than 100-year legacy as passionate almond innovators. The origin of our almonds begins at native California orchards and reaches cafés nationwide for the proper serve,” says Carmen Bourgaize, the Chief Business Officer at Blue Diamond. “We’re excited to refresh our packaging to raised characterize our model and heritage.”

Designed to froth, steam, and blend into a variety of espresso drinks, Blue Diamond Barista Mix Almondmilk is a wealthy and creamy non-dairy milk that delivers each style and efficiency. It’s accessible completely for meals service areas, together with each unbiased cafés and nationwide chains.

To study extra, go to the web site and cease by sales space 301 at Specialty Espresso Expo to attempt samples and converse to the crew.

Producers & exporters

Specialty Espresso Expo attracts among the most distinguished specialty espresso producers and exporters on the planet. This consists of Cumbres – 4 generations of devoted espresso producers cultivating distinctive heaps throughout six farms in Ciudad Bolívar, Antioquia. With robust partnerships with growers in ten areas throughout Colombia, Cumbres provides specialty coffees with distinctive flavour profiles and fascinating varieties with direct traceability year-round.

“Being a part of the complete espresso chain – from rising our personal specialty espresso to export – evokes us, sip by sip, as we attain shoppers keen to find new espresso profiles,” says Ricardo Restrepo, the overall supervisor at Cumbres. “For us, watching every bean make its manner into the world is among the most heart-filling experiences.”

Cumbres honours custom by sustainable practices and meticulous post-harvest processes, showcasing the best Colombian espresso. From cautious cultivation to knowledgeable processing, its coffees mirror authenticity, high quality, and keenness.

To study extra about Cumbres, comply with the corporate on LinkedIn, contact the crew at comercialusa@cumbres.com.co, and go to sales space 653 at Specialty Espresso Expo.

Check out who else is attending the 2025 Specialty Espresso Expo

Alongside these manufacturers, various different specialty espresso corporations will exhibit on the occasion. These embody:

• MTPak Espresso
• Latte Artwork Manufacturing unit
• Cowl Your Belongings CYA
• Gradual Pour Provide
• Ally Espresso
• AeroPress 
• Balzac Brothers & Co.
• Bellwether Espresso
• BlendIn Espresso Membership
• Breville
• Cafetto
• Covoya Specialty Espresso
• Cropster
• Dalla Corte
• DiFluid
• Ecotact
• Expocacer
• Fiorenzato
• Guatemalan Coffees
• Hardtank
• Hawaii Espresso Affiliation
• IMF Espresso Roasters
• Merakitech Restricted
• OutIn
• Rancilio
• Renude
• Royal Espresso
• Santos
• Stronghold
• Timemore
• Thermoplan

After events and occasions

Main as much as and throughout all three days of Expo, many corporations and organisations will likely be internet hosting their very own actions and occasions. A few of these embody:

Thu 24 Apr

• RoasTronix Summit: Exploring the Way forward for Espresso on the College of Houston
• Mirra x Fifth Vessel Bar Takeover at Fifth Vessel Espresso Co.
• Oatly and Houston Espresso Collective celebration and latte artwork throwdown at Brass Tacks
• Expo’s Biggest Scavenger Hunt on the Café Imports sales space

Fri 25 Apr

• Koatji & Fifth Vessel Latte Artwork Jam at Fifth Vessel
• Sip & Social BlendIn Espresso Membership and Refuge after celebration

Sat 26 Apr

• Katz Espresso Leap-Over after celebration

Please word that some occasions are invite-only, and attendees could have to register beforehand, with some occasions probably already offered out.

The 2025 Specialty Espresso Expo, happening from 25 to 27 April in Houston, is ready to be the most important version but. Subsequent 12 months, the occasion will rebrand as World of Espresso San Diego, becoming a member of the SCA’s European, Latin American, and Asian WoC occasions.

In case you are collaborating within the expo in any capability, be sure to register and e-book for any actions previous to attending.

To study extra in regards to the Specialty Espresso Expo, go to the official web site.

Photograph credit: Ecotact, SEB Skilled, Blue Diamond, Cumbres, Specialty Espresso Affiliation

Good Every day Grind

Please word: Ecotact, SEB Skilled, Blue Diamond, and Cumbres are sponsors of Good Every day Grind.

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