The 2023 Specialty Coffee Expo in Portland brought together over 12,000 coffee professionals for three days of learning and celebration. Key themes included a shift toward value-based coffee assessment and Fairtrade’s new minimum price—topics that could reshape the industry’s approach to quality and fairness.

From lively events to impactful panels, this year’s Expo highlighted important changes and left us with big questions. Curious about the trends and insights that could influence coffee’s future? Dive into our full takeaways!

A successful coffee show requires strategic planning to make the most of the opportunity. Start by setting clear goals—whether it's generating new leads or meeting with existing clients—and schedule meetings in advance. Bring business cards, flyers, and green coffee samples, but only share samples with genuinely interested contacts.

On the show floor, stay focused on your objectives. Gather business cards, jot down notes on high-potential leads, and take advantage of workshops or lectures that might open unexpected doors. After the event, review and prioritize your leads before reaching out thoughtfully. Ready to make the next coffee show your best one yet? Read on for Vuna’s top tips!

The World Coffee Producer Forum (WCPF) and AFCA Conference in Kigali brought key insights for the coffee industry. The WCPF’s Kigali Declaration emphasized living income and climate change, though its practical impact remains unclear.

AFCA’s conference highlighted the rise of African coffee entrepreneurs, especially women, shaping the future of coffee production, roasting, and local consumption across the continent.

2022 was a year of volatility and transformation, shaped by macroeconomic challenges, rising production costs, and resilient consumer habits. The global economy faced massive disruptions, from the Ukraine war to the energy crisis, sparking instability across industries, including coffee. Amid this uncertainty, coffee proved its resilience, with demand remaining strong even as prices fluctuated dramatically.

However, the industry still grappled with high production costs and labor shortages, especially in Latin America, driven by factors like elevated fertilizer costs and limited farm labor availability. As we look to 2023, questions remain about inflation, geopolitical tensions, and climate impacts on production. What trends from 2022 do you think will continue to shape the market?