Calling all coffee lovers! This year, attend South Africa’s ultimate coffee expo in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Immerse yourself in the Speciality Coffee Expo’s vibrant coffee culture, where passion meets precision, and every cup tells a story. Whether you’re a casual coffee drinker or a die-hard caffeine fanatic, this event is designed to educate, inform, and inspire.
What to expect
Roaster’s Village: Meet the country’s finest coffee roasters, and discover their stories, unique practices, and techniques.
Sample bar: Sip, compare, and find your new go-to beans with a curated selection of Roaster’s Village coffee.
Live demos: Watch and learn how to perfect your go-to cuppa at home with the guidance of the pros.
Premium equipment showcases: Explore the latest in commercial and home brewing gear, from grinders to espresso machines and more.
SCASA National Barista Championships: Watch as the country’s finest baristas compete live for national glory.
Fine patisserie: Because every cup of coffee deserves a little sweet treat, savour premium baked goods and pastries.
So…What is speciality coffee exactly?
Speciality coffee refers to the highest grade of coffee available. Coffee must be scored at least 80 points (out of a maximum of 100 points) on the Quality Scale. To break it down:
- 90 to 100: Outstanding
- 85 to 89.99: Excellent
- 80 to 84.99: Very good
Beans must be nearly defect-free to score outstanding points. This means the beans must have zero primary defects, like sour or black beans, and fewer than five secondary defects per 100 beans, like insect damage or chips. A hefty feat to beat, but it’s called speciality coffee for a reason.
From farm to cup
Speciality coffee celebrates single-origin, traceable beans. It’s more than just the taste, it’s about transparency, ethics, and quality throughout the process. Additionally, because the beans are superior in quality, they don’t need to be roasted dark to mask any flaws. The result is a smoother, cleaner cup of coffee that celebrates the bean’s natural flavour (think floral, fruity, nutty, or even tea-like notes).
Expo details
Johannesburg
Where: Fourways Mall
When: 30 May to 01 June 2025
Cape Town
Stay tuned for dates and venue announcements, Cape Town’s coffee crowd has something great coming!
Whether you’re a curious newbie or total coffee nerd, the Speciality Coffee Expo is your ticket to the best brews in the country. Make sure to get your tickets and come sip, learn, connect, and fall in love with coffee all over again.
Written by Annemieke van Nieuwkerk
First published by Food & Home
