Here in the United States, the number of days many of us have been taking precautionary against the spread of COVID-19 has reached triple digits. In an alternate reality, one where COVID-19 doesn’t exist (or was at least taken seriously by governing bodies very early on), the Sprudge team would be in Warsaw, Poland right this very minute, covering all the exciting moments of the World Coffee in Good Spirits competitions and enjoying local fare of pierogis and sour cucumber soup. We’d have reporters visiting Portland, London, and Melbourne in the previous weeks; it’s truly one of the most thrilling times for coffee journalism.
But the theoretical world is not this one. COVID-19 has (rightly) caused the postponement, virtualization, or cancellation of pretty much every major coffee event. But what are the status of those events today, 100 days into a global pandemic? We’ve rounded up all the latest dates and deets for all the coffee events affected by COVID-19.
US Coffee Championships
As previously reported, the remainder of the 2020 US Coffee Championships season, including the national rounds of competition for Coffee in Good Spirits, Cup Tasters, and the Roasters Championship, has been cancelled, with all competitors automatically qualifying for the 2021 nationals in New Orleans. Additionally, the early parts of the 2021 season—micro-regionals and Qualifying Events—have also been cancelled.
London Coffee Festival
After moving from early April to the end of July due to COVID-19, the 2020 London Coffee Festival’s fate—and with it the fate of the always entertaining Coffee Masters competition—is now in limbo. According to their website, the event is still very much happening, but the dates have to be determined. We’re watching this announcement closely and will report on news as it happens.
Re:Co Symposium
Originally scheduled for April 21st and 22nd in Portland, just a few days before Expo, Re:Co is moving online. The two-day coffee symposium touted as “a gathering of the greatest minds and most influential thinkers in coffee, addressing the most pressing topics facing our industry today” has moved to July 16th and 17th and online, from the comfort of your own home. With the digital transition, the cost of attending Re:Co has changed from over $1,000 a ticket to $260-295—still a significant amount of money for many.
World Of Coffee Warsaw
Home of the World levels of competition for Coffee in Good Spirits, Cup Tasters, Ibrik/Cezve Championship, and the Roasters Championship, World of Coffee Warsaw should have been going on right this very moment. As of right now, WoC is still slated to occur and has instead been moved to October 15th through 17th.
Melbourne International Coffee Expo
Back in early May, Melbourne International Coffee Expo, or MICE, was all set to hold the crown jewels of the coffee competition pantheon: the World Barista Championship and World Brewers Cup. But after COVID-19 completely changed the global landscape, any notions of continuing according to the original plan were swiftly dismissed. As it stands today, MICE as well as the World Barista Championship and Brewers Cup have moved to November 3rd through 6th.
Zac Cadwalader is the managing editor at Sprudge Media Network and a staff writer based in Dallas. Read more Zac Cadwalader on Sprudge.
