The World of Coffee is upon us, and the time is nigh to author an expansive preview of all the doings, comings, and goings expected for a full weekend of coffee programing in San Diego. Where to go, what to see, and the stuff we’re looking forward to—read on to discover it all.
If by some grave error of accidental misfortune you’ve not been mentioned somewhere in the guide below or on our bustling event calendar, please get in touch!
Sprudge Media Network’s coverage of World Of Coffee 2026 is presented by La Marzocco, Dona Tea, Hollander, and Califia Farms.
The Parties
Let’s be honest, you are here to party. These are the biggest parties we’re tracking around WOC 2026.
Thursday, April 9: The Comandante Championship 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Location: Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, 5627 La Jolla Blvd.
A battle royale in the realm of hand grinders is also a killer way to jump start your WOC weekend. Here you’ll observe baristas and home brewers test their wrists in a knock-out style brewing bracket. The winner gets bragging rights, eternal glory, and a golden Comandante Grinder. More info here.
Friday, April 10th: Easy Does It—A Laid Back Party From Cafe Imports
6pm—10pm
Location: Puesto at the Headquarters, 789 West Harbor Drive
Cafe Imports are known for throwing great coffee conference parties, among many other facets of their long-established and respected green coffee importing business. But the parties: they are always choice, with good food, a fun venue, and myriad bevy options for however you choose to celebrate and kick back come evening time at the coffee event. This event is technically sold-out but our guide would not be useful without it. We’ll see you there.
Friday, April 10th: The Califia Farms Opening Night Party
8:00 PM – 12:00 AMLocation: Lou Lou’s Jungle Room at the Lafayette Hotel, 2223 El Cajon Blvd.
A major peg on the 2026 WOC party calendar, this event from Califia Farms is RSVP required—you can sign up here. Expect music, DJs, dancers, a tie-dyed shirt station, and that all-import tenet of the coffee industry party matrix, a fully hosted bar (until 10pm). Much more info here.
Saturday, April 11: Born Ready 5K Walk/Run7:30 AM Location: Behind the SD Convention Center.
A different sort of party vibe, but a party vibe nonetheless to kick off your Saturday morning at WOC. This will be a gorgeous waterfront 5K hosted by Mazzer and Deadstock Coffee, concluding with coffee, pastries, and music at South Embarcadero Park. Learn more here.
Saturday, April 11th: Nautical Groove by La Marzocco
8pm-12am
Location: Bloom Nightclub, 919 Fourth Ave Suite 100
La Marzocco’s annual coffee conference parties are the stuff of legend, and this year’s Yacht Rock themed shindig portends no different. RSVP is politely requested, but make sure to show up promptly at the start of this event. This is gonna be big.
Thursday, April 9th through Sunday, April 12th: SEY House by Sey Coffee and Hyunah Coffee Club
Hours Daily
Location: 1037 J Street, San Diego, CA 92101.
While not strictly a party per se, the Sey House activation with Hyunah Coffee Club has earned big buzz in the weeks leading up to WOC. Check out our full preview of this event here.
The Showfloor
There is so, so much going on within the friendly confines of the San Diego Convention Center. Part of the joy of attending these events is wandering the aisles and discovering things, but here’s some of the stuff we’re most excited to check out at the event so far.
Pacific Barista Series — Booth #3227
Pacific Barista Series will be joined all weekend long for special signature drinks service, highlighting delicious original drink creations from some of the top minds in coffee. This includes a very exciting Saturday service (1oam-12pm) from 2025 US Barista Champion Kay Cheon, who will be serving his delightful Pistachi-Oat Matcha featuring Barista Series Pistachio milk, matcha, honey syrup, and a black sesame Barista Series oat milk cold foam.
Also at the Pacific Booth you can pick up a very fun World of Coffee bingo card, and be entered to win prizes including some special Sprudge swag and much more.
Acaia & Slow Pour Supply — Booth #1235 + #1334
All weekend long the teams at Acaia and Slow Pour Supply are offering a multi-booth experience, featuring an elite collection of guests and speakers. Dubbed “Behind The Bar Sessions,” these intimate masterclass-style speaking engagements offer a chance to learn and expand knowledge from coffee leaders. Plus you can check out new gear from Acaia and Slow Pour, and meet the teams. Learn more here.
Swiss Water — Booth #3926
After so many delicious full-octane espressos and brewed coffees, a splash of the soft stuff might hit the spot. Specialty coffee’s favorite decaf purveyors Swiss Water will be serving decaffeinated goodness all weekend long, but on Saturday there’s an in-booth demo featuring the team from Onyx Coffee Lab. We’ve got this marked on our calendars and we’ll see you there.
Ghirardelli — Booth #1105
Ghirardelli is teaming up with Sacramento’s Chocolate Fish Coffee to bring a delicious series of tasting flights to WOC. Curated tasting flights are offered from 10-12 and 1-3pm on Friday and Saturday. Try the drinks, get your tasting ticket stamped, and be entered to win glorious prizes optimized for the coffee traveler’s life.
Cafe Imports — Booth #3140
Cafe Imports, it must be said, are going absolutely ham at WOC this year. There’s cuppings, a live podcast taping, a great big scavenger hunt, the annual and much-loved Legendary Coffee Exchange, and so much more, including the above-mentioned Friday night party with good food and drinks. Make this booth your frequent waypoint throughout the show.
La Marzocco — Booth #3035 + #3135
World Barista Champion Dale Harris is live in full effect all weekend at the Mahlkönig booth, talking about the brand’s innovative Grind-by-Sync technology and hosting a rotating cast of awesome roasters from around the world.
Califia — Booth #4052
Califia has teamed up with a truly epic cadre of local coffee bars across San Diego for the Califia Passport Program. Come to the booth, grab your passport, and collect stamps as you visit cafes throughout the weekend. Then bring your stamped passport back to the booth to collect prizes! Use this as your ideal excuse for exploring the SD coffee scene throughout WOC weekend. You can read more about this program here.
Atlas Coffee Importers
One of the unironically coolest things you can do at a coffee expo is cup coffee! If you’re not cupping at WOC, you’re missing out. And the team at Atlas Coffee Importers/NKG are hosting a series of cuppings all weekend long, including a Friday morning cupping focused on long-term relationships with women coffee producers and a Saturday afternoon event highlighting choice coffees from Africa. These events take place in the Convention Center meeting rooms—get full details here and put this on your calendar. You always learn something at a cupping!
Dona Tea — Booth #3320
Coffee coffee coffee, everywhere there’s coffee—so how about some nice tea to take the edge off? Dona will bring their mindfully sourced and beautifully presented line-up of teas to WOC 2026. Look for tasty tea, good company, and some special extras for the show. Sounds ideal.
MiiR — Booth #3015
Visit the MiiR booth to snag your very own custom designed 8oz Tumblr to commemorate WOC! Learn more about MiiR’s epic custom design program, enjoy daily coffee activations, and keep your eyes peeled for a “golden ticket” that entitles three lucky recipients to a truly epic prize pack from MiiR and Madcap Coffee.
So Much More
There’s more to life in San Diego than the Convention Center and party circuit. Here’s just a few of the fabulous off-site events we’re tracking at WOC weekend. Be sure to utilize our two handy San Diego guides to explore coffee bars and the city’s fabulous array of food and culture.
For even more events at World of Coffee 2026, check out our bustling Sprudge Events page!
Be sure to follow @Sprudge on Instagram for immersive coverage from San Diego throughout the event weekend.
Sprudge Media Network’s coverage of World Of Coffee 2026 is presented by La Marzocco, Dona Tea, Hollander and Califia Farms.
