Professional networks and regulatory focus
The TriestEspresso Expo 2026 in Trieste brought 9,300 coffee professionals from 67 countries together from 18 to 20 October. I found the event successfully pulled a targeted crowd despite rising coffee prices and ongoing energy and geopolitical challenges. International visitors made up 58 per cent of total attendance, and 47.4 per cent of those international attendees came from Austria, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Balkans. Antonio Paoletti, President of the Venezia Giulia Chamber of Commerce, said the exhibition attracted a highly targeted audience. "The people who attended were highly specialised professionals with a genuine interest in doing business at the exhibition and taking part in the many training sessions," he says. Paoletti attributed the international appeal to partnerships with Alpe Adria Chambers of Commerce and the Western Balkan Chamber Forum.
More than 60 participants from 19 countries used the business-to-business matchmaking programme to complement wider networking and commercial activity. I found the session on greenwashing tedious. Lawyer Matteo Levantino of Punto Impresa Digitale FVG discussed how businesses must substantiate environmental claims with measurable and verifiable evidence to meet new European consumer protection requirements.
Scientific discussions and competition winners
Workshops organized by C4CEC and Crop Trust explored biodiversity, sustainability, and the conservation of coffee genetic resources. The International Coffee Convention (ICC 2026), held on 19 and 20 October, brought together researchers, institutions, and industry representatives to discuss crop resilience, scientific innovation, quality, and economic sustainability. Massimiliano Fabian, President of the European Coffee Federation, said constant dialogue between science, institutions, and the private sector is essential to keep the supply chain and the entire added value chain alive and healthy.
| SCA Italy Competition | Winner |
|---|---|
| Northern regional Barista | Irene Giupponi |
| Brewers Cup | Luana Lazzarone |
| Latte Art | Tianyu (Andrea) Wang |
| Coffee in Good Spirits | Kevin Micciche |
These winners qualify for the finals at SIGEP. Martina Meneghel of Dersut, representing the Italian Coffee Roasters Group Generazione C, spoke about the involvement of young professionals and an under-30 network connecting coffee professionals throughout Italy. The event reached 150,000 people. It also recorded over 270,000 social media views alongside 97 mentions from industry media, companies, and institutions. Arianna Mingardi, President of the Associazione Caffe Trieste 1891, said the event reaffirmed Trieste’s position as an international coffee centre, creating opportunities for collaboration across the supply chain. Researchers also examined changing consumption patterns and growing interests in decaffeinated coffee.
