Schedule of Events
Creative Coffee Week 2025
This event would not be possible without the support of the amazing sponsors that have come forward to support coffee education and growth in South Africa. Each year we have had the opportunity to shift and refocus this platform. The idea is that this is an intimate event, open to all, that should leave attendees feeling inspired to do better in their sector of the coffee industry. We have created the program to two week days, so people have to take less time away from their businesses, but we've maximised every minute and we've been able to reduce the ticket prices, thanks to the help of our partners who all value what this event means on the coffee calendar.
Why should you come?
Business Owners:
- The majority of delegates attending CCW are business owners, Senior Management, Procurement or technical coffee professionals.
- The quality of the audience is very high, It’s only 120 -150 people per event - and they are directly responsible for making the decisions for their coffee businesses.
- The utility of the group is very high! This means they are excited and in a very happy place when they are at CCW - which is the perfect time to network, discover best practise, build relationships with suppliers and see what the global trends are in coffee.
Roasters:
- The connection between Roasters and Producers is a crucial one. CCW allows you as a roaster to have the critically important and meaningful discussions around sourcing, pricing, and roasting coffee with the very people connected to the coffee itself.
- Network with other coffee roasters, meet suppliers and colleagues. Share best practise and insights around roasting and green coffee.
- Learn how to service your wholesale customers better, how to maximise operational efficiency, and manage your workflows.
- Cup amazing coffees and have fun on our Farm Tour!
Baristas:
- Deepen your understanding about where coffee comes from, how it it processed and the journey it takes in getting to you.
- Meet Roasters and other coffee professionals that will help you unpack the coffee value chain for your customers.
- Learn from the World Barista Champion, in Durban!
- Get inside insights into competing and why barista competitions are so important to your career.
- Get your hands on the latest equipment and innovation - join a masterclass breakaway session.
- Win amazing prizes in our Latte Art factory Throwdown!
Consumers:
- If you love coffee, which you do, because you are reading this…then this is your chance to level up your understanding of coffee - where it comes from, the flavour profiles and language used to describe it, the processing methods and what they mean in your cup, the appreciation of the value chain. You will come away from CCW inspired and informed!
- Taste some of the best coffees on the planet - ever tries a Colombian Geisha or a Pink Bourbon? Now is your time!
- Learn how to “cup coffee” - it’s all in the slurp!
- Meet the World Barista Champion and take p[art in his very excluding OMAKASE Session - with head Chef Johannes of the Living Room - voted Chef of the Year 2024!
- If you have ever dreamed of owning a coffee shop, this is a MUST.
Magic happens in between the sessions too! We will be releasing new details and Topics up for Discussion constantly up until the event, but our format is a bit different to maximise engagement and networking. We are aiming to create a coffee wonderland that inspires all the amazing humans in the industry.
There will be incredible goodie bags and prizes up for grabs for delegates. There will also be a super fun evening event!
**WORKING SCHEDULE**
Wednesday 30th July 2025
MORNING CUPPINGS:
Cup of Excellence
Origins Unusual
Colombia’s Finest
Green Coffee Supply
FLAVOUR EXPERIENCES:
Blended - An exploration of blending
The Sensory Room
TALKS: 9.15-3pm (includes lunch together in conference venue)
***These are being updated and more info on speakers will be added in coming days***
An Audience with Mikael Jasin, World Barista Champion 2024: Q&A session with Winston Thomas - Exploring what it means to win a World Title and how it connects to the bigger picture of the coffee industry.
PANEL: Coffee Grading is Changing, how does it change us? - The Q-Grader (CQI Certification) has held an auspicious place in our industry, tasked with grading coffees that lead to their value. It has up until now been a very strenuous and very exclusive vocation, based on cost and access. In simple terms, the SCA has absorbed this entire system and proposed a new one in its place, the Coffee Value Assessment. What are the pros and cons of this and why does it effect the rest of the industry?
Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia: An Origin as a Brand - Colombia has done an incredible job of marketing their origin to the world. This has in part been made possible by their FNC model, where the organisation works to promote Colombian coffees as a whole to the world, even creating a successful cafe franchise, Juan Valdez Coffee, with over 640 outlets globally that sell Colombian coffee.
Cup of Excellence: What and Why? Presented by Stephen Vick - Barista competitions are quite well known in our community, but what do awards at farm level mean? And how do they benefit the producers?
Regenerative Farming and AgroEcology with Mvu Ngcoya and Linda Lazarczykova of Bonakude Farm - A case study of regenerating a small plot of land to have big impact.
Price Hikes and Consumer Education - Baristas are on the front lines, inflation doesn't account for increases and from the consumer perspective the price of coffee is going a bit crazy. How do we sell our product better? How do we equip our baristas to deal with
PANEL: Supporting a coffee growing culture in South Africa: Learning from other agricultural industries as well as our established coffee growing friends, a key factor in any success will be South African coffee businesses supporting South African coffee growers.
Meet the Producer: David Ngibuini of Maguta Coffee Estate, Kenya - Having just won the Taste of Harvest Award for Best Natural Coffee, we are thrilled to welcome David to South Africa!
Afternoon Breakaway Sessions and Meeting Slots:
This will be an opportunity to book actual meeting slots with the gathered sponsors and delegates, an excellent way to make meaningful connections! This meeting schedule will be released at least 10 days before event so you can plan your engagements.
- For Competitive Baristas - Q&A with Mikael Jasin
- Evaluating Coffee under the CVA
- Brainteaser Challenge - A Head to Head challenge under pressure
EVENING EVENT: Sundowners, Latte Art Factory Smackdown and CCW Games!
Thursday 31st July 2025
From 7am - Coffee Party at Humble Coffee - Please note, this will not be a rave (haha), it will some fine tunes to start your morning.
Pop Up Cafe Colombia! Join us to taste the flair of Colombian goodness at the Humble Hatch that will be transformed into a festival of colour and flavour for the day!
Mini Origin Trip - This will down the south coast of KZN this year, not to be missed! It was a huge success last year and this year includes a full tasting of South African coffees at the end of the tour. You can buy your tickets here.
****Program and topics are subject to change****
Please pop any questions you may have to Mel: mel@magazine.coffee
DAY ONE Venue: Acacia House, Umhlanga Ridge