Schedule of Events

Creative Coffee Week 2025

BOOK YOUR TICKET NOW

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.

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 fun. We are aiming to create a coffee wonderland that inspires all the amazing humans in the industry and hopefully encourage a few more to join us.

 

Wednesday 30th July 2025 - Doors open at 7.30

CUPPINGS: Morning session 7.30 - 9am, Afternoon session 3-4.30pm

Cup of Excellence - Winners from Costa Rica & Thailand, Maguta Coffees, SA Grown Coffees, Colombia’s Finest, Green Coffee Supply, Zuka Coffee

FLAVOUR EXPERIENCE: Mikael Jasin Coffee Cocktails by DaVinci Gourmet

 

LECTURES AND PANELS: 10am - 3.30pm (includes an hour for lunch together in conference venue)

A Meeting of Champions with Georgius Teja, World Coffee in Good Spirits Champion and David Maguta, Taste of Harvest Winner: Q&A session with Winston Thomas & Stevo Kuhn - Exploring what competition Titles mean and how it connects to the bigger picture of the coffee industry.

Creating value through provenance: Johannes Richter is SA Chef of the Year and he and his team create incredible seasonal menus. He will be in conversation with Melanie Winter discussing their use of locally grown ingredients and creating a destination experience.

Cup of Excellence: What and Why?  Barista competitions are quite well known in our community, but what do awards at farm level mean? And how do they benefit the producers?

Presented by Stephen Vick, Cup of Excellence Head Judge

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?

With Cuth Bland, Stephen Vick, Shewaan Khan, FNC Representative

LUNCH on Level 5

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. We hear their story!

Regenerative Farming and AgroEcology with Mvu Ngcoya of Bonakude Farm - A case study of regenerating a small plot of land to have big impact.

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.

Mvu Ngcoya (Bonakude Farm), Donald de Waal (Sir Gratton), Graeme Myhill (Selati Sugar), FNC Representative, David Maguta"

 

Afternoon Breakaway Sessions and Meeting Slots:

  • Meet the Producer and Judges at Cupping tables
  • Evaluating Coffee under the CVA
  • Learn more about Ceado Grinders
  • Blended - An exploration of blending with Now Coffee and Cedar Coffee


EVENING EVENT: Latte Art Factory Sundown Showdown at Legacy Arch from 5pm - RSVP now to this free event! Baristas sign up here too.

 

Thursday 31st July 2025

From 7am - Coffee Party at Humble Coffee - Please note, this will not be a rave, 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.

Omakase with World Coffee in Good Spirits Champion,Georgius Teja of Indonesia. Prepare to have your mind blown in a creative expression of coffee as you've never seen it before. Tickets available here.

****Program and topics are subject to change****

The program is subject to change. And we will be adding to it constantly this month as more speakers and activities are confirmed, please feel free to get in touch with ideas.

Please pop any questions you may have to Mel: mel@magazine.coffee 

DAY ONE Venue: Acacia House, Umhlanga Ridge

 

 

Why should you come?

The first of the three CCW Events is at the end of July. The Durban event (30th & 31st July)  is the Flagship event and promises to be a hardworking networking opportunity for you to rub shoulders with some of the most influential global people in coffee, taste some of the best coffees in the world and meet the people connected to the Farmers, Producers and stakeholders behind these coffees. The Cape Town and Joburg events will similarly focus on coffee roasting, service and cafe culture and how to maximise your coffee business in the context of global trends and opportunities.  

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.