The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) hosted its annual Expo in Chicago from April 12-14, 2024. This three-day event brought together coffee professionals to explore new products, technology, and trends in the industry. The Expo’s dynamic setting provided insights into emerging coffee trends, innovative products, and cutting-edge technology. Engaging in workshops and observing competitors will help us refine our offerings and improve customer experience. Not to mention, it fosters creativity and gave us a bunch of ideas and inspiration!
Every year, the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) hosts its annual Expo, a premier event for coffee professionals to gather and celebrate everything that makes specialty coffee unique. The Expo spans three days and showcases new products, cutting-edge technology, and emerging trends across the coffee industry, from packaging innovations to solutions for unroasted green coffee bag transportation.
This year’s SCA Expo took place in the “Windy City,” Chicago, from April 12-14, 2024. I had the pleasure of attending with our Marketing Director, Chris Snee, and we had an incredible time!
Walking into the McCormick Center, you’re immediately struck by the sheer number of coffee professionals eager to enter the main Expo hall on the first day. It’s a who’s who of the coffee world, with baristas, roasters, and scientists all gathered to experience the highlights of the event.
One of my personal favorites is the bag design display, where dozens of the best artwork on coffee bags are showcased. This year, creativity was at an all-time high. The Pirates of Coffee wooden sampler box was a standout, and Coffein Coffee Co’s macabre coffee “coffin” took things to a whole new level. Truly a sight to behold!
The Expo also featured innovative products. Squeaky Coffee won the “Best New Product” award with a clever, low-tech solution to an age-old problem: hot espresso. By attaching a ball-bearing-like structure to the bottom of an espresso portafilter, Squeaky Coffee’s invention cools the espresso quickly, allowing the drinker to enjoy their beverage without any unwanted aftertastes. My favorite product of the weekend, also from Squeaky, was the HOM. This device, which translates to “good smell” in Thai, is a perfume-like apparatus that offers simple, direct olfactory detection. It’s perfect for my lab, and I can’t wait to get one.
And let’s not forget the coffee itself. The drinks were outstanding, with delightful brews from Rancilio and smooth espresso from Slayer. One unique flavor that caught my attention was the Ginger Brulee coffee from Flavors & Fragrance Specialties. It was so good that I think we should make it a seasonal item!
The Expo’s dynamic setting provided insights into emerging coffee trends, innovative products, and cutting-edge technology. Engaging in workshops and observing competitors will help us refine our offerings and improve customer experience. Not to mention, it fostered creativity and gave us a bunch of ideas and inspiration for what we can do with our coffee portfolio! The SCA Expo Chicago 2024 was an outstanding, educational experience, and I can’t wait to attend next year’s event!
Finally, a word about Chicago. It’s a magnificent, bustling American city with perfect weather during the Expo. Millennium Park is breathtaking, and the city’s architecture—a mix of contemporary skyscrapers and art deco brick buildings—is always impressive. In terms of food – we had to make a stop in Lincoln Park to try a real Chicago hot dog from the infamous “Weiner Circle” and the pizza – Lou Malnati’s knows how to make a Chicago-style deep-dish pizza, even winning over a Philly pizza snob like me. Yum!
