Exploring Cultural Dynamics in Global Coffee Consumption
(Room 26 AB)
12 Apr 26
10:00 AM
-
10:45 AM
In coffee, we talk endlessly about quality, process, and origin. But whose definitions are we using - and what do they leave out?
This lecture reframes coffee through culture, exploring how people around the world - from Ethiopia to India, Indonesia to the Arabian Gulf - have brewed meaning into their cups for centuries. These practices reveal that coffee has always been more than a drink - it’s a reflection of identity, ritual, and belonging.
Author and food anthropologist Lani Kingston, Director of Education & Conference for Coffee Fest and teacher of The Anthropology of Coffee at Portland State University, guides attendees through a journey that blends anthropology, history, and industry insight. Her bestselling books, including Spill the Beans: Global Coffee Culture and Designing Coffee, have been translated into over 17 languages and continue to shape how coffee professionals understand culture and consumption.
Attendees will leave this session with:
– A deeper understanding of how global coffee cultures influence flavor, ritual, and perception of “quality”
– Practical ideas for incorporating cultural awareness into storytelling, menu design, and customer experience
– A renewed sense of connection to the people and histories behind the cup
Ultimately, this talk calls for a more culturally literate coffee industry - one that values origin not only as a source of beans, but as a source of ideas, flavor, and identity.