Thailand Coffee Fest 2026 Marks Its 11th Year, Elevating Thailand’s Specialty Coffee Industry
“Made by All of Us” Highlights the Power of Collaboration Across the Coffee Ecosystem, from Farm to Cup
Driving Thailand Towards Global Coffee Destination Status and Connecting Local Businesses with the Global Market
Thailand Coffee Fest 2026, Southeast Asia’s largest coffee festival, enters its 11th year with a continued mission to drive the evolution of Thailand’s specialty coffee industry. Organised by the Specialty Coffee Association of Thailand (SCATH) and The Cloud, this year’s festival embraces the theme “Made by All of Us,” highlighting the collective power of the entire coffee ecosystem, from producers and processors to roasters, baristas, business operators and consumers.
More than simply a coffee event, Thailand Coffee Fest has become a key platform for connecting stakeholders across the industry, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, business development and international collaboration, while strengthening the value of Thai coffee throughout the supply chain.
The festival also sets its sights on positioning Thailand as a Global Coffee Destination — a place where coffee lovers from around the world can come not only to explore and taste exceptional coffee, but also to meet industry professionals and experience Thailand’s distinctive coffee culture.
Thailand’s Coffee Market Enters a Quality-Driven Era
Thailand’s coffee market continues to expand, with consumer preferences increasingly shifting towards freshly brewed and specialty coffee that emphasises quality, flavour and a more sophisticated drinking experience.
The specialty coffee segment has recorded an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15%, consistently outpacing the overall coffee market over the past decade. This reflects significant opportunities for further growth in Thailand’s premium coffee sector.
As consumers become more knowledgeable and selective about coffee, quality is increasingly becoming a key factor in purchasing decisions, creating new opportunities across the entire industry — from coffee cultivation and processing to roasting, cafés and coffee tourism.
Creating Value for Everyone Across the Coffee Ecosystem
Natthiti Ampaiwan, President of the Specialty Coffee Association of Thailand, said Thailand Coffee Fest 2026 aims to bring together stakeholders across the entire coffee ecosystem and create a platform where everyone can grow and generate value together.
This year’s theme, “Made by All of Us,” reflects the belief that the success of Thailand’s coffee industry is not created by any single group, but through the collective contribution of every stakeholder.
“Farmers build the foundation, processors create added value, roasters develop flavour, baristas create experiences, business operators build markets, and consumers provide the momentum that keeps the entire ecosystem moving forward,” said Natthiti.
A key ambition of Thailand Coffee Fest 2026 is to position Thailand as a Global Coffee Destination — not simply a country that people visit for tourism, but a destination where international coffee enthusiasts intentionally travel to participate in events, connect with industry professionals and experience Thailand’s unique coffee culture.
Thailand is among the relatively few countries with a comprehensive coffee ecosystem, spanning high-quality growing regions, innovative processing, a strong café culture and a consumer base that is increasingly receptive to specialty coffee.
Thailand’s Coffee Industry: Opportunities and Structural Challenges
According to Kasikorn Research Center Co., Ltd., Thailand’s beverage business — including coffee shops, bakeries and ice cream businesses — is expected to reach approximately THB 66–67 billion in 2026, up from an estimated THB 56.9–65 billion in 2025.
Meanwhile, average coffee consumption in Thailand currently stands at around 1.5–1.7 cups per person per day, suggesting further room for growth when compared with European countries and Japan, where average consumption can reach approximately 3–6 cups per day.
Specialty coffee is expected to play a key role in encouraging consumers to drink higher-quality coffee more frequently as part of their everyday lifestyles.
At the same time, research and insights from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) and the Office of Industrial Economics (OIE) point to structural challenges facing Thailand’s coffee industry. Domestic coffee production remains insufficient to meet demand, while 87% of upstream farmers face challenges associated with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The industry also faces an uneven tariff structure that can favour imports of instant coffee over processed coffee raw materials.
To address these challenges, Thailand needs to accelerate its transition towards becoming a “High-Value Processor” — strengthening its role as a regional hub for coffee processing and value creation.
This includes restructuring tariff policies, supporting technology adoption and traceability systems, and developing ways to turn coffee by-products and waste into additional value under a Circular Economy approach.
“We would like to invite everyone to join us in completing an important piece of the puzzle at Thailand Coffee Fest 2026. The future of Thai coffee will not be created by just a few people. It is truly ‘Made by All of Us.’ Every piece of the puzzle is helping move Thai coffee towards a more valuable, competitive and globally connected industry, supporting inclusive and sustainable growth,” Natthiti said.
A Platform Connecting Thailand’s Coffee Industry with the World
Changnoi Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Managing Director of Cloud and Ground Co., Ltd., said Thailand Coffee Fest is more than a trade exhibition; it is an important platform for shaping the future of Thailand’s coffee industry.
The festival demonstrates that the progress of Thai specialty coffee depends on the collective strength of stakeholders throughout the supply chain. It also serves as a bridge between Thailand’s coffee industry and the international market by providing opportunities for businesses to exchange knowledge, build networks and showcase their capabilities to global industry players.
The broader objective is to strengthen international recognition of Thai coffee in terms of quality, creativity and coffee culture.
The event also aligns with the direction of the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) through initiatives such as Show Multiplier and Buyer Power Up, which aim to transform exhibitions into platforms for B2B business development.
These initiatives create opportunities for Thai businesses to meet new partners, expand into international markets and attract buyers and investors from around the world, generating broader economic impact while supporting event operations aligned with Net Zero standards.
Bringing Global Standards and Platforms to Thailand
One of the key developments for this year’s festival is its collaboration with leading international organisations and platforms recognised by the global coffee industry.
The Cloud has officially been granted the rights by The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops to create “The Best Coffee Shops Thailand”, a new ranking designed to identify and showcase outstanding coffee shops across Thailand and help propel them towards the Top 100 in Asia-Pacific and globally.
The Cloud and SCATH will jointly select a panel of respected industry experts to assess participating cafés based on criteria aligned with the standards of The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops. Public voting will also form part of the process, helping establish a credible and accessible benchmark for consumers.
The inaugural The Best Coffee Shops Thailand list will be unveiled at Thailand Coffee Fest Year End 2026 on 24 December 2026.
Under the overarching theme “Made by All of Us,” the initiative reinforces the ambition to bring internationally recognised standards across Thailand’s specialty coffee supply chain and strengthen the country’s readiness to become a Global Coffee Destination.
The ecosystem will be driven across three key areas:
Upstream: Raising the Quality of Thai Coffee
The Thai Specialty Coffee Awards will help elevate the quality of Thai coffee beans, establish higher processing standards, increase the value of coffee production and support farmers in generating sustainable income from the specialty coffee market.
Midstream: Developing World-Class Coffee Professionals
National competitions including the Thailand Coffee Championships and Thailand Es Yen Championship will provide platforms for developing the skills and capabilities of Thai baristas and roasters to meet international standards.
Downstream: Connecting Consumers with Quality Coffee
The Best Coffee Shops Thailand will serve as a guide for consumers seeking quality coffee experiences, while also supporting coffee tourism and helping Thai cafés gain greater international recognition.
“The growth of Thailand Coffee Fest should not be measured solely by the number of visitors. It should also be measured by the value we are able to create for the industry. If every stakeholder — from farmers to café operators — can grow together, Thailand has tremendous potential to become an important global hub for coffee in a sustainable way,” Changnoi concluded.
Don’t Miss Thailand Coffee Fest 2026
The success of Thailand’s coffee industry is Made by All of Us.
Thailand Coffee Fest 2026 invites coffee lovers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs and international buyers to join the movement and be part of the next chapter of Thailand’s specialty coffee industry.
Thailand Coffee Fest 2026
10–13 September 2026
IMPACT Exhibition Center, Halls 5–8, Muang Thong Thani, Thailand
