In 2016, Romania’s coffee community could gather in a relatively small room. Today, Slow Coffee Festival’s anniversary edition reflects the rapid evolution of the country’s specialty coffee sector, preparing to welcome more than 130 exhibitors and tens of thousands of visitors to Romexpo, Bucharest, from 25–27 September
A new generation of cafés, roasters, baristas and coffee professionals has transformed Romania’s specialty coffee sector, creating a more diverse and sophisticated coffee culture. The 10th anniversary edition of Slow Coffee Festival reflects that evolution, marking a decade of community building alongside the wider development of the Romanian coffee industry.
The festival was founded by Artisan Coffee Team (CTS Group SRL), a Romanian company known internationally for its work with specialty coffee equipment, green coffee sourcing and education. Slow Coffee Festival was launched in 2016 with a simple ambition: to create a platform where Romania’s emerging coffee community could connect, exchange knowledge and grow together.
“Ten years ago, the priority was to bring Romania’s emerging coffee community into the same room,” says Laura Roshanian, Festival Director of Slow Coffee Festival. “Today, the goal is to connect Romanian businesses directly with coffee-producing countries, international brands and the wider Central and Eastern European market.”
The 2026 anniversary edition highlights how much Romania’s specialty coffee industry has evolved. Bringing together specialty coffee companies alongside bean-to-bar chocolate makers, green coffee importers, equipment manufacturers, café suppliers and hospitality businesses, the festival brings together the full specialty coffee ecosystem. The opening day will focus on B2B networking, creating opportunities for café owners, distributors, producers and international brands to connect and explore new business opportunities.
The programme reflects a market that has become increasingly professional, with demand extending beyond coffee itself to technology, training, equipment and business services.
As the festival grows, digital tools are becoming an increasingly important part of the visitor experience. Following a successful collaboration in 2025, Brewtifi returns as partner for the 10th anniversary edition.
“All in one platform for great coffee in Europe and beyond: coffee places, beans, events, coffee communities & curators” says Alex Timiș, co-founder Brewtifi. The app will provide an interactive festival map, competitions, workshops, talks and activations, helping visitors navigate the event more easily. The app is available for download here.
A key focus of this year’s edition is strengthening connections between coffee origins and the European market. Producers and exporters from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and Peru will participate through dedicated national stands, creating a direct link between origins and the growing specialty coffee market in Central and Eastern Europe. Through the Green Connect initiative, the festival aims to create new opportunities for producers and coffee businesses to meet and build longer-term relationships.
The Business Day programme will give producers a stronger role in industry discussions. A dedicated Voices of Origin session will bring together farmers from different producing regions, while sessions such as Coffee Under Pressure, Traceability Without Exclusion and Who Pays for Resilience? will explore some of the most pressing challenges facing the sector.
As Slow Coffee Festival enters its second decade, it reflects the growth of Romania’s specialty coffee sector and its increasing connections with the international market. For global coffee professionals, Romania represents a market where specialty coffee, chocolate, equipment and hospitality are developing together, creating new opportunities for collaboration across the industry.
Tune in to the 5THWAVE podcast episode about the festival and Romania’s specialty coffee market
