Colombia doesn't just grow coffee — it practically runs on it. And from 15 to 18 October 2026, Bogotá's Corferías venue becomes the country's biggest celebration of the bean, as Cafés de Colombia Expo takes over the fairgrounds in the heart of the capital.
There's an extra reason to raise a cup this year: the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros, the growers' federation that underpins the entire industry, is marking its 100th anniversary. That may sound like bureaucracy, but it's the reason Colombian coffee tastes the way it does. By pooling costs and organising small farmers collectively, the federation keeps family-run fincas viable — which is why most Colombian coffee still comes from small producers even when it ships out in bulk. Unlike other big producing nations, Colombia grows almost exclusively high-grade Arabica rather than cheaper Robusta.
The expo reflects that farm-level reality. Alongside tastings and brewing gadgetry, there's a full agro-industrial floor: tractors and 4x4s, fertiliser, wellies, packaging, cups and spoons — gear for growers, roasters and baristas alike. Real farmers wander the halls, since coffee is one of Colombia's biggest employers. Smaller projects get a platform too: the Cuckoo Café initiative, for example, works with 70 women-owned farms around Popayán, helping some growers transition away from coca cultivation. One of the more sobering corners is the Risaralda stand, where visitors can leave messages of support on a post-it wall as the department rebuilds after a recent earthquake.
For visitors, though, the fun stuff is front and centre. Every coffee-producing department has a stand — Tolima, Antioquia and Cauca were standouts — and tastings run all day to help you find your flavour profile. There's coffee-infused beer, soy milks designed to complement espresso, and even viche, the Afro-Colombian sugarcane spirit. Celebrity brands are in the mix too, with lines backed by footballer James Rodríguez and actor Sofía Vergara sitting alongside independent roasters.
Shoppers are well catered for. La Feria de la Greca sells everything from compact espresso machines and dressed-up French presses to kettles, grinders, small home roasters and — inevitably — thousands of cups. Design house hecho en café turns coffee-production waste into jewellery and accessories, and there's plenty of branded knitwear if you want your caffeine allegiance on your sleeve, literally.
At the back of the hall, national barista and roasting competitions run throughout, with champions crowned on the final day. There's also a small but genuinely fascinating museum dedicated to the federation's century of history — worth a detour even if you're not a coffee nerd.
For a traveller in Bogotá in mid-October, this is an easy, affordable half-day: an insider's tour of the country's signature industry, with enough free samples to keep you buzzing well past dinner. Buy tickets online for COP$28,000; doors run until 8pm (7pm on Sunday).
