ICO calls for International Coffee Day submissions

The International Coffee Organization (ICO) is calling on the coffee industry to submit events for the first-ever International Coffee Day (ICD) being held on 1 October. With the support of 74 ICO Member States and 26 national coffee associations, ICD is a global celebration of each component of the coffee sector. Private companies, independent businesses, public associations and coffee enthusiasts are encouraged to involve their local community by hosting an event or campaign on ICD. The ICO is giving those in the industry the opportunity to list their event on the soon-to-be launched ICD website. Event ideas include hosting a cupping, running a café promotion, hosting a lecture with a local coffee expert or starting a fundraiser. As part of its fundraising initiatives, the ICO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Oxfam to raise money for smallholder farmers. The ICO and Oxfam’s Caffè Sospeso Against Poverty campaign is based on the concept of a ‘caffè sospeso’.  Caffè sospeso is an Italian tradition of paying for a second cup of coffee to be given to a person in need. The campaign will encourage coffee drinkers to go online and donate the value of a cup of coffee to Oxfam’s charity work. The first International Coffee Day coincides with the 115th Session of the International Coffee Council and the first Global Coffee Forum, which will take place during the six months of Expo Milan, running 1 May – 31 October. The Specialty Coffee Associations of Europe, America, Australia, as well as the National Coffee Association of the United States are among the national groups, which have announced their support for the event.