HAPPENING 5–8 NOV '26 | Rotterdam Coffee Fest returns from 5 to 8 November 2026, bringing four days of coffee tastings, workshops and competitions to locations across the city. Following its debut in 2025, the festival is expanding with a city-wide programme and a new main venue at de Doelen, where visitors can discover speciality coffees and meet the people behind them.
The second edition brings together coffee roasters, baristas, equipment makers and enthusiasts, with activities catering to everyone from curious beginners to experienced professionals. Alongside opportunities to sample different coffees, the programme explores how beans are grown, roasted, brewed and enjoyed, as well as the wider culture surrounding Rotterdam's coffee scene.
Coffee events across Rotterdam on 5 and 6 November
The festival begins on Thursday 5 and Friday 6 November with activities at cafés and roasteries throughout Rotterdam. Giraffe Coffee Roasters is opening its doors for behind-the-scenes tours, while the Giraffe Coffee Bar & Academy hosts sensory training and filter coffee tasting sessions. Visitors can also explore the city through an urban photography walk organised by Velvet Hours, combining Rotterdam's streets with stops for coffee.
Friday's programme includes a filter coffee workshop at Mellow Coffee Roasters with Eline Ferket, the 2026 Austrian Brewers Cup Champion, as well as tea tasting at Evermore. Coffeecompany will host a latte art throwdown, bringing baristas together for an evening of competitive milk pouring. These smaller events offer a closer look at the local coffee community, although many require separate tickets or advance registration.
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A weekend of tastings at de Doelen
On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, the main festival moves into de Doelen, the concert and events venue near Rotterdam Centraal Station. Its Roasters Village will feature more than twenty coffee roasters, giving visitors an opportunity to sample coffees from different origins, discover new favourites and speak directly with the people who roast them. Equipment suppliers and other coffee-related businesses will also be present, alongside food and patisserie options.
A dedicated cupping area offers guided coffee tastings, including sessions with Rotterdam-based names such as Giraffe Coffee Roasters, Mellow Coffee Roasters and Grounded. Cupping is the method coffee professionals use to assess aroma, flavour and quality, but visitors do not need specialist knowledge to take part. The programme also includes demonstrations of home brewing techniques, with advice on how grinding, water and brewing equipment can change the taste of a cup of coffee.
Coffee championships, talks and workshops
Two national coffee competitions are among the weekend's highlights. On Saturday 7 November, the Dutch Latte Art Championships preliminary rounds will see baristas compete to produce intricate designs using espresso and steamed milk. Sunday 8 November brings the Dutch Cup Tasters Championship, where contestants must identify differences between coffees through a series of blind tasting challenges. Both competitions are organised in collaboration with the Specialty Coffee Association Netherlands, and spectators can watch the preliminary rounds free of charge.
Beyond the competitions, Saturday's programme has a stronger industry focus, with discussions about data-driven roasting, coffee branding and fermentation techniques. Sunday's talks address subjects including women's representation in the coffee supply chain, whether cafés should introduce laptop-free spaces, and why coffee might need to become more expensive. Hands-on activities range from beginner latte art classes to workshops on cup design and sensory perception. On Sunday afternoon, the festival will also announce the winner of Rotterdam's Favourite Café award.
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Tickets, opening hours and practical information
Tickets for the main festival are listed at €16 for a day pass or €21 for a weekend pass. Rotterdampas holders can purchase discounted tickets for €13 and €18 respectively. Admission includes access to the festival's exhibitors, coffee samples, selected cuppings and talks. Some workshops require an additional booking, while the city-wide activities are ticketed separately. Tickets are available through the official Rotterdam Coffee Fest website.
The main festival runs on Saturday 7 November from 10:00 to 17:00 and Sunday 8 November from 10:00 to 16:00. Children under twelve can attend free of charge with a registered child ticket, and most talks and workshops will be conducted in English. The event is cash-free, so visitors should bring a payment card. This year's festival will also operate without disposable cups, using reusable cups and rinsing stations provided in partnership with UBITE. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own reusable cup, although cups will be available at the venue.
How to get to Rotterdam Coffee Fest
The main festival takes place at de Doelen, Kruisplein 40, 3012 CL Rotterdam, approximately 400 metres from Rotterdam Centraal Station. The venue is easily accessible by train, metro, tram and bus, making public transport a convenient option for visitors travelling from elsewhere in the Netherlands. The festival entrance is via the Willem Burger Zaal on Kruisplein.
Visitors requiring wheelchair access or other assistance can contact the organisers in advance. For individual workshop times, bookings and possible programme changes, consult the complete Rotterdam Coffee Fest 2026 programme.
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