Durban – Over 200 coffee industry leaders from all over South Africa recently participated in Creative Coffee Events: Durban, presented by YOCO, to rub shoulders and learn from some of the world’s leading coffee specialists.
This included World Barista Champion 2025, Jack Simpson, world-renowned coffee and water scientist, Dara Santana, and other technical experts from Dubai and Europe.
“This was the most significant event we’ve ever held,” says Creative Coffee Week (CCW) organiser Melanie Winter.
“Not just in terms of the biggest numbers across the week, but in terms of the variety of content, the quality of the attendees and a fostering of a real sense of coffee community at scale.”
The event ran from 28 to 30 July 2026.
Day 1: Hosted by Gold Sponsors, Faema kicked off with some serious workshops featuring World Barista Champ, Jack Simpson from Melbournewhomet with competition baristas preparing for the National Champs.
This was followed by a workshop entitled Architecture of the Cup where water and coffee scientist, Dara Santana, had our delegates literally make their own water for coffee! This was followed by the first Women in Coffee gathering held as part of the week.
Day 2: This was Conference Day, hosted at The Chairman – a cosy and character-rich venue in the Point Precinct where over 160 guests gathered to cup coffees, taste espresso-based drinks from the latest espresso machines, sample roast green coffee, and listen to some high-level presentations and panel discussions.
Natasha Fourie of YOCO opened the day with a reminder that one of the greatest parts of being in the hospitality industry is that you can ‘Be the best part of someone’s day’, setting a wonderful tone for the lectures.
“If you can be the best part of someone’s day often enough, you stop being a choice and start being a habit. That’s the whole game, and it’s exactly what the best independent businesses in this room already understand instinctively,” says Fourie.
“It’s the same thinking we’ve built into our loyalty products: no apps, no friction, just an easy way for a business to recognise and reward the customers who keep choosing them.”
The programme was curated to celebrate and inspire, shaping the future of what coffee in South Africa could and should look like as the industry strives to maintain – and even exceed – the global level.
The activities lasted well into the afternoon before it was time to head to uShaka Pier – a unique location for the Sundown Showdown in partnership with Red Espresso, testing latte art skills, some puzzle-building under pressure, and a few social sundowners.
Day 3: More than 50 delegates took a road trip to Bonakude Agro-ecology Farm in the hills and valleys behind Richmond, KZN. This is a fledgling programme where young farmers from the community are learning to grow coffee – among other valuable crops.
The delegates enjoyed an incredible day immersed in the farm activities, enjoying local produce from the area.
They brewed coffee and shared coffee-making skills with the locals to show how the coffee beans are ultimately prepared and brewed for consumption, completing the consumption loop from farm to cup.
“The value of this event lies not only in the knowledge exchange between the speakers, guests and exhibitors, but largely in the bonds created through shared experience in this community,” concludes Winter.
“Our goal with Creative Coffee Week is for our guests to leave feeling inspired, motivated and enriched, with a sense of belonging to something bigger than just their own role or business in coffee.”
