First Time at Expo? Here's Your Guide:
There’s a lot happening at Specialty Coffee Expo 2023 in Portland and we want to ensure you have the best experience at this year’s show. To help you navigate the show floor, events, exhibitors, and city, we’ve compiled this handy guide with everything you need to know before the doors open at the Oregon Convention Center from April 21, 2023:
Practical Tips
We know there are three long days ahead. Here’s our advice for keeping fit, happy, and healthy throughout the weekend.
Download the Official Specialty Coffee Expo mobile application to your phone to explore the schedule, connect with other attendees and exhibitors, and add social, educational, and networking events to your calendar. Search for “Specialty Coffee Expo 2023” in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
The show floor is fairly large, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes for long periods walking and standing.
Stay hydrated by refilling your reusable cup from MiiR at water stations located around the show floor. Refil at the BUNN’s refresh station, at a Go Green Station, or at Pentair’s Hydration Stations located in the Roaster Village and by the SCA Community lounge.
Keep yourself topped up with snacks and treats.
Don’t forget to pack the essentials!
- Bring your phone with chargers, plugs, adaptors, external batteries, and plenty of extra memory for new contact details, pictures or videos of your favorite new products.
- Bring a few business cards or add a digital business card to your phone for easy sharing.
Check the weather in Portland and prepare for any showers or chilly temperatures.
Set your intentions! Make a plan or set a goal for yourself or your business to ensure you make the most out of your visit to Expo this year.
Getting to the Oregon Convention Center
Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Portland, OR 97232
Just 8 miles from Portland International Airport (PDX), visitors can access the Oregon Convention Center (OCC) via Interstate 5 North from Exit 302A–Rose Quarter, or from Interstate 84 West Exit 1–Lloyd Boulevard. On days with a busy event schedule, public transportation provides the easiest arrival and departure experience.
Portland’s TriMet MAX light rail stops 300 times a day at the Oregon Convention Center’s front door, connecting riders to downtown, surrounding neighborhoods, the Oregon Zoo, and Portland International Airport.
Portland Streetcar’s Central Loop stops at the OOC’s MLK Lobby entrance every 15 minutes.
TriMet’s Bus Line No. 6 also stops at the MLK Lobby entrance and provides access to downtown stops and outlying areas.
TriMet Trip Planner: trimet.org/home
Portland Street Car: portlandstreetcar.org
Note: From April 16 - May 6, 2023 the MAX Improvement Project will cause some disruptions to public transportation around the city. Please review this page on the TriMet website to check service disruptions on your route.
Make the Most of Your Time in Portland
Coffee Map
A visit to Portland isn’t complete without a few stops at some iconic coffee retail businesses. We’ve done the heavy lifting for you by compiling a map of our favorite shops in the city. Check out the Expo Coffee Map of Portland and plan your visits.
What's Happening Around Expo
Specialty Coffee Expo extends far beyond the walls of the Oregon Convention Center and our community has a large number of events planned in the city to welcome attendees and celebrate the show. Find all community events on our shared calendar.
Practical Safety Information
While Portland is a safe and vibrant city, we of course suggest that visitors exercise the same caution as when traveling to any metropolitan destination. For a list of frequently asked questions about safety, security, and services, head to this page on Travel Portland.
Networking Opportunities
Opening Reception
From 8:00am - 10:00pm on Friday, April 21 in Pre-Function C, we invite all attendees to celebrate the official opening of Specialty Coffee Expo 2023 on the show floor.
All Guilds Reception
Come meet with professionals from across the industry and learn about the Coffee Roasters Guild, Barista Guild, and Coffee Technicians Guild Guilds from the members themselves. Not yet a guild member but are guild-curious? We are invite you to attend the All Guilds Reception on Saturday April 22 from 5:00pm - 7:00pm in the Portland Ballroom Lobby.
Scientific Poster Session
Taking place from 1:00pm - 3:00pm on Friday April 21, the Scientific Poster Session is a unique opportunity for researchers and academics to share their work with the wider coffee industry. In this session, coffee scientists can field questions, make connections, and discuss compelling research questions.
Green Coffee Buyers and Sellers
Designed to facilitate the business relationships that have been the lifeblood of the event since its inception: the purchase and sale of the green coffee that fuels the specialty coffee industry. This program offers direct connections between producers and buyers for continued business growth and relationships. The Green Coffee Buyers and Sellers Program is supported by Barista Attitude.
The Green Coffee Buyers and Sellers Program will function through the Specialty Coffee Expo mobile app. Participants will be able to search and filter to find individuals they would like to connect with at the show.
Program participants will be able to contact each other through the Expo app and set up in-person meetings during Expo. Meeting rooms will be available throughout Expo for 20-minute slot meetings; alternatively, buyers and sellers will be able to set up a meeting at a different location of their choice. During meetings, buyers and sellers will be able to get to know each other in person and sellers will have the opportunity to hand coffee samples to buyers.
Show Information
Show Floor Map
Chart your course around the show floor to find SCA Lecture rooms and Workshop spaces, the ever-popular Roaster Village, US Coffee Competition Stages, and more! Check out the Show Floor Map here.
Exhibitor List
Over 500 companies will be exhibiting on the show floor this year. You can find the full list here!
Schedule of Events
It’s going to be a busy, action-packed weekend. See the full schedule of events here.
Download the App
The must-have mobile guide to Specialty Coffee Expo. Download the app and use your registration email to activate your account. It’s like an Expo Encyclopedia in your pocket! Search for “Specialty Coffee Expo 2023” in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The Mobile App is made possible by Pacific Foods Barista Series.
Learning at Expo
Workshops
These are hands-on, interactive learning experiences for Expo attendees to refine their skills and learn something new. SCA Workshops are ticketed at a first-come-first-served basis and advanced enrollment is highly recommended.
Lectures
With more SCA Lectures than ever before, attendees are invited to hear keynote presentations from experienced professionals, scientists, researchers, and academics. See the diverse schedule and choose any session that peaks your curiosity. The SCA Lectures Series is presented in partnership with Coffee Knowledge Hub.
Roaster Village
The Roaster Village is an incredible space where attendees can meet and mingle with new and emerging coffee roasting companies while sampling their latest roasts and offerings. We're excited to bring the Roaster Village HUB to the Portland show floor for the very first time–thanks to the support from Sanremo Coffee Machines. The Roaster Village is supported by Roaster Village Title Sponsor, Sanremo Coffee Machines, and equipment sponsors Fiorenzato, Pietro Grinders, BUNN, and Pentair Everpure.
Awards & Competitions
US Coffee Championships
This is where the best in the business come to compete on the national stage! The US Coffee Championships will see brewers, baristas, roasters, and tasters travel to Portland for a chance to represent the United States at the World Coffee Championships in Athens and Taipei later this year.
Coffee Design Awards
Great coffee and beautiful design are often intertwined and the Coffee Design Awards recognize the best new branding, packaging, and interior spaces from the last year. See the winners, finalists, and entries for this year’s Coffee Design Awards at the Community Lounge on the Expo show floor!
Best New Product
Over 500 companies will be exhibiting on the show floor with countless new products, services, and more. The Best New Product Awards recognize innovation in six categories and prizes are awarded live on the show floor.
Sustainability
We’ve partnered with Barista Attitude to make this year’s Specialty Coffee Expo as sustainable as possible.
We are excited to partner with MiiR to bring a reusable cup program to Expo! Cups will be available for use onsite to reduce the amount of disposable coffee cup waste during the event. There will be reusable cups for tasting rooms, drinking water, and in the SCA Workshops area. Cups can be picked up at Go Green stations while supplies last. Reuse the cup for your beverage needs during the show and then take the cup home as our gift to you for your commitment to sustainability!
Stay hydrated by refilling at the BUNN’s refresh station at a Go Green Station or at Pentair’s Hydration Stations located in the Roaster Village and by the SCA Community lounge.
Think Before You Throw: Recycling and composting bins are located throughout the Oregon Convention Center and Specialty Coffee Expo floor, so you’ll never have to go far to responsibly dispose of your waste. Take a moment to consider what goes where:
COMPOST: Coffee grounds, food, coffee filters
RECYCLING: Plastic bottles, milk jugs, aluminum cans, paper, glass bottles, cardboard, pamphlets, flyers
LANDFILL: Plastic utensils, chip bags, plastic wrappers, plastic cups
LIQUIDS: Pour liquids into drains and dispose of the vessel in the appropriate bin
Go Green in Your Hotel Room: Be sure to take advantage of towel and sheet reuse initiatives that may be offered by your hotel. Don’t forget to turn off all lights and electronics when you leave your room each day!
Low Impact Transportation: Portland is committed to low impact and there are various options available. Use TriMet's trip planner to plan your trip to the Oregon Convention Center by bus or MAX light rail. Plan and track your trip on TriMet, or get around town via Portland Streetcar.
Stop by the Travel & Housing desk located in the B Lobby of Oregon Convention Center to pick up a complimentary transit passes. Passes will be available while supplies last.
TriMet Trip Planner: trimet.org/home
Portland Street Car: portlandstreetcar.org
Learn More: coffeeexpo.org/sustainability-at-expo
As Specialty Coffee Expo 2023 kicks off, we wish to thank each and every one of our attendees, volunteers, exhibitors, sponsors, and competitors for traveling to Portland, Oregon for North America’s largest coffee trade show this month. We hope that you all travel safe, no matter how far or how long you’re traveling, and that your experience at Specialty Coffee Expo is as rewarding as positive as possible.
