Early in May, my team and I had the chance to travel to China to serve our coffees at the Shanghai International Coffee Culture Festival.
Anytime you set up to brew hundreds of coffees a day in a festival setting, it takes a lot of energy, focus, and flexibility. But more than anything, it was an incredible experience, and definitely one of the highlights of my 2026 so far.
I could talk about it for a very long time, but here are some of the moments that stood out:
Being behind the bar.
I loved spending all day making drinks. It’s been years since I felt that strange blend of thrill and exhaustion that comes from a long day of serving coffee to people who are excited to taste it.
Making hundreds of manual brews per day.
I brew pour-overs every day, but usually 3 or 4 for myself and the people around me. This was a very different experience. Brewing hundreds of high-end coffees by hand pushed me to the max, in the best possible way, and reminded me how much I love making coffee for others.
Representing the farms.
One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was how interested people were in the stories behind each coffee. We had the chance to share coffees from some amazing producers, including Rigoberto Herrera of CGLE, Ratibor and Tessie Hartmann of Mi Finquita, Mauricio Shattah of La Negrita, Jose Luis Eguiguren of Santa Gertrudis, Pepe and Jose Ignacio Jijón of Putushio, and Evin Moreno. It was a privilege to brew these coffees and help connect people in Shanghai with the farms, producers, and relationships behind them.
Sharing Mirage.
This one was special. Mirage is our farm in Panama, which we share with Ratibor Hartmann, Mauricio Shattah, and Mario Fonseca, and Shanghai was its public debut. We brought 60 tins and they sold out quickly, but more importantly, the coffee tasted amazing. It was memorable and emotional to brew it, serve it, and tell the story of the farm and the incredible people behind it. Many thanks to Ratibor for taking such amazing care of Mirage.
Experiencing the Shanghai coffee community.
I was so impressed by how curious, open-minded, and engaged people were. There was a real willingness to try different styles of coffees, ask thoughtful questions, and connect with what was in the cup. I also had the chance to visit a few cafés around the city and loved the hospitality, creativity, and range of unique coffee experiences I got to explore.
I need to give a huge shout-out to my team on the booth and everyone who helped make this possible. We came home inspired, grateful, and proud of how our coffees were received. Shanghai, thank you for such a memorable experience. I hope we’ll be back soon.
-Seb
