Workshop & Sessions
Shirin Abd, M.S., Technical Director, Advanced Food Microbiology
Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories
Mark Corey, Ph.D., Director of Scientific & Regulatory Affairs
National Coffee Association USA
Safe and Chill: Science on Cold Brew Food Safety and Retail Compliance
Cold brew has become a mainstream product, and while it remains very safe, scientific research and regulatory guidance have lagged behind its rapid growth. Key questions persist around how to regulate various aspects of cold brew production and retail. Because food safety requirements and compliance expectations influence each other, and uncertainty exists in both areas, designing and commissioning research that satisfies the needs of health inspectors and retailers can be challenging. This session will provide an overview of the current state of cold brew food safety science and highlight the unique challenges the industry faces when working to inform regulators and retailers about compliance.
Sarah Brew, Partner
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Coffee Labeling: Compliance, Risks, and Opportunities
Coffee labeling is critical. It’s closely monitored by federal, state, and local regulators. Missteps—such as unclear claims or outdated practices—can lead to fines and reputational harm. The industry is evolving, with new opportunities like health-related messaging and risks from shifting compliance standards. Brands should stay informed and use resources like the updated NCA Coffee Product Labeling Guide and Coffee Labeling Resource Center to remain compliant and competitive.
Carley Garner, Futures and Options Broker, Commodity Market Strategist
DeCarley Trading
Managing Coffee Pricing Risk in a Volatile World
Coffee prices have surged to historic highs and show little indication of returning to prior levels. In this timely session, Carley Garner, veteran commodity strategist and co-founder of DeCarley Trading, will offer a futures-market view of what the coffee industry may face in 2026 and beyond. Drawing on two decades in commodities brokerage, she will unpack how macroeconomic forces, speculative activity, climate volatility, and geopolitical instability are reshaping the global market. Carley will outline practical approaches to managing price risk, including hedging tools, contract structuring, and market-timing considerations for importers, traders, and roasters. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to work through continued volatility in the “C price” and how to strengthen procurement strategies for the long term.
Lina Jasutiene, Managing Director
Recoupex
The Hidden Costs of Coffee Logistics (and How to Recover Them Legally)
Beyond freight rates and insurance premiums, many coffee exporters lose thousands each year through unclaimed or unrecovered cargo claims. This session breaks down where those losses occur and how strategic recovery and strong documentation can protect your bottom line when dealing with carriers, buyers, and other supply chain partners. Attendees will learn how to identify the most common sources of financial loss in coffee cargo claims, document and establish carrier liability, and navigate disputes with buyers. The session will also clarify how cargo insurance, loss ratios, and premiums interact, while offering practical guidance on creating a “claims-ready” SOP that streamlines internal processes and reduces preventable financial leakage.
Carlos Mera, Head of Agri Commodity Market Research
Rabobank
Global Supply and Demand Dynamics
Coffee prices reached record highs in 2025 amid a combination of tight global supply, logistical bottlenecks, and regulatory pressures. Five consecutive weak arabica harvests in Brazil, lack of area growth in Vietnam, shipping delays around the Red Sea, and new trade measures like the EU Deforestation Regulation and U.S. tariffs have disrupted traditional trade flows and depleted stocks. High interest rates and price volatility have added to market strain, while early signs of softening demand suggest shifting consumption trends in major markets. This session will provide an overview of these intertwined factors and what they mean for coffee market stability heading into 2026.
John Owen, Associate Director – Food and Retail
Mintel
Packaging the Brand
This session will examine how consumers think about beverage packaging and the growing influence it has on the overall brand experience. The presentation will cover consumer expectations around environmental responsibility, what they want packaging to communicate, how they expect it to function, and the ways packaging can help them cope with rising household costs. It will also outline what these shifts mean for coffee brands.
Dan Pabst, Manager, Innovations and Product Development
Melitta North America, Inc.
Workshop: The Future of Single Origins: Rethinking Coffee Sourcing and Storytelling
This workshop explores how coffee sourcing is shifting beyond familiar single-origin narratives and into a more flexible, flavor-driven approach. Participants will taste a range of single-origin coffees selected to challenge long-held assumptions about origin profiles and how they “should” taste. Additional guided tastings will demonstrate how these same coffees can be “matched” with blend components, revealing how strategic blending can elevate cup quality, strengthen brand stories, and expand consumer education. These exercises will connect to broader market dynamics and sourcing pressures facing the industry. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how innovative sourcing and blending strategies can help meet today’s global challenges and reimagine how we select, market, and appreciate coffee.
Mike Padovano, Senior Vice President - Global Trade Consulting
World Wide Logistics
Brewing Savings: Duty Drawback, Tariff Mitigation, and Competitive Advantage for Coffee Companies
With recent tariff changes increasing the cost of imported coffee products, industry leaders are facing new financial and operational pressures. This session will outline the current tariff landscape and its direct impact on coffee importers, roasters, and distributors. We’ll cover proven tariff-mitigation strategies used across other import-heavy industries, with a focus on duty drawback and Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs). Attendees will learn how these programs can serve as cost-recovery tools, including for companies that historically were not affected by duties. The session will also feature a real-world case study showing how our team helped a coffee client recover previously paid duties and reinvest those savings back into the business, creating new opportunities for growth and competitive advantage.
Anne Reinke, President & CEO
Intermodal Association of North America
Intermodal Lessons for a Resilient Coffee Supply Chain
Anne Reinke, President & CEO of the Intermodal Association of North America will look at how intermodal logistics innovations can strengthen the coffee supply chain. Anne will share practical insights on data transparency, infrastructure upgrades, and cross-sector collaboration. She’ll break down how coffee importers, roasters, and logistics teams can use intermodal strategies to manage volatility, including disruptions, bottlenecks, and port congestion. This session connects containerized freight and commodity movement, offering concrete ideas for building a more agile and resilient path from origin to cup.
Beth Spong, CEO
Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee
IWCA Breakfast: Sustaining What Sustains Us
Join us for the annual IWCA Networking Breakfast, taking a clear-eyed look at what keeps this industry resilient: the farms, the land, the people who grow the coffee, and the long-term decisions that determine whether this industry thrives for the next generation. This session is designed for leaders who think beyond quarterly cycles and care about stewardship, resilience, and long-term value. It will be thoughtful, relevant, and directly aligned with the questions shaping boardrooms across the industry today.