International Coffee Day 2026: What It Is, and How to Explore Coffee Through Aroma, Taste and Story at DAVIN CAFE

Written by Davin Cafe team | Last updated: October 2026

International Coffee Day falls on 1 October every year, and in 2026 it is on Thursday, 1 October 2026. It was initiated by the International Coffee Organization (ICO), with the first official celebration held in Milan, Italy, in 2015. 2026 is a special year: it is the first International Coffee Day since the United Nations General Assembly formally designated 1 October as an international observance on 10 March 2026.

The cup you drink every morning passes through more hands than you might think: the farmers who grow it, the pickers, the processors, the roasters and the barista who brews it. International Coffee Day is not just a day for coffee deals, but a day to look beyond what is in the cup. This guide covers where the day comes from, what makes 2026 different, and how to celebrate through three lenses: aroma, taste and story.

The short version

• International Coffee Day 2026: Thursday, 1 October 2026
• Every year: 1 October
• Initiated by: The International Coffee Organization (ICO), agreed in 2014
• First official celebration: 1 October 2015, in Milan
• What is new in 2026: The first year as an official United Nations observance
• FAO observance theme for 2026: “Celebrating Coffee, Honouring the People Behind Every Cup”

International Coffee Day

From Bean to Cup at DAVIN CAFE

The people and every step behind a single cup

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What Is International Coffee Day, and Why 1 October?

International Coffee Day is a global celebration of coffee as a drink, a culture and a livelihood for millions of families, while raising awareness of the challenges coffee farmers face, such as fair income and sustainable production.

1 October was chosen because it marks the start of the “coffee year” the ICO uses to track global coffee production and trade. Before that, many countries celebrated coffee on different dates, so the ICO wanted one day when coffee lovers around the world could celebrate together.

What Is Special About International Coffee Day 2026?

This is the first year International Coffee Day carries the status of a UN international day. The General Assembly resolution highlights coffee’s contribution to several Sustainable Development Goals, including ending poverty and hunger, empowering women, and decent work. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is invited to facilitate the observance together with the ICO. Read more in FAO’s announcement.

FAO’s observance this year carries the theme “Celebrating Coffee, Honouring the People Behind Every Cup”, while the ICO’s 2026 campaign is “Coffee is Part of the Solution”, noting that coffee supports around 12.5 million farming families worldwide.

International Coffee Day vs National Coffee Day

Many people get confused by coffee promotions in late September. Those are usually for National Coffee Day in the United States, on 29 September. International Coffee Day, celebrated worldwide, is 1 October, and many countries also have their own national coffee days on other dates.

Explore Coffee Through Aroma

Aroma is half of how coffee tastes. Try this with your next cup:

• Smell the grounds before brewing The dry fragrance often shows nuts, chocolate or florals
• Smell again once hot water hits The wet aroma opens up and can be noticeably different
• Smell before every sip Your brain links aroma to taste, making tasting notes easier to pick out

Roast level shapes aroma strongly. Light roasts tend to smell floral and fruity, while dark roasts lean towards dark chocolate and smoke.

Explore Coffee Through Taste

The easiest way to understand coffee flavour is to taste the three roast levels side by side:

• Bright, fruity acidity Read What Is Light Roast Coffee? Is It Sour?
• Rounded sweetness, not too sour or bitter Read Medium Roast Coffee: Not Too Sour, Not Too Bitter
• Bold, bittersweet and full-bodied Read Strong Coffee and What Dark Roast Really Is

Explore Coffee Through Story

Every cup has a story, from origin and altitude to processing methods such as washed, natural or honey, and the skill of the roaster. This year’s theme invites us to remember the people behind the cup, which reflects how specialty coffee shops value where their beans come from. Read more about the cafe’s approach in DAVIN CAFE: A Specialty Coffee Shop in Bangkok.

Davin Cafe also runs events with roasters to share coffee stories with the community, such as Flavor Exchange: DAVIN CAFE x TOBO’ Coffee Roaster, an example of celebrating coffee by tasting and talking together.

Where Does Thai Coffee Come From?

On International Coffee Day, it is worth remembering the coffee grown right here in Thailand. Coffee is an important crop in both the north and the south of the country, with each region growing a different species suited to its climate.

• The north grows Arabica on cool highlands, often around 1,000 metres above sea level or higher. Key areas include Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Nan. Arabica offers complex aromas and fruity acidity, which is why it is the backbone of specialty coffee
• The south grows Robusta on hot, humid lowlands. Key areas include Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat, with Chumphon the country’s largest Robusta-growing province. Robusta is bolder, more bitter and higher in caffeine

For a local way to celebrate, try a Thai highland coffee from the north alongside an imported origin and compare them. Thai coffee holds its own.

5 Ways to Celebrate International Coffee Day 2026

1. Try an origin you have never had such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia or coffee from northern Thailand, and notice how they differ
2. Taste the three roast levels side by side Light, medium and dark on the same day show the contrast most clearly
3. Brew at home Use the drip recipes in the roast-level guides, then adjust one thing at a time
4. Support the people behind the cup Buy beans from roasters or farmers who clearly state their origin
5. Meet friends at a cafe and talk coffee Ask the barista where today’s beans come from and what their story is

Celebrate International Coffee Day at DAVIN CAFE

If you want to celebrate International Coffee Day out of the house, DAVIN CAFE beside the Ram Inthra Expressway lets you explore all three lenses. Tell the barista what you enjoy, whether bright acidity, rounded sweetness or bold bittersweetness, and ask for a recommendation from the beans available that day, along with the story behind them. If you plan to stay a while, the cafe has high ceilings, plenty of space and a range of seating. See A Spacious Cafe in Ramintra for Working and Relaxing.

• Address: 108 Soi Khlong Lam Chiak, Nawamin, Bueng Kum, Bangkok 10230, beside the Ram Inthra Expressway
• Hours: Daily, 8:30 AM to midnight
• Parking: Private car park for 150+ vehicles

Conclusion, International Coffee Day 2026 Invites You to Look Beyond the Cup

International Coffee Day 2026 falls on Thursday, 1 October, and is the first since the United Nations formally recognised the day. This year’s theme honours the people behind every cup, so the best way to celebrate is not just to drink one more coffee, but to smell it, taste it with attention, and ask where it came from.

Celebrate with us Visit DAVIN CAFE, open daily from 8:30 AM to midnight. Get directions on Google Maps or ask about beans and drinks through Davin Cafe’s LINE Official.

Frequently Asked Questions About International Coffee Day