• Between April 4 and 6, 2025, Bucharest hosted the second edition of COFFeEAST – the regional festival dedicated to coffee culture in Eastern Europe.
With over 250 exhibitors from around the world and 35.000 visits recorded during the three days of the festival, COFFeEAST 2025 has grown spectacularly and has become an unmissable destination for professionals and enthusiasts.
For 3 days, participants enjoyed a variety of activities, including barista competitions, conferences and workshops held by international names, live concerts, all focusing on the culture and passion for coffee.
An international line-up. A festival as big as a community
The second edition of COFFeEAST brought together exhibitors and guests from over 15 countries – from Eastern Europe, such as Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Albania, but also from the rest of Europe and around the world. Artisanal roasters, baristas, technology brands, farmers and green coffee traders were present from Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Austria, Belgium, as well as Australia, the USA, Brazil and Thailand – reflecting the rapidly expanding network of international connections created around the festival.
Mihai Panfil, the founder of COFFeEAST, emphasized COFFeEAST's mission from one edition to another:
“One of the biggest stakes for COFFeEAST is to contribute to the growth of coffee consumption in Romania and Eastern Europe. We are already seeing how the public is becoming more curious, more educated and more connected to what coffee means as an experience, not just as a product. The festival creates the ideal context for this transformation to gain pace and depth – and at the same time aims to attract more and more enthusiasts and curious people from all over the world, transforming Eastern European coffee culture into a reason for travel and discovery. The second edition was a clear confirmation of this path and the potential to unite communities around the world around coffee culture.”
What special experiences did COFFeEAST offer to visitors and participants this year?
GreatEast Cup, the creative competition with 10 jurors and 58 barista competitors
The GreatEast Cup competition was one of the most anticipated moments of the festival, highlighting the talent and passion of the region's baristas for the art of coffee. Over 50 professionals took to the main stage for individual and team competitions.
The GreatEast Barista title was won by Alejandro Griffin Diaz (Jacob Alejander, New York), in the individual Mastery Cup competition. Also in the individual competition, Răzvan Pele (Erbario, Bucharest) was awarded for GreatEast Skills, and Adrian Avasilcăi (Origo Coffee, Bucharest) for GreatEast Craftsmanship. In the team competition, the trophies went to Alexandra Nistor & Sebastian Miriță (Perfect Simplu, Bucharest) – GreatEast Team and Delia Avram & Horia Birtas (Arusha Roastery, Maramureș) – GreatEast Skills.
Acoustic concerts with local and international artists
The coffee experience was accompanied by live music, in a series of acoustic concerts on the festival's secondary stage. The line-up included: Mara Halunga & Cauê de Marinis, Diana Căldăraru, Moonlight Breakfast, Andra Andriucă and Corina Sîrghi & Toma Dimitriu Group.
A bustling market with over 150 micro-roasters, artisans and local artists
Here, visitors had the opportunity to taste and buy an impressive variety of products for their homes, from freshly roasted coffee to sweet and savory dishes, beer, craft drinks, local wines, and design objects.
Eastern Coffee Shops Carousel Bar, with baristas from 40 cafes in Romania and Eastern Europe
One of the most lively areas of the festival was the bar where cafes from Romania, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Albania prepared and served coffee on a rotating basis, especially for visitors.
A series of 9 short introductory workshops in coffee and mixology
Participants learned how to brew a good coffee at home, experimented with latte art techniques, explored the principles of coffee mixology, and learned how the choice of water and milk influences the final result in the cup. The sessions were supported by international guests such as Carmen Clemente, Martin Hudak or Rastislav Kašar – recognized professionals in international brewing, latte art and coffee mixology competitions.
9 conferences with impact for the industry and the community
Local and international experts addressed topics relevant to the current coffee scene: innovation in brewing, education and training, sustainability, mixology, industry insights and global trends. Speakers included Samo Smrke (coffee science researcher), Andre Eiermann (world champion, coffee analyst and consultant), Anastasia Shishkina (Q Grader, green coffee specialist), Augusto Borges (farmer and educator in sustainable agriculture, Brazil), Rana Ibrahim (founder of Barista Hustle Arabic and promoter of specialty coffee in the Arab world) and Martin Wolf (Brewers Cup champion, Austria). Some of the conversations were moderated by Andreea Rosca.
10 cupping sessions, hosted by green coffee importers from around the world
International green coffee importers such as Mercanta, Primavera, Ocafi, Covoya, Unroasted, Sucafina or Chicas Industry hosted cupping sessions in the specially arranged area at the festival.
Tradeshow areas with 100 exhibitors, from emerging names to iconic brands
The festival hosted interactive stands from local and international brands – from emerging names to established players in the coffee industry and related fields. Visitors were able to explore creative activations, tastings, product launches and experiences that transformed the exhibition area into a space of interaction, discovery and inspiration.
More than a festival, COFFeEAST becomes an annual ritual
From one edition to another, COFFeEAST contributes to positioning Eastern Europe as an emerging pole on the international map of the industry. It is a social and professional event that not only reflects the evolution of the coffee market in the region, but also inspires and accelerates it – through education, valuable connections and experiences that attract more and more visitors from Romania and around the world.
The next edition of the festival will take place in 2026, with the organizers announcing all the details on the festival's communication channels and website. www.coffeeast.eu.
Partners
Strategic partner: Banca Transilvania;
Main partner: Napolact;
Supported by: Victoria Arduino, Nuova Simonelli, Mini, Mobila Dalin, Oblic Studio, Biodeck, Aquaphor;
Media partners: Radio Guerrilla, The Perfect Daily Grind, Modern Romania, Urban.ro, De-Corina.ro.
Article source: Press Release
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