• Between March 20-22, 2026, COFFeEAST returns with a new edition that connects Bucharest to the creative energy of Eastern European coffee culture. The regional festival brings together baristas, roasters, artisans, designers, technology manufacturers, renowned brands and enthusiasts at Romexpo, in the Central Pavilion.
The 3rd edition promises visitors over 200 exhibitors and numerous experiences built around the cult and culture of coffee: tastings, championships, live music, conferences, workshops, relaxation areas and networking.
Through its social and professional format, COFFeEAST becomes a destination with a vibe of modern and cool Romania, where coffee is viewed as both a creative industry and a contemporary lifestyle.
Mihai Panfil, founder, says: “In its first editions, COFFeEAST managed to bring together both industry professionals and an educated, curious and hard-to-convince urban audience – the kind of audience that seeks authentic and relevant experiences, more than consumption. The fact that the festival generated such a good response gives us confidence that, from one edition to the next, COFFeEAST can strengthen its role as a catalyst for an increasingly mature, diverse and visible regional coffee market.”
This year's edition invites visitors to discover coffee culture in all its dimensions.
Over 200 exhibitors from 14 countries and 16 international guests bring ideas, practices and tastes from the global coffee scene to Bucharest. With over 35 dialogue sessions and practical workshops, tastings of newly launched products and 3 live stages dedicated to competitions and music, the festival outlines one of the densest programs dedicated to coffee culture in Eastern Europe:
- GreatEast Cup, the main stage that hosts the barista in a competition with creative, individual and team tests. The jury is made up of internationally recognized professionals, and the total prizes reach €4000.
- Acoustic concerts, the secondary stage that attracts visitors with piano recitals, DJ sets and live concerts by artists such as Man on the Moon, Diana Căldăraru, Corina Sîrghi, Ana Coman, Jeremy Challender and Mara Halunga & Cauê de Marinis.
- A bustling market with 100 micro-roasters, artisans and local artists which showcases the best in coffee, design objects, sweet and savory dishes, craft beer and drinks, local wines. Visitors can taste the products and buy them for home.
- Community bars, where baristas from over 30 local and regional coffee shops will prepare and serve coffee on a rotating basis, especially for festival visitors.
- Short introductory coffee workshops: festival-goers can practice the steps for making good coffee at home, play with latte art techniques, and learn how to choose the best milk and water for coffee.
- Conferences for professionals and enthusiasts: international experts hold engaging conversations, inspired by topics such as innovation, education and creative entrepreneurship.
- Coffee tastings: cupping sessions organized by green coffee importers from all over the world.
- Tradeshow areas: interactive stands where local and international brands, from emerging names to iconic brands in coffee and other related fields, prepare creative activations, tastings and product launches.
New features of the edition – competitions for enthusiasts and interactive experiences
- Latte Art Throwdown, two days of competition dedicated to enthusiasts and industry professionals. With 16 participants in each category, the new format adds one of the most spectacular expressions of creativity in coffee to the festival program. Winners will be rewarded with Sage espresso machines.
- GreatEast Coffee, the competition that rewards the best coffees presented by the roasters exhibiting at the festival. The public will be able to take part in the judging through a special category, Public's Choice.
- Tasting Room, a new area where visitors can participate in guided tastings, pairing sessions and interactive workshops held by the festival's taste artisans, from chocolatiers and pastry chefs to craft beverage producers.
The 3rd edition of the festival is held under the theme "A Peace Camp powered by Coffee", proposing coffee as a common language and cultural catalyst, in a regional and global context marked by uncertainty. COFFeEAST celebrates work done with good intentions, collaboration and optimism expressed through creation.
Tickets and schedule
Tickets can be purchased online, from www.coffeeast.eu or directly at the entrance. A one-day ticket costs 35 lei, and a subscription for all three days of the festival costs 50 lei. The ticket price includes the first coffee from the festival, filtered water at the dedicated points in the festival and access to all the experiences in the program. Access for children under 12 is free.
During the 3 days of the festival, COFFeEAST opens its doors between 10:00-18:00. The detailed program and the list of exhibitors can be consulted on the official website of the festival, www.coffeeast.eu.
How to get to COFFeEAST
COFFeEAST takes place at Romexpo, in the Central Pavilion. Visitors can arrive by public transportation or by personal car, which they can leave in the Romexpo parking lot. The festival entrance ticket does not include the cost of parking.
Car access: Parking B, C and E.
Pedestrian access: Gates A, B and C.
Partners
Supported by: Banca Transilvania, Napolact, Victoria Arduino, Alpro, Covoya, Cointreau, Sage, Carton Packaging, Bluid, Dalin Furniture, Oblic Studio, Barista Hustle, Kinto, Cookman, Perla Harghitei, Citroën
Cultural partner: Visit Oradea
Community partners: LIFT Learning, Brewtifi
Media partners: Radio Guerrilla, The Perfect Daily Grind, Urban, Press One, Modern Romania, De-Corina, News Office, PRwave
About COFFeEAST Festival
COFFeEAST is the regional festival dedicated to Eastern European coffee culture. With a social and professional character, it is the place where coffee culture intertwines with a cosmopolitan lifestyle. For 3 days, the festival becomes a destination with a modern and cool Romanian vibe for everyone who shares the passion for coffee, taste and design – from professionals to enthusiasts. With each edition, COFFeEAST aims not only to reflect the evolution of the Eastern European coffee market, but also to inspire and accelerate it. In 2025, COFFeEAST received international recognition through a Red Dot award for design and 2 Graphis Awards for branding.
About Mihai Panfil, founder of COFFeEAST
With over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, Mihai Panfil signs initiatives that shape the specialty coffee territory in Romania through: roasting and specialty cafes, business consulting, green coffee curation, authorized distribution for high-quality professional equipment, internationally certified educational programs, HoReCa retail, entertainment catering and hospitality.
Since 2013, pioneering in the specialty coffee field has resulted in the opening of Origo Coffee, the first specialty coffee shop with its own roastery in Romania. Today, Origo is a team of over 50 multidisciplinary experts.
Article source: Press Release
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