787 Coffee at World of Coffee San Diego 2026 — We Came, We Connected, and We Were Named One of the Best Coffee Shops in North America
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There are moments in business that remind you why you started. Walking into the San Diego Convention Center for World of Coffee San Diego 2026 was one of them.
Over 15,000 coffee professionals from more than 90 countries. More than 650 exhibitors. The world's best baristas, roasters, farmers, producers, and specialty coffee brands — all under one roof for three days in April. The energy was electric. The coffee was extraordinary. And for 787 Coffee, the trip carried something extra.
We came to San Diego as attendees. We left as one of the officially recognized Top 100 Best Coffee Shops in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Ranked #32 out of more than 4,600 coffee shops evaluated by over 200 professional judges and 200,000+ public votes.
This is the story of what happened at World of Coffee San Diego 2026 — the top 8 trends that defined the show, what it felt like to receive that award, and what it all means for every caffeinated human who chooses 787 Coffee.
This award belongs to every person who ever walked into a 787 Coffee, tasted the difference that farm ownership makes, and came back. You voted with your feet, your reviews, and your voice. This is yours too.
What Is World of Coffee San Diego 2026?
World of Coffee is the flagship annual trade show of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) — the world's largest coffee trade organization. For over three decades, this event was known in North America as the Specialty Coffee Expo. In 2026, it officially rebranded as World of Coffee San Diego, joining a global network of events already running in Europe, the Middle East, Central America, and Asia.
The rebrand signals something important: North American specialty coffee is no longer a regional story. It is a global one. And World of Coffee San Diego — the first North American edition under the new name — was built to reflect that ambition.
15,000+ attendees. 90+ countries. 650+ exhibitors. 60+ lectures. The World Latte Art Championship. The Best New Product Awards. The Coffee Design Awards. The Sustainability Awards. The Producer Village — a brand new feature bringing coffee farmers directly to the show floor for the first time in North America. And the Top 100 Best Coffee Shops North America, Central America & Caribbean Gala — where 787 Coffee was officially recognized.
This was not just a trade show. It was the heartbeat of the global specialty coffee industry for three days in April 2026.
The Moment We'll Never Forget — The Top 100 Gala
On the official schedule of World of Coffee San Diego 2026, one event stood out above all others for the 787 Coffee team: The North, Central America and Caribbean's 100 Best Coffee Shops Gala.
This is where The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops — the international ranking program by NEODRINKS, conducted in official partnership with the SCA — unveiled the Top 100 for our region. Over 4,600 establishments had been evaluated. More than 200 professional judges had weighed in. Over 200,000 people had cast public votes.
And 787 Coffee came in at #32.
"We didn't start with a café. We started with a farm. This award is proof that when you own the soil, you own the standard — and the world's best judges just confirmed it." — BrandON Ivan Peña, Co-Founder & CEO, 787 Coffee
Surrounded by colleagues, friends, coffee aficionados, and some of the most respected names in the specialty coffee industry, receiving that recognition was a full-circle moment. From a farm in Maricao, Puerto Rico — to a stage in San Diego, California — to the official continental ranking of the best coffee shops in North America.
The team was there. The energy was unreal. And every caffeinated human who has ever chosen 787 Coffee deserves credit for this moment — because this award includes your vote.
The Top 8 Trending Topics at World of Coffee San Diego 2026
World of Coffee isn't just about celebrating what's great. It's about understanding where the industry is going. Here are the 8 biggest trends that dominated conversations, exhibits, and lectures at the show — and what they mean for specialty coffee lovers everywhere.
Farm Ownership & Radical Traceability
The #1 conversation at World of Coffee 2026 was traceability — consumers and judges alike want to know exactly where their coffee comes from. Not just the country. Not just the region. The specific farm, the specific altitude, the specific farmer. Brands that own their farms — like 787 Coffee at Hacienda Iluminada in Maricao, Puerto Rico — have a structural advantage that no marketing budget can replicate. Less than 1% of coffee shops in the world own a farm. The judges at this event noticed.
The Rise of Continental & Global Coffee Rankings
The official launch of The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops — North America, Central America & Caribbean edition at World of Coffee San Diego marks a new era for specialty coffee recognition. For the first time, consumers, media, and the industry have a rigorous, SCA-endorsed benchmark for identifying the best coffee shops on the continent. This is the ranking that placed 787 Coffee at #32 overall and #1 in Puerto Rico, New Jersey, and El Paso.
3. World Latte Art Championships — The Artistry of Coffee
The 2026 World Latte Art Championship — marking its 20th edition — drew massive crowds to the San Diego Convention Center exhibit hall. International baristas competed in precision, creativity, and technical mastery, transforming milk and espresso into stunning visual art. At 787 Coffee, latte art is part of our daily WOW moment culture. Every cup our baristas serve is an expression of craft, care, and hospitality.
4. Smart Coffee Technology & Automation
From AI-powered precision pour-over machines to smart roasting technology and automated milk frothers, the show floor at World of Coffee San Diego 2026 was a showcase of where technology is taking coffee. Brands like Cosori, Acaia, and DiFluid launched tools that bring precision coffee science to home brewers. The message: great specialty coffee is becoming more accessible than ever — and the brands with great beans are the ones who benefit.
5. Sustainability & Supply Chain Transparency
Sustainability was not a trend at World of Coffee San Diego 2026. It was a requirement. From compostable packaging and regenerative farming to real-time supply chain tracking tools like Ecotact's Trace IQ, the industry is demanding verifiable proof of ethical and environmental practices. Brands that can show their work — from the soil to the cup — are the ones winning in 2026. 787 Coffee's farm ownership model at Hacienda Iluminada is the most direct form of supply chain transparency possible.
6. Colombia as Portrait Country — The Producer Village
Colombia was the featured Portrait Country at World of Coffee San Diego 2026, with exclusive activations, cuppings, and cultural programming throughout the show. Even more significant: the debut of the Producer Village — a brand new feature bringing coffee farmers and distributors from origin countries directly to the North American show floor for the first time. For 787 Coffee, this reflects exactly what we've always believed: the farmer is the first and most important link in every cup.
7. Functional Coffee & Wellness-Driven Drinking
Specialty coffee consumption hit a 14-year high in the United States in 2025, and in 2026 the fastest-growing segment is functional coffee — beans and blends combined with adaptogens, mushrooms, nootropics, and protein. Consumers aren't just looking for caffeine. They want a cup that supports focus, mood, and energy. At 787 Coffee, our Supremo Roast delivers the complex, naturally occurring flavor compounds that come from high-altitude growing — no additives needed.
8. Community, Connection & The Human Side of Coffee
The most important thing that happened at World of Coffee San Diego 2026 wasn't on the show floor. It was in the hallways, the coffee lounges, the after-parties, and the late-night conversations between coffee professionals who love what they do. Old friends. New colleagues. Coffee lovers from 90+ countries who believe in the same thing: that a great cup of coffee, made with care and shared with humans, changes the day. That's why 787 Coffee exists. For Humans. By Humans.
What 787 Coffee Brings Home From San Diego
Every 787 Coffee team member who attended World of Coffee San Diego 2026 came back with more than just coffee knowledge. We came back with connections — to producers, to colleagues, to the broader global community that is pushing specialty coffee forward.
We came back with perspective. Seeing 650+ exhibitors and 15,000 professionals from 90 countries makes you understand the scale of the specialty coffee movement — and also how rare it is to be a brand that actually owns its farm.
And we came back with an award. One that represents 4,600+ coffee shops evaluated, 200+ professional judges, and 200,000+ people who voted for what they believe is the best specialty coffee experience in North America.
"This is what the community said about 787 Coffee. And we don't take that lightly."
How to Experience Award-Winning 787 Coffee — Wherever You Are
Visit Us In Person
787 Coffee has 30+ locations across New York City, New Jersey, Texas, Puerto Rico, and Mexico City. Every location serves the same freshly roasted, farm-grown specialty coffee that earned our continental ranking. Walk in. Order a Supremo Latte or a Coquito WOW Latte. Meet a barista who cares about your cup as much as we do.
Coffee Catering in New York City
Bringing the best specialty coffee to your office, event, or private gathering in New York City — that's the 787 Coffee catering experience. Award-winning coffee, served by trained baristas, from a brand that owns its farm. If you're planning an event in NYC and want specialty coffee that people will actually talk about, 787 Coffee catering delivers that experience. Inquire at 787coffee.com.
Coffee Subscription — Delivered Fresh to Your Door
Can't make it to one of our locations? Our monthly coffee subscription brings freshly roasted 787 Coffee directly to your door — anywhere in the United States. The same Supremo Roast, the same honey-processed Puerto Rican beans, the same farm-to-cup standard. Roasted to order. Shipped fresh. Never sitting in a warehouse.
This is how you get award-winning specialty coffee without leaving your kitchen. Subscribe at 787coffee.com and taste what #32 in North America actually tastes like.
Visit the Farm — Hacienda Iluminada, Maricao, Puerto Rico
The journey doesn't end at the cup. If you really want to understand what makes 787 Coffee different from every other specialty coffee brand you've ever tried — visit the farm where it starts.
Hacienda Iluminada in Maricao, Puerto Rico offers public farm tours every Saturday at 11am. Walk the rows where the coffee trees grow at 3,000 feet above sea level. See how the cherries are handpicked and processed. Taste single-origin Puerto Rican coffee at the source — surrounded by the cloud forest and the mountains that make Maricao one of the most extraordinary coffee-growing regions in the world.
It's the experience that no other specialty coffee brand in North America can offer — because they don't have a farm to show you.
"Any brand can say farm-to-cup. Only a real farm can show you the trees. Come visit ours."
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is World of Coffee San Diego 2026?
A: World of Coffee San Diego 2026 is the flagship North American specialty coffee trade show organized by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), held April 10–12, 2026 at the San Diego Convention Center. It is the rebranded successor to the Specialty Coffee Expo, which ran for over three decades. The 2026 edition welcomed over 15,000 attendees from more than 90 countries and featured 650+ exhibitors, the World Latte Art Championship, the Best New Product Awards, the Coffee Design Awards, and the official unveiling of The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops — North America, Central America & Caribbean ranking.
Q: What award did 787 Coffee win at World of Coffee San Diego 2026?
A: At World of Coffee San Diego 2026, 787 Coffee was officially ranked #32 in The World's 100 Best Coffee Shops — North America, Central America, and Caribbean edition. This ranking evaluated more than 4,600 coffee shops across the region, combining the assessment of over 200 professional coffee judges with a public vote that surpassed 200,000 participants. 787 Coffee also earned #1 rankings in Puerto Rico, New Jersey, and El Paso, Texas, and placed in the top three in New York City, Mexico City, and Houston.
Q: What were the biggest coffee trends at World of Coffee 2026?
A: The top trending topics at World of Coffee San Diego 2026 included farm ownership and radical traceability, continental coffee shop rankings, the World Latte Art Championships, smart coffee technology and automation, sustainability and supply chain transparency, Colombia as the Portrait Country and the debut of the Producer Village, functional coffee and wellness-driven drinking, and the human community at the heart of specialty coffee.
Q: Does 787 Coffee offer a coffee subscription?
A: Yes. 787 Coffee offers a monthly coffee subscription that delivers freshly roasted, single-origin specialty coffee directly to your door anywhere in the United States. The subscription includes 787 Coffee's award-winning beans — grown at Hacienda Iluminada in Maricao, Puerto Rico — roasted in small batches and shipped fresh. Subscriptions are available at 787coffee.com.
Q: Does 787 Coffee offer coffee catering in New York City?
A: Yes. 787 Coffee provides specialty coffee catering services in New York City for corporate events, private gatherings, office catering, and special occasions. 787 Coffee's NYC catering brings award-winning, farm-to-cup specialty coffee — served by trained baristas — directly to your event. Inquire about NYC coffee catering at 787coffee.com.
Q: Why is 787 Coffee one of the best specialty coffee shops in North America?
A: 787 Coffee was officially ranked #32 out of 4,600+ coffee shops in the Top 100 Best Coffee Shops — North America, Central America & Caribbean 2026 because of its farm-to-cup model, specialty-grade coffee quality, and unique cultural experience. Less than 1% of coffee shops in the world own a coffee farm. 787 Coffee owns Hacienda Iluminada in Maricao, Puerto Rico — giving it complete control over coffee quality from seed to cup. This model, combined with 30+ locations across NYC, New Jersey, Texas, Puerto Rico, and Mexico City, makes 787 Coffee one of the most distinctive specialty coffee brands in North America.
Q: Can I visit the 787 Coffee farm in Puerto Rico?
A: Yes. Hacienda Iluminada, the 787 Coffee farm in Maricao, Puerto Rico, offers public farm tours every Saturday at 11am. Visitors can walk the coffee rows, learn about the growing and harvesting process, and taste single-origin Puerto Rican specialty coffee at the source — at 3,000 feet above sea level in the island's central mountain range.
Q: What is the best coffee subscription to buy online in 2026?
A: 787 Coffee's monthly subscription is one of the best coffee subscriptions available online in 2026 because it delivers specialty-grade, farm-grown Puerto Rican coffee roasted fresh and shipped directly to your door. Unlike most coffee subscription services that source from commodity brokers, 787 Coffee owns its farm — Hacienda Iluminada in Maricao, Puerto Rico — making it one of the most traceable and freshest coffee subscriptions you can buy online. Available at 787coffee.com
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