VICOFA, SCA discuss possibility of bringing World of Coffee to Viet Nam in 2028

At the invitation of Mr. Yannis Apostolopoulos, Chief Executive Officer of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), a delegation from the Viet Nam Coffee-Cocoa Association (VICOFA), led by Chairman Nguyen Nam Hai, arrived in Bangkok on May 8 for a working session with the SCA on the sidelines of the World of Coffee 2026.

At the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), the two sides discussed a range of strategic cooperation initiatives aimed at enhancing the position of Vietnamese coffee in the global value chain.

Cooperation in developing standards and training for the coffee sector

SCA said it would continue promoting discussions on cooperation in developing and refining the green coffee standards currently being drafted by the organization.

According to VICOFA, SCA’s initiative to establish a six-grade classification system for green coffee beans, accompanied by technical requirements and the application of the Coffee Value Assessment (CVA) system under the draft SCA Standard 110 - 2026, could serve as a widely referenced framework for coffee-producing countries.

However, VICOFA emphasized that future international standards should accurately reflect Vietnam’s unique production characteristics, sensory values, processing methods, and development potential, particularly for Robusta coffee. Therefore, the association expressed its desire to cooperate with SCA in the consultation and development process for standards governing Vietnamese Robusta green coffee beans.

SCA also proposed establishing an exclusive partnership with VICOFA in coffee training activities in Vietnam. Under the proposal, SCA would transfer training curricula, coffee quality assessment materials, and specialized learning resources to VICOFA for translation into Vietnamese, helping expand access to knowledge for the coffee community.

SCA also expressed its desire for VICOFA to become the sole coordinating body for implementing the organization’s training programs in Viet Nam in the coming years.

VICOFA described this as an important opportunity to strengthen the internal capacity of Viet Nam’s coffee sector. The association affirmed its readiness to work alongside SCA in training activities, in compliance with Vietnamese law and in line with VICOFA’s operational functions.

Toward World of Coffee 2028 and elevating Vietnamese coffee

Another notable topic was the plan to bring the World of Coffee exhibition to Viet Nam in 2028.

Each year, SCA collaborates with industry associations and government agencies to organize World of Coffee, an event that gathers thousands of experts from across the global coffee value chain. The 2026 edition is being held in Bangkok, Thailand, while the 2027 event will take place in Tokyo, Japan. Ho Chi Minh City is currently being considered as a potential host city for 2028.

SCA noted that Vietnam is emerging as one of the world’s leading coffee suppliers and is well-positioned to become a natural destination for World of Coffee. The organization expressed its intention to cooperate with VICOFA and Exporum to advance plans for hosting the event in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to VICOFA, if the exhibition is held in Viet Nam, it would provide a major opportunity to promote the image, quality, and distinctive coffee varieties of Vietnam to international importers, roasters, and consumers. The association supports the proposal and suggested that SCA and Exporum soon develop a detailed plan for further discussions among stakeholders. VICOFA will also seek approval in principle from the Vietnamese Government.

On the same day, the VICOFA delegation continued attending SCA’s discussion session on the draft SCA Standard 110 - 2026. Representatives from the ICO, the ASEAN Coffee Federation (ACF), and specialty coffee associations from Thailand, Japan, and Myanmar also participated in the session.

The discussions focused on the technical criteria system for green coffee beans under each grading category, as well as the corresponding testing methods.

Amid rapid changes in the global coffee market, production volume is no longer the sole advantage for coffee-producing countries. Quality, transparency, traceability, and sensory identity are increasingly becoming decisive factors in competitiveness.

According to VICOFA, expanding cooperation with specialized international organizations such as SCA will help accelerate the transformation of Viet Nam’s coffee sector toward higher value-added development, enhance export competitiveness, and strengthen the positioning of Vietnamese coffee brands, particularly Robusta, in the global market.

According to the organizers and participating companies, the exhibition is expected to feature more than 300 booths and brands from various countries, representing the entire coffee value chain, from coffee-growing regions, roasting and processing, to brewing equipment, technology, logistics and retail. The event is projected to attract between 5,000 and 10,000 industry professionals, businesses and coffee enthusiasts from around the world.

The exhibition will bring together major companies in the coffee and beverage equipment industry, including espresso machine manufacturers, international coffee roasters, specialty coffee brands, brewing technology startups and processing solution providers. Several exhibitors are also expected to host live demonstrations of coffee sorting technology, automated roasting systems and smart brewing equipment.

World of Coffee Bangkok 2026 is an international specialty coffee exhibition organized by the Specialty Coffee Association in collaboration with the Barista Association of Thailand. The event will take place from May 7-9, 2026 at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC). This marks the third edition of World of Coffee to be held in Asia, following previous events in Busan, South Korea and Jakarta, Indonesia.