4 Cool Things We Saw at World of Coffee San Diego

Fun things from the show floor, including exciting games, tea tastings, and, yes, an egg hunt.

BY SOPHIE SHORT
BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Photos courtesy of Sophie Short unless otherwise noted

As we close out another amazing World of Coffee, I am left wondering if this year’s secret sauce was the city itself. Perhaps I have a small bias, as San Diego is my current home of five years, but I also like to think I can be a neutral observer. The land of the perennial vacation served up amazing vibes and one hell of a World of Coffee, not to mention fabulous weather and truly memorable off-site events.  

City-wide, San Diego committed to community participation. Satellite events were held across the city inviting locals and visitors to explore San Diego’s numerous cafes, various rooftop venues, and plentiful museums. A few personal highlights include eating macarons at StoneX’s rooftop soirée with stunning views of San Diego’s Petco Park as the Padres played (and won) and walking home with a large model sailboat courtesy of the ever-ridiculous La Marzocco annual party—but, most importantly, the absolute pleasure of welcoming so many friends, new and old, to this beautiful city.  

This year’s energy was playful and inspiring—World of Coffee showed up, and so did all of you. With that said, let’s get down to some of the fun things I encountered at the event.

1. A slow moment with Spirit Tea

Weary on my feet, I sought refuge with the wonderful team at Spirit Tea. I sat for a good while sipping on tea and admiring the Taiwanese ceramic serving vessels. The unsurprisingly knowledgeable team gleefully introduced each tea and their producers. Of the five or six teas I explored, my favorite was Mr. Chang’s Water Sprite, an oolong from Taiwan, but the most curious is definitely Mr. Teng’s Silver Tip Reserve. 

The Silver Tip Reserve is a floral and earthy oolong from Dehua County in the Fujian region of China; it is also a “bug-bitten” tea: When teeny tiny leafhopper insects nibble on certain tea leaves, the plant emits a hormone response to alert spiders to the presence of the leafhoppers, and not only does this alert spiders to a nearby meal, it also imparts a specific flavor into the tea itself. 

2. The almighty Underberg

Featured in a coferment collaboration with Boston Stoker Coffee Roasters, the Underberg finally found its way to specialty coffee. For those unfamiliar with Underberg, this little bottle packs a punch at 44% abv though it is served as an herbal bitter or digestif. An old friend of the food and beverage industry, Underbergs are often a cheeky little treat at the end of the night. I truly never thought I would see them at World of Coffee unless it was me who brought them. 

3. A post-Easter egg hunt

I have no memory of the last time I last participated in an Easter egg hunt before World of Coffee. (Well, technically, since it’s after Easter, this was simply an “egg hunt.”) In addition to a consistently endless line to receive their annual mug, drinkware brand MiiR hosted said egg hunt, taking to social media with clues that led to an extra special reward.

Hidden across the show floor, a handful of small yet dense MiiR-branded eggs were quickly found and returned for a unique World of Coffee San Diego travel mug. I am a proud recipient of such a mug—though I wasn’t allowed to keep the egg.

Fun activities like this scavenger hunt helped bring a little bit of playfulness to a long weekend. 

4. Yes, there was a money-blowing booth

This year’s floor had a remarkable array of arcade games. Claw machines were aplenty, but there was only one money-blowing booth. Mahlkonig turned up the silly vibes with the opportunity to take your turn in the booth and see how much cash you can collect before exchanging the novelty bills for prizes. While I did not have my moment of glory, I could not keep a smile from my face as I watched folks step in and try their luck. 

But wait—I’m supposed to be talking about coffee. Don’t worry, that’s coming tomorrow! But, for now, I hope you enjoyed these silly snippets from World of Coffee San Diego. Follow up tomorrow to discover what new oat milks are hitting the market, which roasters are bringing back beans to greens, and how certifications play a role in coffee quality as well as ecology.  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sophie Short happily resides in San Diego, Calif., with her cat Sookie, though both maintain their New England demeanor. Sophie is a writer, coffee industry consultant, and lifelong hospitality professional. She collects furbies and enjoys long walks not on the beach but also snorkeling from the beach.

Subscribe and More!

As always, you can get a hard copy of Barista Magazine by subscribing or ordering an issue.

Support Barista Magazine and show your love with a Membership.

Signup for our weekly newsletter.

Join us at Camp Coffee Shop Aug. 10-13 in Napa, California.

Read the April + May 2026 21st Anniversary Issue for free with our digital edition. 

For free access to more than six years’ worth of issues, visit our digital edition archives here.