Lecture Description
In coffee, we talk endlessly about quality, process, and origin. But whose definitions are we using - and what do they leave out?
This lecture reframes coffee through culture, exploring how people around the world - from Ethiopia to India, Indonesia to the Arabian Gulf - have brewed meaning into their cups for centuries. These practices reveal that coffee has always been more than a drink - it’s a reflection of identity, ritual, and belonging.
Author and food anthropologist Lani Kingston, Director of Education & Conference for Coffee Fest and teacher of The Anthropology of Coffee at Portland State University, guides attendees through a journey that blends anthropology, history, and industry insight. Her bestselling books, including Spill the Beans: Global Coffee Culture and Designing Coffee, have been translated into over 17 languages and continue to shape how coffee professionals understand culture and consumption.
Attendees will leave this session with:
– A deeper understanding of how global coffee cultures influence flavor, ritual, and perception of “quality”
– Practical ideas for incorporating cultural awareness into storytelling, menu design, and customer experience
– A renewed sense of connection to the people and histories behind the cup
Ultimately, this talk calls for a more culturally literate coffee industry - one that values origin not only as a source of beans, but as a source of ideas, flavor, and identity.
Date: Sunday, April 12, 2026
Time: 10:00 am - 10:45 am
Location: Room 26AB
Category:
Access: This lecture is free to attend with a World of Coffee entry badge. Register to attend World of Coffee here.
Please note that lecture sessions are open on a first-come, first-served basis. Early arrival is highly recommended to secure your seat.
Speakers
Lani Kingston
Director of Education, Coffee Fest
Lani Kingston is a Portland-based author and consultant specializing in brand development, systems building, and professional education. As the Director of Education for Coffee Fest and Editor of its upcoming publication, The Drip, she spearheads professional programming and industry discourse across the United States.
Lani also serves as an adjunct professor of Coffee Anthropology at Portland State University and is the author of definitive coffee books translated into over 20 languages, including How to Make Coffee and Spill the Beans: Global Coffee Culture. Her consulting portfolio spans international contracts across the food, agriculture, chocolate, coffee, and tea sectors.