Coffee Design Awards
at World of Coffee

Competion Categories


Branding

The Coffee Design Awards Branding is about recognizing the brands, identities and visual environments that companies in coffee use to stand out. It’s about the logos, the style guides, the stationery, the posters, the flyers, the digital comms - anything and everything that's not the product itself or the space. Submissions should include logo files, style guides, and up to three high-res examples of the brand in-use on promotional assets, not including products or vessels.

Packaging

The Coffee Design Awards Packaging identifies some of the most compelling coffee packaging designs that looks beyond brand adherence from the past year.

Spaces

The Coffee Design Awards Spaces showcases places for making, teaching, and serving coffee.

Specialty Coffee Expo 2025
Spaces Category Winner

Specialty Coffee Expo 2025
Packaging Category Winner

Competition Submission Terms & Conditions:

  • Entry must be new to the company and introduced into the marketplace after April 28, 2025.

  • We have assembled a panel of judges that includes professionals from the coffee and design industries. They will evaluate submissions under the following metrics: originality/function/sustainability.

  • Applicants are encouraged to include as much information about their submissions as possible and must provide four high resolution photos (minimum 3MB), two of which will be displayed at the show in a square aspect ratio. This form includes additional spaces for photos to help the judges evaluate and we would strongly encourage you to include these where possible.

  • For entries into Packaging, applicants must deliver a sample in person on April 10 to be included in the exhibit and considered for judging.

  • SCA reserves the right to reclassify or decline an entry. Please note that, if less than three entries are received in a specific category, categories may be combined, or an entry may be reclassified.

  • Coffee Design Awards are at the discretion of independent judges and show management.

  • Judging will take prior to the show.

  • All entrants will be showcased at the Coffee Design Award display on show site as well as on permanent display on the Design in Coffee platform.

  • Entries have now closed. See you at the show!


Judging Rubric

 Judging is based on the following criteria:

Innovation - Does the design offer an appealing alternative in form, color, texture, function or material to others on the market?

Long-Lasting - Does the design surpass trends and respond to general consumer needs?

Congruency - Do choice of colors, materials or other design elements reflect the aims, philosophy or concept as stated in the form or on the packaging?

Clarity and Usability - Does the design communicate its message, purpose, or usage in a clear way through design or text? Is the usage of the product or space easy to understand, regardless of textual explanation?

Attention to Detail - Does the design exhibit attention to details in a way that corresponds with its overall concept?

Sustainability - Can be environmental and ecological but can also be achieved through equitable value distribution.

Overall - Does the design present an aesthetically pleasing, positive and creative experience?

Specialty Coffee Expo 2025
Branding Category Winner

Coffee Design Awards at World of Coffee San Diego 2026
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