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Coffee Is Often Over-Extracted… possible. Ordna Event Agency and Cup North have inte-
grated different methods into their operation for pathways
…in resources, labor, and land. The coffee chain is a to improvement. Feedback surveys are sent out to all at-
vulnerable system that needs rapid change to sustain its tendees, volunteers, and vendors to share their thoughts
longevity. Inequality and exploitation have long been the on event standards and improvements. Waste statistics
foundations of the coffee chain. Climate change and ex- are posted on The Barista League website for tracking
ploitation threaten its sustainability, but there are efforts waste trends to evaluate improvements for future events.
underway to address these challenges. NCF and DCF Environmental resources and advocacy organizations,
create space for folks to share how they are addressing such as VOICE Ireland and independent roasters support-
these issues—panel discussions were hosted by advocates, ing direct trade frameworks, are promoted across their
green organizations, and researchers from around the platforms as resources to connect the individuals to the
globe to share sustainability goals. Panel topics were vast, groups specializing in sustainable action. These options
from emission reductions by switching to plant milks, to ensure that the “event does not end when the people go
coffee transparency exchanges, to socio-environmental home” (SUSTAINABILITY, Nordic Coffee Fest, 2024). By
justice campaigns. Organizations like Farmer Voice Radio providing resources, they ensure that accessibility and
and UNIC Coffee are implementing initiatives to revitalize impact can continue beyond their festival doors. They
the foundations of coffee—the farmers and the land. The recognize that there is no linear path to sustainable live-
foundation of this chain is the farmer, and the vitality of lihood without community feedback. NCF and DCF create
the profession comes from the land. While there is still a spaces to share interests and set up mechanisms for long-
need to improve farmer representation at coffee events, term support beyond the festival weekends.
NCF and DCF served as spaces to bring different advocates Cup North and Ordna Event Agency prove that the
together—the barista trying to reduce work waste, the coffee collective can be fun, informative, and actionable.
independent roaster trying to improve direct trade frame- As coffee enthusiasts and professionals, we can reflect on
works, the café owner trying to equitize their operations, the event layouts in our own communities and how we
and the independent participants interested in socio-en- can improve the impact of our local industries. The Nor-
vironmental vitality. Collaboration and intentional advo- dic Coffee Festival and Dublin Coffee Festival are prime
cacy, the foundations of the Nordic and Dublin coffee examples of how our global industry can continue to de-
festivals, will be the mechanisms that continue to improve velop in a sustainable fashion. “Waste” must be replaced
longevity and producer sustainability. by “vitality”. “Exploitation” must be replaced by “equity”.
“Stagnation” must be replaced by “action”. These will only
Progress Over Perfection be achieved with collective focus on transparency, advo-
cacy, and sustainability.
These festivals are integral for creating the space to
change the over-extraction standards of the industry. As
plans move in the direction of sustainable goals, it is im-
portant to recognize the methods that make these goals

Community will form around

curiosity and set the path for

inclusivity and sustainability.

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