From book launches to international trade shows, October promises to be an action-packed month in the world of coffee. New Ground rounds up the top picks for the month ahead.

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In the northern hemisphere, a blistering summer, which saw the mercury rise to record temperatures, has finally come to an end.

October marks the start of autumn and a predictably busy schedule in the coffee industry. It’s set to follow an eventful September in which a new world barista champion will soon be crowned and Heylo Coffee showcased its innovative range of products at Athens Coffee Festival.

Here is a roundup of this month’s most interesting things to look out for.

International Coffee Day will focus on circular economy | Oct 1

According to the International Coffee Organization (ICO), an estimated 3 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide everyday.

Indeed, over the years, coffee has truly become a global drink that not only helps provide a boost in the morning, but also brings people together and helps build communities.

It was with this idea in mind that the ICO launched its International Coffee Day in 2015 and, on October 1, it looks forward to celebrating its eighth instalment. 

The focus this year is on moving the coffee sector from a linear to a circular economy. In other words, shifting from a “make-take-waste” approach to one that puts back. As part of this theme, the ICO is urging those within the coffee industry to “support economic prosperity and environmental stewardship”.

It is also using the occasion to promote “Next Generation”, an ongoing initiative aimed at encouraging greater participation among young people at all stages of the coffee supply chain.

Elektra & Carimali to star at FHA HoReCa Singapore | Oct 25-28

Following on from the success of last month’s event, Food&HotelAsia (FHA) is hosting its second instalment of the year, this time with a focus on the hotel, restaurant, and cafe sectors.

Spread across 50,000 sqm at Singapore Expo, FHA HoReCa brings together an impressive line-up of innovative brands and smart tech from around the world.

Among them are two of the most exciting brands in the coffee sector: Carimali and Elektra.

Carimali will be presenting the latest additions to its fully automatic espresso machine range with the SilverAce Plus and SilverTwin Plus, as well as its innovative telemetry system, CARIcare, which provides real-time-checks of drink data and consumer preferences. 

Elektra, which is known, among other things, for its striking vintage Italian espresso machines, will also showcase new arrivals with its Indie, Verve, and Verve Mini ranges.

While continuing to live up to its reputation for classic design, the Elektra Indie also includes a whole host of innovative tech features, including a programmable automatic milk frother. The Verve and Verve Mini, meanwhile, are dual boiler espresso machines catering to home baristas who want to move their coffee making to the next level.

NY Coffee Festival to return for first time since 2019 | Oct 7-9

Back in March, the Specialty Coffee Expo made its long-awaited comeback in Boston after a two-year hiatus. Now, it’s New York’s turn.

The New York Coffee Festival is set to make its grand return at the Metropolitan Pavilion following a two-year hiatus. Between 7 and 9 October 2022, more than 100 coffee, food, and equipment brands will showcase their products in front of thousands of attendees for the first time since 2019.

The three-day event includes Coffee Masters and Latte Art Live, in addition to a series of workshops and lectures.

The New York Coffee Festival also marks the official launch of Coffee Week NYC, which helps raise money for clean water and sanitation projects in coffee-producing communities.

James Hoffmann’s How To Make The Best Coffee At Home available as an audiobook | Oct

How To Make The Best Coffee At Home, the second book from 2007 World Barista Champion, Square Mile co-founder, and popular YouTuber, James Hoffmann, is now available on Amazon as an audiobook.

Described as a guide to “everything you need to know to make consistently excellent coffee at home”, it follows the wildly successful World Atlas of Coffee, which was published in 2018 and sold more than 200,000 copies worldwide.

How To Make The Best Coffee At Home is divided into six chapters, covering everything from where to buy good quality beans to the best way to make espresso at home.

“I want to share the things that have helped me make better coffee,” Hoffmann writes, “while also sharing what makes it surprising, delightful, and intriguing.”

The audiobook is narrated by James Hoffmann himself and can be purchased using credits with an Audible subscription.

Popular espresso blogger makes debut with first book | Oct

Anyone who follows Robert McKeon Aloe on Medium will know that he has been a font of knowledge for all things espresso for some time. His articles, rooted in science and backed by his own experiments, have seen him gain a loyal following of more than 1,200.

The launch of his book, How To Engineer Better Espresso, brings together his various experiments, observations, and findings under one roof.

“How To Engineer Better Espresso explores the multiple variables involved in making espresso and offers ways for someone to improve their espresso,” he told New Ground. “The content of the book was driven by coffee data. Science holding that data is paramount to a process as complex as espresso.”

Coffee Shop Innovation Expo comes to London | Oct 19-20

As the coffee shop sector adjusts to life after Covid-19 while bracing itself for the challenges ahead, innovation has never been so key.

Since launching, London’s Coffee Shop Innovation Expo has become a key date in the calendar of coffee professionals and hospitality businesses across the UK. This year, it returns to the ExCel for a two-day event expected to draw more than 10,000 attendees.

A number of brands will showcase the latest technological developments in the hospitality sector, alongside a packed schedule of panel debates and seminars.

The show is divided into various sections, including a Barista Zone and a Sustainability Trail, where the coffee sector’s most inspiring suppliers will showcase their industry-altering solutions.