The story
Sintercafe International Coffee Week in San José
Founded in 1987 following a 1986 gathering of Costa Ricans aiming to promote the country's coffee internationally, Sintercafe runs each November as an industry-focused trade event bringing together both sides of the global coffee value chain. More than 500 participants attend annually, positioning Costa Rica as a recognised meeting point for coffee industry decision-makers rather than a public festival.
Sintercafe traces to 1986, when a group of Costa Ricans first met with the specific aim of promoting the country's coffee quality internationally by organising what became known as International Coffee Week, before formally establishing the non-profit organisation Sintercafe in 1987 to run the event on a continuing basis.