Artificial Intelligence in Coffee
How AI is reshaping roasting, supply chains, customer experience, and the future of coffee service.
5th Edition · Riyadh 2026
Middle East Coffee Conference
Two Days Bringing Together Leading Experts to Shape the Future of the Coffee Industry
2 – 3 December 2026
Venue Plus, Princess Nourah University · Riyadh
Arabic · English (live interpretation)
- 6
- Key themes
- 8
- Sessions
- 45
- Speakers
8 themes
Themes of the fifth edition
Coffee as a Cultural and Media Product
How coffee became part of content, influence, a lifestyle symbol, and a media phenomenon.
The Economics of a Single Cup
Exploring pricing, profitability, and the value chain behind every cup.
Flavor Science and Sensory Innovation
Exploring advances in fermentation and how AI-assisted analysis is enhancing the understanding of flavour and sensory quality.
The Saudi Coffee Opportunity
Local production, the rise of Saudi-born brands, and the investment landscape ahead.
Redefining the Café Experience
From serving coffee… to designing the moment.
Two days · eight sessions
Session programme
16:00
Coffee as a Cultural and Media Force
From Gahwa to global trend: how Arabic coffee has become part of modern culture, content, and lifestyle, and how social media is shaping the way coffee is experienced and consumed.
17:15
The Science of Flavor and AI
Exploring flavor chemistry, fermentation, and the use of AI in sensory analysis. How data and technology are helping producers and roasters better understand flavor and quality in specialty coffee.
18:30
Is Coffee Overpriced?
What really determines the price of a cup of coffee? Exploring pricing, margins, costs, and the different stages of the coffee value chain.
19:45
Will the Barista Disappear?
How automation, robotics, and AI are changing coffee service. Exploring machine-assisted brewing, consistency, and the role of human skill and judgment in the future of the barista.
16:00
The Saudi Coffee Opportunity
A specialty segment growing 15–20% annually, a government-backed cultivation revival in Jazan, and the rise of homegrown brands. What the next decade looks like for operators, investors, and producers in the Kingdom's coffee story.
17:15
Healthy Coffee.. Fact or Marketing?
Exploring functional beverages, wellness trends, new ingredients, and the research behind coffee's health claims. Where is the line between evidence-based benefits and marketing?
18:30
Designing the Café Experience
How café design, service, and atmosphere shape customer experience, loyalty, and brand identity. Exploring how cafés can create spaces and experiences that give customers a reason to return.
19:45
From Cup to Brand
Building a coffee brand capable of scaling, attracting investment, and creating long-term impact: identity, positioning, digital presence, and the strategic decisions that separate brands that last from those that don't.
Speakers
45 international & local speakers
Experts, baristas, researchers and producers on one stage.
Judith Ganes
President @ J Ganes Consulting | Co-Founder, Taka Insights | Senior Advisor, Asian Coffee…
Timen R. ter Meulen Swijtink
the founder of Collective (which includes the Vietnamese coffee brands Lacàph and BOLD84)…
Ben Lewis
Director of @bluehourcoffee. UK Latte Art Champion 2025 Top 10 World Latte Art
Almut van Casteren
Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at eProd Solutions Limited
Damian Burgess
coffee consultant and trainer
Dr. Francisco Velazquez Escobar
biophysical chemist with deep knowledge of the molecular processes in biological systems…
Alessio Vabres
Owner of Caffetteria Vabres. SCA Trainer and Q-Grader
Sylvia Feransia
Certified Q Arabica Grader | Certified World Barista Championship Sensory Judge |…
Mohamed Yakmour
Hospitality Guru | Café Consultant | Operations Expert
Darveris Rivas
Proffesor in science | Coffee quality consultant| Specialized in Coffee Association
Alejandro Patiño
founder of CacaoShares | coffee producers in Venezuela
Emi Fukahori
co-founder of MAME in Zurich
Pinar Demir
Ted Speaker |MSA Coffee instructor | Coffee Specialist |Trainer Consultant
Patrik Rolf
Founder of april Coffee Roaster| Consultant |Silver Medalist in the 2019 World Brewers Cup
Dr. Erika Koss
Authorized Specialty Coffee Trainer, and a PhD candidate at Saint Mary’s University in…
Jean Heylen
Founder Top of the Crop - Green coffee importer
Dr. Anja Rahn
Food Chemist | Coffee Science Expert | Project Manager | Strategic Innovation
Ricardo Ernesto Cucalon Levy
Ambassador of El Salvador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Dritan Alsela
Dritan Alsela is one of the most recognized baristas and coffee entrepreneurs worldwide.…
Rani Mayasari
Suistainability Coffee Producer, Indonesia Specialty Coffee Exports
David Parnham
Founder of Café Culture China & Delter Coffee Press; FMCG Specialist and Coffee Industry…
Moath Ali
Coffee specialist, certified trainer, competition judge, consultant and business developer
ENG. Abdulrahman Harafi Al-Qerbi
Founder of the Kims Specialty Coffee
Rami Khurmi
Owner & Founder, Al-Baha Roastery
Moataz Al-Turaif
Coffee culture commentator for Rotana Khalijia TV and Al Arabiya FM
Ibrahim Al-Nuwairah
CEO, Aqahi
Daifallah Ahmed Mishni
Founder, Dal Specialty Coffee Roastery
Tobias Hirschi
Sales Manager at Wipf
Nivia Tioe
Co-Founder, Homemade Indonesia Beans
Hamad Ali Salman Al-Mazrouei
Emirati Coffee — certified Arabic coffee trainer and development consultant
Faisal Al-Humaidan — Nahj Roastery
Owner & CEO, Nahj Specialty Coffee Roastery
Rima Alghanim
Owner, Magic Beans Roastery
Mishal Ahmed Al-Shammari
CEO and founder of Ouden Roastery
Abdulaziz Hayth
Business analyst with 15 years in finance; owner of a marketing agency with 10 years in…
Rayan Al-Rushaidan
Heritage and coffee enthusiast
Mohammed Hoteh
CEO, Coffee City Development
Huda Al-Shuwaier
Brand Activation Manager at Saudi Coffee Company
Dr. Budour Alghamdi
Head of the Research, Development, and Innovation Unit
Fahad Al-Saadoun
Member, Restaurant & Café Owners Association
Ali Al-Diwani
SCA Coffee trainer | Coffee consultant | Q grader | Coffee Marketing advisor
Shaheena Rasool
Saudi Business Links
Dr. Wisdom K. Dogbey
Managing Director, CMC Ghana
Prof. William Coffie
Managing Director, Cocoa Processing Company Ghana Ltd
Turki Alsabbar
Co-Founder & CEO, La Vanoise
Fuad Mohammed Abubakar
Managing Head, Ghana Cocoa Marketing Company UK Ltd
Call for speakers
Have something to say to the coffee industry?
We welcome talk and workshop proposals from experts, researchers and practitioners. Submit yours and the programme committee will be in touch.
Want to attend the conference?
Registration includes access to the exhibition