International Coffee Day2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/80/248
About International Coffee Day
International Coffee Day is observed on 1 October. It began as an International Coffee Organization initiative intended to create one coordinated worldwide day for the coffee sector and the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on it.
The observance can cover farmers, workers, trade, processing, culture, consumption and sustainability. Claims about prices, farmer income, production or environmental impact should use current evidence because coffee markets and growing conditions change substantially over time.
Why International Coffee Day matters
Coffee is both a widely consumed beverage and a major traded agricultural commodity. International Coffee Day provides a practical way to connect everyday consumption with the people, institutions and supply chains behind it.
A useful observance distinguishes celebration from evidence. Sustainability, living-income, climate and labour claims should identify the geography, period and source rather than presenting one campaign message as universally true.
History of International Coffee Day
ICO records show that the idea of an international coffee day was proposed in 2013. At its 112th session in March 2014, the International Coffee Council agreed that the first International Coffee Day would take place on 1 October 2015 during its Milan session and the Global Coffee Forum.
The first official International Coffee Day was launched on 1 October 2015 in Milan. The ICO has continued to coordinate the annual observance.
The institutional chain later widened: the FAO Conference adopted Resolution 6/2025 on International Coffee Day, and on 10 March 2026 the UN General Assembly adopted A/RES/80/248, proclaiming 1 October as International Coffee Day at UN level.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Holger Preibisch of the German Coffee Association
An ICO Private Sector Consultative Board report records the Board’s recognition that Holger Preibisch first proposed the idea of creating an international coffee day in March 2013.
International Coffee Council of the International Coffee Organization
ICC-112-16, Item 11 — International Coffee Day
First documented observance
ICO records describe 1 October 2015 in Milan as the first official International Coffee Day.
Added formal FAO Conference recognition of International Coffee Day before General Assembly action.
Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations · FAO Conference Resolution 6/2025 — International Coffee Day
Proclaimed 1 October as International Coffee Day at United Nations General Assembly level while the ICO observance already existed.
United Nations General Assembly · A/RES/80/248
International Coffee Organization
The ICO continues to maintain and coordinate International Coffee Day and its official campaign site.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
Later institutional actions
Later recognition, renaming, mergers or date changes are kept separate from original establishment.
How to Observe International Coffee Day
Trace one coffee product from origin to roasting or retail and identify which claims are documented versus marketing language.
Use current ICO, FAO or national data when discussing production, prices, exports or farmer livelihoods.
Compare coffee-growing regions without treating one production system, certification or environmental practice as representative of the entire sector.
Support transparent initiatives that clearly state how funds or premiums reach producers and workers.
International Coffee Day Facts
The documented calendar date for International Coffee Day is 1 October.
The International Coffee Council agreed in March 2014 that the first coordinated International Coffee Day would take place on 1 October 2015.
ICO material credits Holger Preibisch of the German Coffee Association with first proposing the idea in March 2013.
FAO adopted Resolution 6/2025 concerning International Coffee Day.
The UN General Assembly later adopted A/RES/80/248 on 10 March 2026.
International Coffee Day Messages
Happy International Coffee Day! May International Coffee Day be an invitation to enjoy food thoughtfully and credit the people and traditions behind it.
Celebrate International Coffee Day by learning the story behind the food, sharing it thoughtfully and giving credit to the traditions that shaped it.
May International Coffee Day bring good conversation, responsible enjoyment and a deeper appreciation of culinary culture.
Wishing everyone marking International Coffee Day a thoughtful, enjoyable and delicious observance.
International Coffee Day Quotes
“Coffee is a product of many hands and many hearts.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
International Coffee Organization — ICC-112-16 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/80/248 (opens in a new tab)
International Coffee Organization — first official International Coffee Day (opens in a new tab)
International Coffee Organization — International Coffee Day (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
FAO Conference Resolution 6/2025 is recorded in the preambular history of A/RES/80/248.
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Coffee Day?
1 October The documented recurrence rule is: 1 October.
Does International Coffee Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Coffee Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Coffee Day?
The reviewed sources identify International Coffee Council of the International Coffee Organization as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Holger Preibisch of the German Coffee Association. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as International Coffee Organization.
Is International Coffee Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Who originally established International Coffee Day?
The coordinated observance originated through the International Coffee Organization. The International Coffee Council agreed in March 2014 that the first International Coffee Day would be held on 1 October 2015.
Did the United Nations create International Coffee Day in 2026?
No. The ICO observance had existed since 2015. A/RES/80/248 added later United Nations General Assembly recognition in 2026.
Why is International Coffee Day on 1 October?
ICO records show that 1 October received the most nominations from members when the Council considered a common date, and it was selected for the first 2015 observance during the Council session and Global Coffee Forum in Milan.
Other observances on October 1
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