1 October is now officially International Coffee Day, after the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming it. The push came from the FAO, whose Conference at its 44th session in 2025 forwarded the proposal to New York. The text highlights coffee's economic, social and cultural weight and its role in food security.
According to the FAO, roughly 25 million farmers rely on coffee, and for some producing countries it dominates trade — in Ethiopia it accounts for close to 28% of all merchandise exports. In Geneva, the FAO Liaison Office and the Permanent Missions of Indonesia, Rwanda and Türkiye are hosting an inaugural celebration at the Palais des Nations on 1 October, themed around honouring the people behind every cup.
Our shop is devoted entirely to tea, but UN recognition for coffee is welcome news for every farmer-grown beverage crop. Tea, for its part, already has its own international day on 21 May.
Source: FAO