Café Owners Education Series -

Café Owners Education Series

The Café Owners Education Series is a conference program aiming to support café owners in running better businesses, with practical advice on efficiency, marketing, profitability, and sustainability all to feature as part of the sessions.

The Café Series will take place across the three-day show.

Access to the Café Owners Education Series is included in the CCE ticket.

2026 SCHEDULE

Day 1 Wednesday, 16th December 2026

Day 3 Friday, 18th December 2026 - Schedule Coming Soon!

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Day 2 Thursday, 17th December 2026

10:00 - 10:45 AM

The Real Cost of a Café Owner’s Dream

What does it take to start a café from scratch? A practical breakdown of the true costs of opening a café, from leases and fit outs to staffing and working capital, designed to help new operators avoid expensive early mistakes.

11:00 - 11:45 AM

Surviving Year One of Café Operation

How not to fail in your first year of business. Discover the most dangerous phase of café ownership unpacked, exploring risk versus reward, common mistakes, and what operators must prioritise to survive the first 12 months.

12:00 - 12:45 PM

The $7 Flat White Dilemma

How can cafés stay profitable without losing customers? A practical guide to pricing coffee in a high cost environment while protecting margins, customer trust and perceived value. This session will break down the financial levers that actually drive profitability and prove why being profitable isn’t an accident.

1:00 - 1:45 PM

Meet the Producers

Hear from international producers about the reality of life on the farm, the obstacles, the opportunities and how café operators can embrace meaningful provenance stories with their customers.

2:00 - 2:45 PM

Drinks that Break the Internet

From cold foam and pistachio milk to coffee mocktails, learn how to create viral beverages that also make commercial sense, and discover how the addition of a signature Drinks Menus can be a profitable addition.

3:00 - 3:45 PM

The Coffee Pricing Conundrum

What do green bean prices really mean for café owners? Explore the impact of climate change, sourcing decisions, and whether the industry is any closer to closing the coffee value gap. What’s more, discover how to educate your customers on the price per cup.

4:00 - 4:45 PM

Sustainability that Actually Pays Off

What does sustainability really mean for cafés today? Explore how operators can implement environmentally responsible practices (packaging, waste reduction, energy, sourcing) without eroding margins, and where sustainability can actively drive customer loyalty and revenue.