On 30th June we hosted the ninth edition of Full Circle, bringing producers, suppliers, roasters and industry partners together in one room to hear talks, cup coffees, share ideas and, most importantly, talk to each other. Over the years, Full Circle has become one of the highlights of the DRWakefield calendar and this year featured contributions from returning speakers from the British Coffee Association, Kew Gardens, and Racafé. In addition, we had Harley and Raxidi Estates from India, SMC from Brazil, and DRWakefield’s own Henry Clifford also give some great talks.
When Full Circle first began, the objective was simple: create an opportunity for producers and roasters to learn directly from one another. As coffee continues to evolve, so too has the event. What started as a producer-focused educational forum has grown into a broader supply chain conversation, connecting producers, exporters, importers, roasters and industry specialists around the issues shaping coffee’s future.
Full Circle has welcomed speakers from organisations including the International Coffee Organization, the Specialty Coffee Association, Swiss Water Decaf, Lallemand, Fairtrade, The Soil Association, The Food People and Café Femenino, alongside producer partners from Rwanda, Colombia, El Salvador, Brazil, Peru, Indonesia and other origins. Each has brought a different perspective on coffee, whether discussing new species and varieties, processing innovation, quality assessment, sustainability, carbon impacts, regulation or changing consumer expectations.
Coffee never stands still. Every year presents a new set of challenges and opportunities, and Full Circle provides a space to explore them openly. Through presentations, tastings and discussion, attendees can examine topics from multiple angles which balance agronomic realities at origin with commercial pressures in consuming markets. The result is a conversation that extends beyond coffee quality alone to encompass resilience, innovation, sustainability and long-term value creation across the supply chain.
What has remained constant throughout all eight years is the belief that stronger relationships lead to better outcomes for everyone involved in coffee. In an industry that spans continents, Full Circle offers a rare opportunity to bring those different perspectives together in one room. Whether discussing the future of coffee production, emerging market trends or the practical challenges facing businesses today, the event continues to demonstrate the value of learning from one another and maintaining an open dialogue across the supply chain.
Thank you to all of our speakers, attendees and partners who helped make this year’s event another memorable chapter in the Full Circle story. We are already looking forward to continuing the conversations!
