The First-Ever Camp Coffee Shop will take place in Napa, Calif., in August, and you’re invited!
BY KENNETH R. OLSON
BARISTA MAGAZINE
Coffee pros, café owners, and aspiring operators—your summer just got a major upgrade. Camp Coffee Shop, the first-of-its-kind business retreat with a full-blown summer camp twist, opens registration February 25, 2026. From August 10–13, a sprawling 300-acre Napa Valley property becomes a playground for serious café operators who want to build smarter, stronger, and more sustainable businesses, without sacrificing fun.
Early bird pricing runs through April 30 (register here), and with fewer than 150 spots, this isn’t your average coffee conference. Think hands-on workshops, peer-to-peer connections, and more time solving real problems than walking endless trade show aisles.
“In more than 20 years of publishing Barista Magazine, I’ve always dreamed of creating an event that brings our community together in person,” says Sarah Allen, co-organizer of Camp Coffee Shop. “Camp Coffee Shop pairs serious, practical education with the kind of shared experiences and joy that make summer camp unforgettable.”
This year’s lineup includes keynotes from two of specialty coffee’s brightest minds: Andrea Allen, co-owner of Onyx Coffee Lab in Arkansas, known for pushing the boundaries of café design and operational excellence; and Ian Williams, owner of Deadstock Coffee in Oregon, celebrated for blending culture, community, and sustainability into thriving coffee spaces. Their sessions will offer insights from real-world experience, showing how bold ideas and smart systems combine to build cafés that last.
With such a small cohort, every attendee gets access to instructors and peers like never before. “Instead of rushing between crowded booths and packed lectures, participants work directly on their own business challenges,” Sarah says. “It’s hands-on, intimate, and designed so every person leaves with a clear plan and a strong network, not just a tote bag full of samples.”
The curriculum blends practical and fun. From plant-milk latte art demos to profit planning, staffing structures, workflow design, menu strategy, drink development, and long-term growth, Camp Coffee Shop provides educational opportunities for coffee professionals at every level of their career. Attendees leave with new coffee skills, ready-to-use financial templates, workflow frameworks, and action plans they can implement the minute they return home.
“Camp Coffee Shop teaches you how to build a better business,” Sarah says. “We cover the unglamorous but critical parts of running a café: financial systems, staffing, workflow, and sustainability. Nail these, and your business can thrive.”
And yes, it is a summer camp too, so there’s plenty of fun. The Enchanted Hills retreat, where Camp Coffee Shop will be held, is a remarkable setting. In fact, the property has just under gone a complete transformation after a wildfire. It’s a natural wonderland: 300+ acres of trails, poolside hangs, arts and crafts, curated evening activities, and moments to connect outside the classroom, where some of the best ideas are born.
“Camp Coffee Shop is serious about business, but it’s also genuinely fun,” Sarah says. “The shared experiences—the hikes, the poolside chats, the evening activities—are where real connections happen, and new ideas are born.”
Whether you’re running a neighborhood café, launching your first shop, or managing multiple locations, Camp Coffee Shop delivers concentrated, practical business education with a side of summer camp magic. Personalized guidance, small group sessions, and a community ready to swap stories, share insights, and cheer you on make it a must-attend event.
Space is limited, so early registration is strongly encouraged. For coffee professionals who want to build sustainable, systems-driven cafés—and have some serious fun while doing it—Camp Coffee Shop in Napa this August is where you need to be.
About Camp Coffee Shop
Camp Coffee Shop is a business education program helping café operators build financially sustainable, systems-driven coffee businesses through intensive workshops, practical tools, and a strong peer network. Register here.
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