Here's why you should come to Camp Coffee Shop

The first ever Camp Coffee Shop is Aug. 10-13 in Napa, Calif., and you’re invited!

BY SARAH ALLEN
BARISTA MAGAZINE

While rushing from one meeting to another at World of Coffee (WOC) San Diego in April, I ran into my old friend Jon Lewis of Deeper Roots Coffee in Cincinnati and we talked for three or four minutes. For a show like WOC, that was a win. My experience at that mammoth event is that most spontaneous conversations last about 30 seconds, maybe a minute. It’s part of the reason I’m inevitably exhausted and melancholy after that show every single year. In terms of Barista Magazine’s business, things went well. In terms of connecting with people, it was a bummer.

MANE attendees register at a table full of T-shirts — Attendees of the Mid-Atlantic Northeast Coffee Conference in Providence, R.I. in 2014 register and pick up swag.

I’ve been super lucky over the years in this industry to attend totally different kinds of coffee gatherings, from the Nordic Barista Cup to the MANE Conference, Barista Nation, and Camp Pull-A-Shot. These events—all sadly now defunct—were comparably tiny, with around 100–150 people total. They took place away from everything, in environments intentionally selected to provide attendees with endless opportunities to connect, be it over shared meals, on a stroll back from a workshop, or during unexpected moments: watching a sunset with someone who was a stranger the day before, or pairing with a new friend for a class exercise.

The Danish team at the Nordic Barista Cup poses around an espresso machine. — Events like the Nordic Barista Cup had national teams of baristas learning and competing in a fun and community-focused environment.

The things I learned at these events really stuck with me over the years—because they were taught in small groups? Because we were in nature and not convention centers? Because there was time and space to make real connections?

Yes, yes, and yes. And more.

Heather Perry and Mike Phillips answer questions on a panel at Barista Nation. — At events like Barista Nation, coffee luminaries like Heather Perry of Klatch Coffee an Michael Phillips of Blue Bottle Coffee answered questions on a panel.

In-Person Events Build Relationships

Created and produced by Barista Magazine, Camp Coffee Shop, which takes place August 10–13 in Napa, Calif., is inspired by those smaller intimate events gone by where community is the heart of everything. After Camp Coffee Shop, you will emerge not only energized, empowered, and equipped with skills to succeed, but also with an army of new friends. All of the best friends and business collaborators I’ve met in coffee are relationships I forged in the kind of setting we are building for Camp.

Sarah Dooley teaches a class outdoors at Barista Camp. — Sarah Dooley, now with Breville, teaches a class at the second Camp Pull-A-Shot in California.

Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t miss Camp Coffee Shop’s inaugural event:

Camp will unfold on a magical, 312-acre property in the hills above Napa, Calif., in the woods, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves.
More than 20 respected coffee-business professionals will be your educators, speakers, and, by the end, friends.
Some of the world’s best coffee equipment and suppliers will provide the tools you need to learn and grow.
The intensive curriculum is designed to help you start a coffee business, strengthen an existing one, and grow your coffee career.
More than dozen celebrated coffee sponsors are providing delicious coffees throughout the event for attendees.
But there will also be time to relax with peers, enjoy spontaneous coffee conversations, and take advantage of the pool, lake, hiking trails, lawn bowling, and other camp activities.
Expect arts and crafts, games, and s’mores—plus elevated food, wine, olive oil, fruit, and chocolate experiences designed for coffee professionals.

James Hoffmann and Klaus Thompson at a dinner at the Nordic Barista Cup. — Events like the Nordic Barista Cup inspired coffee professionals like these two World Barista Champions, James Hoffmann and Klaus Thompson.

A Stunning Location for an Epic Event

You’ll fall in love with Enchanted Hills Napa, a beautiful retreat supporting LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The

property features modern cabins, classrooms, and a stunning dining hall above the trees. The vibe is rustic and refined (and so much more luxurious than the creaky, dusty, totally-great-for-kids-but-not-so-much-for-adults summer camps I attended as a kid).

Sarah Allen and Trevor Corlett at Barista Camp in 2010. — The author and Trevor Corlett of MadCap Coffee at the original Barista Camp. Trevor will be an instructor at this year’s Camp Coffee Shop.

The all-inclusive experience includes lodging, meals, classes taught by coffee industry experts, activities, surprises, swag, and an expert staff—all designed to create unmatched opportunities for education and meaningful connection. Learn more at campcoffeeshop.com.

And I’ll see you around the campfire.

This article originally appeared in the June + July 2026 issue of Barista Magazine. Read more of the issue online here for free.