You can find a coffee day for virtually anything if you look hard enough. We did…
Here, we’ll run through the most important coffee days, the most bizarre, and even sprinkle in the vital Ohio coffee dates for the Ohio coffee lovers among you to mark on your calendars as well!
Key Coffee Days This Year
National Gourmet Coffee Day (January 18)
I mean, ‘gourmet coffee’ is pretty much some boomer slang for people who like good coffee, but this is absolutely our wheelhouse! Single-origin and specialty roasts are the order of the day here: treat yo’self!
National Café au Lait Day (February 17)
Simply combine some freshly made coffee in a mug with steamed or hot milk at a 1:1 coffee to milk ratio. For the added French effect, why not brew in a French press?
And no, it’s not a latte! In French culture, the Café au Lait is traditionally served in a wide, shallow bowl so that you can wrap your hands around it and easily dip a croissant or pastry inside. Now I’m hungry…
National Caffeine Awareness Month (March)
This is a great month to support roasters who ethically source beans and have direct trade arrangements with coffee farms.
A great example of this is Grounds for Thought, a Bowling Green roaster who we partner with at Ohio Coffee Club. They’re featured on our list of Toledo area coffee roasters.
Flat White Day (March 11)
The flat white has gained popularity steadily over the years, and this day is celebrated because the term “flat white” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary on March 11, 2011; Google even featured a doodle for it.
Cold Brew Day (April 20)
Winter is coming to an end, and there’s no way to look ahead to sunnier times than with the first cold brew of the year. Of course, you can have a cold brew whenever you want, but the designated day for the summer drink to return is April 20.
National Home Brew Day (May 2)
Traditionally held on the first Saturday in May, this day encourages us to be adventurous and try and find the perfect pour at home. We say go for it, and with many roasters delivering fresh beans now, you can get fresh quality coffee without leaving the house with services like our own Ohio coffee subscription.
Cleveland’s Gay Latte Art Showdown (June)
This has become a staple of the Cleveland coffee scene, and will be held this year on Saturday June 20.
Organized by Phoenix Coffee, the competition is light-hearted and fun but proceeds go to supporting a local LGBTQ charity, and the gay baristas around town compete to see who has the best latte art; an awesome Ohio coffee event!
Coffee Milkshake Day (July 26)
Not an affogato day, no, this is the official ‘milkshake and coffee’ day. This is the chance to pair a great local Ohio roast with a shake from ice-cream brand staples around the state such as Mitchell’s or Jeni’s!
For inspiration, check out @adriaccopa and his Instagram feed for dessert and sweet-themed coffees.
National Coffee Month (August)
Coffee is so great somebody decided to give it a whole month! With fall just around the corner, a lot of roasters are already looking to experiment with seasonal blends around this time.
Coffee Ice Cream Day (September 6)
Affogato lovers, rejoice! This is a day where it’s acceptable (as per the calendar) to pour espresso over your ice cream all day long.
Why not even have one for breakfast? Coffee and ice cream are essentially my two favorite food groups, so you know I will!
National Coffee Day (September 29)
This is the big one! Expect to see many local coffee shops doing promos, specials etc. for this day only. America has become a nation fueled by coffee, and you can be sure National Coffee Day will be recognized by many.
International Coffee Day (October 1)
Fall kicks off with the global day of coffee. This could be a great time to try a new drink, such as a Spanish latte, or a Vietnamese iced coffee (both are rather sweet!)
Columbus Coffee Festival (First Week of October)
This event was first launched in 2016 by Columbus Underground, an arts-centric publication in capitol city. It’s completely blossomed into Ohio’s biggest coffee event, drawing crowds of over 9,000 annually and connecting Columbus coffee roasters with fans from central Ohio and beyond.
Attendees will receive a commemorative mug to use for sampling from the coffee and tea vendors on-site, and the 11th edition of the storied festival returns October 3rd and 4th 2026 at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard.
If you can’t make it out, why not try our subscription that gives you access to the best roasters statewide, with a new roaster every month!
Turkish Coffee Day (December 5)
A lot of people rave about the strength of Turkish coffee, so now would be the perfect time to sample it!
