A 'coffee run' meant stepping out to grab a few cappuccinos for the office. Now it's about lacing up your running shoes and ending up at your coffee bar. So what's the deal with coffee and running and running coffee raves. And why are they such a perfect match?
Run for it
Across the world, cafés have become the meeting point for a new generation of runners. Weekly run clubs are booming, community rides start and end at coffee bars and the post-workout flat white has become just as important as the kilometers themselves.
Is it really about fitness, or is it about belonging? We're guessing both.
Why coffee and running work so well together
Running has become increasingly social. People aren't just chasing bests anymore, they're looking for community away from online platforms. Coffee run clubs offer an easy way to meet people. Same goes for cycling, where weekend rides often revolve around a café stop.
Coffee bars naturally fit into that picture. In fact, caffeine has long been used by endurance athletes to improve alertness and perceived performance. Today, coffee bars are where communities gather and friendships are built. Some have even dubbed them as the new dating apps.
A movement bigger than the finish line
That community spirit comes to life at every World of Coffee.
The World of Coffee Runners, co-founded by Andrew Tolley, bring together coffee professionals from around the globe before the WOC show floor opens. Baristas, roasters, café owners, manufacturers and coffee enthusiasts all swap business shoes for running shoes and start the day together.
But the run also has a purpose beyond networking.
Each edition raises money for charity, proving that the coffee community can make a positive impact beyond the café itself.
"We started with a simple idea: bring people together before the show. The fact that it now helps raise money for good causes while connecting the global coffee community is something we're incredibly proud of." - Andrew Tolley, co-founder of World of Coffee Runners
Invest in girls through running
The Girls Gotta Run Foundation is a non-profit organization investing in girls who use running and eduction to empower themselves and their communities, envisioning a world in which every girl is able to design a future of her choosing - supported by WOC Runners.
Make a donation
Run your coffee socks off at the next World of Coffee
If you want to have a run at the next World of Coffee Exhibition, follow WOC-Runners on Instagram of keep your eye on the Moose channels. You might just get a limited edition pair of Perfect Moose running socks - a small thank you to a community that's always willing to go the extra mile.
