The United Nations General Assembly has formally designated October 1 as International Coffee Day, following a resolution passed on March 10, 2026. The measure, which aims to raise awareness of coffee's global economic, social, and environmental impact, was adopted with 150 countries in favor. The United States was the only member nation to vote against the resolution.
Resolution 80/248 links the coffee sector to the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, emphasizing its contributions to combating poverty and hunger, empowering women, and promoting sustainable production. It calls on governments and international organizations to observe the day and promote activities that support all participants in the value chain, particularly smallholder farmers. Canada was the sole country to abstain from the vote.
While the UN's recognition is new, the October 1 date has been observed as International Coffee Day by the industry since 2015, following an initiative by the International Coffee Organization (ICO). The US vote appears to reflect a wider political stance rather than a position on coffee itself, as the country also opposed other similar resolutions on the same day. This follows a pattern of disengagement from international bodies, including the US withdrawal from the ICO in 2018.