Holiday on August 22, 2026 — Coffee Day in Peru: History and Interesting Facts
August 22 in Peru is dedicated to coffee—one of the country’s most famous products. This day serves as a reminder of the thousands of farming families who grow coffee and helps promote Peruvian coffee beans both domestically and abroad. In Peru, coffee is considered not just a beverage, but an important part of agriculture, the economy, and national culture.
Peruvian Coffee Day is celebrated on August 22. This is the date used in official materials by Peruvian government agencies, including the Peruvian Congress. However, there is an important nuance in the official 2008 resolution: the holiday was subsequently set for the fourth Friday in August, while August 22 was designated as the date for the first celebration in 2008. As a result, both formulations can be found in official sources. Peru’s Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation currently describes Coffee Day as the holiday observed on the fourth Friday of August, while Congress and some government agencies explicitly refer to August 22 as Peruvian Coffee Day.
For a calendar of commemorative and holiday dates, August 22 can be used as the date for Peruvian Coffee Day, as this is how it is presented by Peruvian government resources. In 2025, for example, Peru’s Ministry of Agricultural Development held events to mark this day on August 22.
How the Holiday Came to Be
The history of the holiday began in 2008. On August 22 of that year, the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture adopted Resolution No. 0732-2008-AG, which officially established Peruvian Coffee Day at the national level. The document explained that this date was chosen to promote coffee and support its producers. The decree also noted that the main coffee harvest in Peru takes place from approximately April through July. That is why it was convenient to hold events dedicated to the product in late August, when the country was already able to showcase the results of the new harvest.
The goal of the holiday was not simply to encourage people to drink a cup of coffee. The government sought to increase domestic consumption of Peruvian coffee, support farmers, and create conditions for the industry’s stable development. In that same year, 2008, coffee was granted another important status. Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism officially recognized coffee as the country’s “flagship product”—that is, a product of particular importance to its image and exports.
Why Coffee Is So Important to Peru
The coffee industry in Peru is of immense importance to rural areas. According to data from Peru’s Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation, coffee is grown by approximately 223,000 families. Plantations cover approximately 427,000 hectares across 16 regions of the country. Among the main coffee-producing regions are Cajamarca, Cusco, San Martín, Junín, Amazonas, Huánuco, and Pasco. These regions account for a significant portion of Peru’s coffee harvest. Coffee trees grow primarily in mountainous areas, where altitude, temperature, soil, precipitation, and the amount of shade all influence the flavor of the beans.
Peru primarily grows Arabica coffee. The country has over 100 coffee varieties, including Caturra, Typica, Bourbon, Catimor, Pache, and Geisha. Due to varying growing conditions, coffee from different regions can differ significantly in aroma, acidity, and flavor. The coffee industry also provides jobs not only for farmers. The industry includes workers who process and roast the beans, professional tasters, baristas, and coffee shop owners. In total, the coffee sector provides direct and indirect employment to over 2 million people.
Peruvian coffee is known far beyond the country’s borders
Peru is a major coffee exporter. In 2024, the country exported over 245,000 metric tons of coffee, worth approximately $1.1 billion. Peruvian coffee is sold in 58 international markets. Among the main buyers are the United States, Germany, Belgium, Canada, and Sweden. For Peruvian farmers, this means that the harvest depends not only on the weather and the condition of the plantations but also on the situation on the global market.
In Peru, special attention is given to high-quality and organic coffee. Some of the crop is grown in forested areas under the natural shade of trees. For example, in the Junín region, coffee is grown by members of the Asháninka and Nomacigena indigenous communities. This method allows them to produce coffee while preserving the forest ecosystem.
How Coffee Day Is Celebrated
On this day, Peru hosts fairs, festivals, tastings, and coffee presentations. Producers bring their own varieties to show customers just how different coffee from various regions of the country can be. One of the well-known events is the “Yo Tomo Café Peruano” festival, which translates to “I Drink Peruvian Coffee.” At such events, you can sample different varieties, chat with producers, and purchase coffee directly from farmers’ cooperatives.
Professional events are also held. These include master classes for baristas, tastings, demonstrations of coffee brewing methods, presentations of new products, and meetings between producers and potential buyers. For example, during festivals in Lima, producers from various regions of the country showcased their products. Such events give small farms the opportunity to directly promote their products and find new customers.
Therefore, the main tradition of the festival is very simple—drink Peruvian coffee and support its producers. For the country, it is both a cultural event and a way to draw attention to an important part of the economy.
Interesting Facts About Peruvian Coffee
Peru grows over 100 varieties of coffee. The most common among them are Caturra, Typica, Bourbon, Catimor, and Pache.
Coffee is grown in 16 regions of the country. The most famous coffee-growing regions are located in the Andes and on the eastern slopes of the mountains, closer to the Amazonian territories.
Coffee is Peru’s main traditional agricultural export. It brings the country significant foreign exchange earnings and supports the incomes of rural families.
Peruvian coffee is exported to dozens of countries. In 2024, exports reached 58 international markets.
In Peru, there is coffee grown right beneath the forest canopy. This method of production helps preserve the forest while also allowing for the production of specialty coffee for both the domestic and international markets.
Coffee Day has an interesting history regarding its date. The decree establishing it was signed on August 22, 2008, but the document specified that the holiday would henceforth be celebrated on the fourth Friday of August. For the first year, a special exception was made—the celebration took place on August 22.
Why This Holiday Is Important
Peruvian Coffee Day actually tells the story of more than just the beverage itself. Behind every cup lies the work of a farmer who grew the coffee tree, harvested the berries, processed the beans, and prepared them for sale. For small farms, coffee is an important source of income. That is why the government uses this holiday to promote domestic consumption and support producers.
In addition, this day helps highlight that Peruvian coffee has its own distinct character. Different regions produce beans with varying flavor profiles, and producers are constantly working to improve quality and expand into new markets. So, August 22 in Peru is an occasion not just to enjoy a cup of coffee, but to remember the people who grow it and the entire industry that is of great importance to the country. And for tourists and coffee lovers, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to discover one of Peru’s most famous products.
