Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the previous week.

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

Mon, 30 Oct

• UAE, Cypriot, Korean, Brazilian, Taiwanese, and Japanese 2023 AeroPress Champions crowned. Alex Bernardo, Angela Loizia, Gunwoo Go, Marcelo Silva, Guo Tingyong, and Shintaro Mitsugami won their respective national championships. All six will go on to compete at the 2023 World AeroPress Championship in Melbourne, Australia from 1 to 3 December.

• Dubai Multi Commodities Centre concludes Made for Trade Live roadshow in Colombia. Colombia represents a key strategic market for the DMCC as it aims to triple bilateral trade between the two countries with a new UAE-Colombia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The agreement will focus on commodities like coffee, cocoa, and emeralds.

• Exhibitor applications open for World of Coffee Copenhagen 2024. The SCA is calling on prospective exhibitors to apply for the three-day event, set to take place at the Bella Centre in Copenhagen, Denmark from 27 to 29 June 2024.

• World of Coffee Dubai 2024 promises to highlight the sustainable coffee movement. The event is scheduled to take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 21 to 23 January 2024 and will feature the latest innovations, sustainable practices, and solutions in coffee cultivation, production, and distribution.

• Podback says over one million UK households have access to its kerbside recycling scheme. The coffee capsule recycling company says 1,078,600 households in sixteen local authorities in the UK can now dispose of their aluminium and plastic coffee pods alongside other household waste and recycling in kerbside recycling.

• Uganda coffee exports grew by 12.8% year-on-year in September. The country’s state coffee regulator says good harvests in some areas boosted exports, reaching a total of 577,073 60-kilogramme bags of green coffee.

• Coffee Fellows will serve Oatly Barista at 275 locations across Germany, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg ,and the Netherlands. Oatly says that Coffee Fellows customers will be able to select the milk alternative at no extra charge. The café chain aims to double oat milk sales by the end of 2024.

• Ecotone opens US $10.6 million organic coffee and tea factory in Cestas, France. The company says the new La Caféière facility is the largest 100% organic coffee and tea factory in Europe, adding that the factory’s roasting smoke burner cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 30% compared with traditional methods.

Tue, 31 Oct

• High Density 2023 announces final speakers lineup. The third edition of the online event takes place on 16 November, featuring discussions around game-changing ideas in specialty coffee. Speakers include Morgan Eckroth of Onyx Coffee Roasters, Mario Fernández of the SCA, Karl Wienhold of the University of Lisbon, and Verônica Belchior of the Federal University of Minas Gereis.

• This year’s Cup of Excellence Brazil competition held using new processing method category format. Three coffees from Ipanema Agrícola S/A at Fazenda Rio Verde in Mantiniqueira de Minas topped the Wet, Experimental, and Dry categories: its pulped natural Geisha received 92.15 points, its anaerobic fermented Geisha received 91.32 points, and its natural Geisha received 91.38 points. All lots will be auctioned on 6 December 2023.

• Team Sip ‘n Smile Squad wins The Barista League Madrid 2023. Kaspar Grossfeldt and Georg Lepik out-competed 11 other teams to secure their place at the next Mystery Coffee Vacation. Guest judges included Dara Santana of Dart Caffeine and Lance Hendrick of Onyx Coffee Lab.

• Drinking coffee may reduce the rate of kidney deterioration. New research from Wageningen University suggests that with each cup of coffee – up to a maximum of four – the rate of kidney deterioration may reduce significantly, especially among people with chronic diabetes.

• Chinese coffee brands are looking abroad to meet rising local demand. Speaking to Yicai Global, a green coffee trader said that Chinese coffee consumers are looking for more differentiated flavours and higher quality. As a result, Chinese coffee brands are increasingly looking to import from other producing countries.

• A&E Coffee and Tea rebrands as Rare Breed. The US specialty coffee roaster says it aims to make specialty coffee more approachable and fun without compromising on quality.

• US Department of Labor finds Kentucky’s Wiltshire Pantry guilty of illegally pooling worker tips. The department has recovered US $72,564 from the company, ruling that operators of three café locations allowed managers to take a portion of servers’ tips – a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Wed, 1 Nov

• Simonelli Group to host SCA Educator Summit Italy on 7 & 8 November in Belforte del Chienti. The second edition of the two-day conference aims to enrich coffee educators’ knowledge with new research, advanced insights in the SCA’s new Coffee Value Assessment, and teaching strategies and techniques.

• Brazil’s The Coffee raises US $10 million for international expansion in latest investment round. The Curitiba company says the funds will be used to fuel expansion in Europe, South America, and the Middle East, adding to its 200 stores in Brazil and 18 across France, Spain, and Portugal.

• Sancoffee Best SanCup 2023 auction scheduled for 22 November. The coffee quality competition features 15 of Brazil’s best lots from this year’s harvest. Final rankings will be announced on 6 November, with the auction set to take place on 22 November.

• Early bird registration for 2024 NCA Convention available until 15 November. The annual convention is scheduled to take place from 7 to 9 March 2024 in Nashville, USA. NCA members are eligible for an additional US $450 on top of the early bird discount.

• GoFundBean launches 2023 coffee industry wage survey. The annual survey assesses how wages are changing in the industry, aiming to find and help address pay disparities and help workers early in their career see how others before them have moved forward.

• SCA Germany, UK, and Ukraine announce new Chapter Committee members. The regional associations have elected four, one, and two new committee members, respectively:
  • SCA Germany:
  • Community Coordinator: Vivian Paul 
  • Education Coordinator: Fey Chen 
  • Judges Coordinator: Stefanie Heidemann
  • Marketing Coordinator: Sven Konopka 
  • SCA UK:
  • Education Coordinator: Edita Chodarcevic
  • SCA Ukraine:
  • Judges Coordinator: Volodymyr Yefremov 
  • Marketing Coordinator: Vitalli Petriv

• Costa Rica more than doubled its coffee exports in October. Reuters reports that Costa Rican coffee exports increased by nearly 120% year-on-year in October. Total exports for the season are expected to reach 1.465 million 60kg bags of green coffee.

• Scooter’s Coffee appoints Joe Thornton as next CEO. Thornton will guide the US drive-through coffee chain through its ongoing franchise expansion strategy. He replaces Todd Graeve, who has served as CEO since 2016.

• eCargo secures distribution contract with Nestlé for Chinese market. The supply chain solutions provider has been appointed Nestlé’s cross-border master distributor for China for its coffee and dairy range. It will provide supply chain, distribution, ecommerce, and digital marketing solutions.

Thu, 2 Nov

• Onyx Coffee Lab hosts 2023 US AeroPress Championship in Brentonville, Arkansas. The competition took place on 2 & 3 November, featuring 29 competitors from across the US. The winner will go on to represent their country at the 2023 World AeroPress Championship from 1 to 3 December in Melbourne, Australia.

• Paris Baguette opens 500th store outside of South Korea. The café chain recently opened its 500th international store at Changi Airport in Singapore. It now aims to open a further 50 international stores by the end of 2023.

• Kiss the Hippo to open new café in Chelsea, London on 4 November. The specialty coffee roaster will offer complementary coffee to the first 100 customers at the store.

• Rokit Health launches functional coffee capsules at Waitrose UK stores. The company says it’s committed to helping consumers make better choices with its range of nutrient-enriched coffee capsules. The range comprises Mind Boost, Immunity Boost, and Energy Uplift.

• Balzac Brothers to host “Understanding Tastes & Flavours” class at Charleston, US lab on 1 December. The class will feature a hands-on learning experience that covers the fundamental sensory elements of taste, aroma, and mouthfeel. It will also introduce learners to sensory analysis tools and CQI standards.

• WatchHouse to open first US café in December. The UK specialty coffee roaster will open a store in 5th Avenue, New York City in early December, followed by a second US café in February 2024. It currently operates 15 cafés in the UK.

• Expocacer becomes first coffee cooperative to achieve Control Union regenerative agriculture certification. The Cerrado Coffee Growers Cooperative says the audit was conducted by Regenagri, with certification awarded by Control Union. The label verifies the origin and quality of coffee produced using regenerative practices.

• Luckin Coffee opened 2,437 net new stores in Q3 of 2023. The Chinese coffee chain says the openings included 11 new stores in Singapore, adding that it earned US $986.8 million during the same period – an increase of 84.9% year-on-year.

• Kenyan government increases advanced payment prices for coffee by 400%. The government has released an additional US $26,516 million into the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund, increasing advanced payment prices to US 53c/kg.

• Starbucks reports record-breaking full year revenue results. The company says global comparable store sales increased by 8% in 2023, driving net revenues to a record total of US $36 billion.

• Keurig Dr Pepper announces executive leadership team appointments. The company has appointed five new members of its executive leadership team: Andrew Archambault (President, US Refreshment Beverages), Patrick Minogue (President, US Coffee), Sudhanshu Priyadarshi (CFO & President, International), Monique Oxender (Chief Corporate Affairs Officer), and Mauricio Leyva (Group President).

• U3 Coffee introduces the first coffee ecosystem connecting farmers, entrepreneurs, and consumers. The startup says its content platform, online marketplace, and charitable arm connect coffee farmers and cooperatives with brokers, roasters, retailers, and consumers.

• Arabica prices fall sharply despite record low ICE certified stocks. Following price hikes on Tuesday, the main arabica contract for December delivery fell by 4.48%. Reuters reported that arabica stocks totalled 380,033 60kg bags of green coffee as of 1 November – a 24-year-low – suggesting that there’s no financial incentive for traders to deliver coffee by the expiration of arabica futures at ICE KCc1 and KCc2.

Fri, 3 Nov

• Proud Mary Coffee and Onyx Coffee Lab team up on The Duet Blend. The two roasters have collaborated on the blend, which features Colombian producer Pedro Echavarria’s honey processed Chiroso variety and Honduras producer Javier Fernandez’s Parainema natural. Tasting notes include plum, 60% dark chocolate, and hibiscus.

• Exhibitors encouraged to apply for Specialty Coffee Expo 2024. Next year’s Specialty Coffee Association showpiece will take place in Chicago, USA from 12 to 14 April. Organisers are calling on prospective exhibitors to reserve their booths now.

• Sintercafé International Coffee Week to return from 8 to 10 November in San José, Costa Rica. The annual event will be held at the Hotel Real Intercontinental, featuring more than 500 participants and sponsors including StoneX, ECOM, Toddy, and Mayorga Coffee.

• Brazil International Coffee Week 2023 scheduled for 8 to 10 November in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The annual celebration of Brazilian coffee is set to feature exhibitions, lectures, workshops, coffee tastings, and the 2023 Brazilian Barista Championship. It will be held at Expominas in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais.

• Jakarta Coffee Week 2023 takes place at the Indonesia Convention Centre. The event takes place from 3 to 5 November, featuring a celebration a of Indonesia’s rich coffee history and booming coffee culture. Exhibitors include Curate Coffee Roasters, Nucleus Coffee Tools, and Sucafina Specialty.

• Mexican AeroPress Championship takes place in Mexico City on 4 November. The national competition is hosted by Quentin Café at Casa Versailles in Mexico City. The winner will go on to represent Mexico at the 2023 World AeroPress Championship from 1 to 3 December in Melbourne, Australia.

• Coffee Circle Foundation calls for applications for Coffee Vision Fund I producer empowerment initiative. The US $528,000 fund aims to support coffee producing communities through education, sustainable cultivation, fair supply chains, and the introduction of climate-resistant coffee plants. The deadline for applications is 18 December 2023.

• More than 9,000 people attended the 2023 New York Coffee Festival. Organisers say the festival hosted more than 80 exhibitors and sponsors, adding that it was another successful return for New York’s premier coffee event. Reef Bessette of The Coffee Movement won this year’s Coffee Masters NYC competition.

• BRITA Grounds of Innovation Awards recognises 10 most innovative coffee shops in the UK. Ranked from first to tenth, the coffee shops are: Skinny Dip (Margate), Qima (London), Baffle Haus (Pontypool), Batch Baby (London), Effy Stores (Nottingham), Formative (London), Fika (Norwich), Lowdown (Edinburgh), Carbon Kopi (London), and Souli (London).

Here are a few coffee news stories from previous weeks that you might find interesting. Take a look.

• Tue, 24 Oct – Brazil International Coffee Week announces Coffee of the Year 2023 finalists. A total of 180 finalists will compete in business rounds and cupping sessions during the event, giving producers and green coffee buyers an opportunity to connect. This year’s champions will be announced on 10 November.

• Wed, 25 Oct – Royal Coffee releases arabica coffee genetic history infographic. The green coffee trader says the downloadable print tells the story of coffee’s journey from an Ethiopian heirloom to a globally-cultivated crop, including information on over 60 arabica cultivars.

• Thu, 26 Oct – Ninety Plus and Hiroia collaborate on coffee range for Hikaru V60 Smart Brewer. Ninety Plus will soon launch a range of coffee beans and packs curated for the brewer, promising “unparalleled quality and flavour profile” for specialty coffee consumers.

• Fri, 27 Oct – Toby’s Estate launches specialty coffee mobile app in Kuwait. The app enables customers to pre-order food and drinks, earn loyalty points, and make contactless payments. The company plans to launch the app in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar in coming months.

• Fri, 27 Oct – Pret A Manger partners with PM Nord to accelerate expansion in Germany. The UK café chain will open five new locations in downtown Berlin by the end of 2023, replacing several CARAS stores.

• Fri, 27 Oct – Shanghai History Museum hosts second annual coffee carnival. The event took place from 27 to 29 October, featuring 36 exhibitors and a coffee and urban lifestyle marketplace.

• Fri, 27 Oct – Small Batch Coffee Roasters wins gold at Great British Food Awards 2023. The UK roaster, which recently unveiled a new brand identity, received a gold award in the coffee category for its Goldstone Espresso blend.

• Fri, 27 Oct – Bryce Lehmann wins 2023 South Australian AeroPress Championship. Lehmann will go on to compete at the 2023 Australian AeroPress Championship in Melbourne on 1 December.

• Sat, 28 Oct – Research suggests adding sugar to coffee or tea may not pose additional health risks to a significant extend. Researchers in Denmark and the Netherlands analysed data from a longitudinal study and found that men who added sugar to coffee or tea are not at an increased risk of all-cause mortality, diabetes, or deaths attributed to cancer or heart disease.

Coffee news photo credits: World Coffee Events

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