Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

The word of the week is acquisition.

Mon, 18 Dec

• Mill City Roasters launches RoastPATH specialty coffee roasting software. The software aims to offer roasters high level collaboration with peers through exportable roast profiles, real-time “live roast” sharing, greens data, and peer-reviewed forum discussions.

• Ralph’s Coffee opens first permanent café in Paris, France. The Paris store is the fourth international café opened by luxury fashion brand Ralph Lauren. It previously operated a pop-up store at the same location in 2019 and will expand into the UAE in January 2024.

• Third Wave Water launches Low Acid Profile coffee water solution. The manufacturer says the solution reduces acidity by up to 300% and is rich in magnesium for reduced bitterness. Users simply need to add it to distilled or reverse osmosis water and shake.

• Tchibo appoints Erik Hofstädter as new CEO. The German coffee roaster and retailer says Hofstädter has previously held roles Coca-Cola, Red Bull, and Lindt & Sprüngli and will “vigorously drive forward the initiated expansion of the business”.

• National Yemen Coffee Auction scheduled for 11 January 2024. The auction features 17 Yemeni coffee lots from several regions, including an anaerobic fermented Ja’adi produced by Mukhtar Hafaz-Allah Ahmed, which received a score of 91 points. Auction samples are available now.

• Compose Coffee announces K-pop star Kim Taehyung as new brand ambassador. The South Korean coffee chain will launch various promotional media featuring Kim, also known as V, a member of K-pop boyband BTS. Compose Coffee is currently the fourth largest branded coffee chain in the country.

• Natural SL-28 receives 91.70 points at Los Rodriguez Collection Nº2 Private Collection Auction. The coffee, which topped the Exotics category, was produced at the El Fuerte farm in Samaipata, Bolivia. The winner of the Geisha Washed category received 91.20 points, while the winner of the Geisha Natural category received 91.50 points. The auction will take place on 6 February 2024.

Tue, 19 Dec

• Nominations process opens for 2024 SCA Sustainability Awards. The SCA is now welcoming all nominations for the awards, which recognises non-profit organisations that “advance sustainability in the coffee sector while inspiring others to design and initiate similar endeavours innovations”.

• Starbucks CEO says people boycotting the company over Gaza genocide have been “influenced by misrepresentation”. In a letter to employees, CEO Laxman Narasimhan said that people protesting against the company’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war have been “influenced by misrepresentation on social media” as it continues to face pressure from boycotts.

• Importers are turning away from African coffee as EU prepares to implement deforestation laws. Reuters reports that coffee importers in the EU are already scaling back purchases from African farmers, citing the cost and difficulty of complying with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

• Metric and We Will Destroy You collaborate on Artists Series limited coffee release. The series aims to “bridge the gap” between music and coffee, featuring collaborations with several artists. The first release is a washed El Rojo Geisha from northern Peru.

• Report concludes climate change is making coffee more bitter and expensive. According to Bloomberg, increasingly erratic weather is leading to more demand for robusta coffee. However, research warns that the world could lose nearly half of its robusta production capabilities by 2040.

• Cotti Coffee expands into Thailand and Malaysia. The Chinese coffee chain has opened stores in Bangkok, Thailand and Johor Bahru, Malaysia, marking its seventh and eights markets outside of China, respectively.

• SCA announces new Spain Chapter and Portugal Chapter coordinators. The SCA has announced the newly-elected members of both committees:
  • Spain:
    • National Coordinator: Ricardo Oteros
    • Community Coordinator: Claudia Sans Witty
    • Education Coordinator: Maria Jose Garcia Martinez
    • Judges Coordinator: Marcos Zoya
    • Marketing & Communications Coordinator: Pablo Caballero Agudo
    • Events Coordinator: Sandra Lahuerta
  • Portugal:
    • National Coordinator: Sofia Ferraz
    • Community Coordinator: Paulo Assuncao
    • Education Coordinator: Felipe Orioli
    • Judges Coordinator: Manuel Tiago Pereira
    • Marketing & Communications Coordinator: Shannon Lawn
    • Events Coordinator: Elizaveta Maximova

• Lavazza and Paris Baguette launch new signature coffee blend. The Paris Baguette Blend is the chain’s first-ever packaged coffee available for in-café purchase. The company describes the blend as robust and full-bodied with sweet, chocolatey undertones.

Wed, 20 Dec

• Ricardo Pereira steps down as Ally Coffee chief operating officer. Pereira has spent 11 years at Ally Coffee, leading growth across sourcing, sales, marketing, quality control, and education. The company thanked him for his “immense contributions” to making Ally a global leader in specialty coffee.

• Submissions open for World of Coffee Copenhagen 2024 lecture and workshop proposals. World of Coffee is calling on prospective presenters to submit their proposals for lectures and workshops at World of Coffee Copenhagen 2024. The deadline is 24 January.

• Labour coalition hopes to “reset” Starbucks’ relationship with its employees. The Strategic Organizing Center, a shareholder of Starbucks, says it will only be able to judge Starbucks’ commitment to improving employee relations “based on what the current Board does, not what it says”. The coalition has nominated three candidates to the Starbucks board of directors.

• Thai company allegedly claims US $2.86 billion in compensation from Luckin Coffee. Following the Chinese chain’s failed lawsuit against 50R Group, the Thai operator of Luckin outlets has reportedly claimed US $2.86 billion in financial losses from Luckin Coffee. Luckin notes that the claim has yet to be verified.

• Saudi Ministry of Culture approves grants for 20 coffee research projects. The initiative will fund projects from Saudi Arabia and abroad, aiming to encourage research that focuses on Saudi coffee’s role in the country’s cultural heritage.

• Ugandan coffee exports fell by 4.8% in November. The Uganda Coffee Development Authority says heavy rains delayed harvesting and disrupted drying, causing exports to fall by 4.8% year-on-year. Uganda remains Africa’s second-largest coffee exporter.

• Monster Energy set to launch RTD coffee in the UK. According to reports, the company has applied to trademark the term “Java Killer Brew” in the UK ahead of the anticipated launch of its ready-to-drink coffee in the country.

Thu, 21 Dec

• Weber Workshops unveils BIRD no-bypass coffee brewer. The company says the brewer is not espresso, french press, or pour-over, instead functioning as a “no-bypass brewer”. It generates piston-actuated vacuum pressure to brew coffee in a glass carafe, creating a novel new brewing method that the company says “helps any barista achieve a delicious, repeatable, and enjoyable brew”.

• Ethiopian coffee production forecast lowered by 12%. The USDA says dry conditions led to lower yields in Ethiopia in the marketing year ended September, with production falling short of previous estimates by 1 million 60kg bags of green coffee.

• KFC China plans to scale up KCOFFEE expansion in 2024. KFC China currently offers the premium coffee option at nearly all of its 10,000 stores. It now aims to open around 100 standalone KCOFFEE outlets in 2024 and expects to achieve 30% sales growth by the end of 2023.

• Cup of Excellence to host Origin immersion Program: El Salvador in 2024. The course, taught by CoE Head Judge Luis Rodríguez, will take place at the Instituto Salvadoreño Del Café in San Salvador from 26 February to 1 March 2024. Attendees will learn about a range of topics, including cupping and scoring coffee and the history of the Salvadoran coffee industry.

• Ludlow Coffee Group rebrands Coffee Planet Roastery as Jigsaw Coffee Company. Ludlow says the change represents a “pivotal shift” in its global roasting capabilities. Jigsaw Coffee Company will deliver bespoke roasting solutions, while Coffee Planer will now exclusively focus on coffee solutions including machinery and support.

Fri, 22 Dec

• WatchHouse secures US $10 million in Series A funding. The UK coffee company says the funding will help it achieve its rapid growth plans in both the UK and New York over the next year and a half. It now predicts 60% year-on-year growth in FY 2024.

• Taf opens new café at Athens International Airport. The Greek chain has partnered with Air Canteen to open its latest location, offering high-quality coffee including the Pianeta Blue, Yirgacheffe To-La, and Thuti blends.

• The Independent Coffee Lab to host The London Coffee Tasting Club on 20 January. The coffee tasting session will take place at the company’s headquarters in London, England and includes an 8x100g sample pack.

• Vollers Group acquires Sensible Development Limited’s online coffee auction platform. Vollers Group says the acquisition reflects its commitment to enhancing services and setting new industry standards. It promises a seamless transition for all users and has rebranded the platform as V-Auction.

• Toraja Mountain Coffee launches Happy Holidays Gift Box. The festive package includes five Indonesian coffees, a hand-printed gift box, stickers, and a logo-stamped card. The company directly sources coffee from local producers, giving it access to exclusive small lots.

• VOLT Bikes unveils Café VOLT at its London, England headquarters. The e-bike brand says the café sources its products from independent producers, with sandwiches and snacks prepared in-house, while it sources its specialty coffee from Scenery Coffee.

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

• Thu, 14 Dec – Labour board wants Starbucks to reopen 23 shuttered US locations. The US National Labor Relations Board says Starbucks closed the cafés in retaliation to unionisation efforts and has asked a judge to force it to reopen the stores. The company denies all allegations.

• Fri, 15 Dec – Chobani acquires La Colombe for US $900 million. The yoghurt and dairy manufacturer says the acquisition will help it chart its “next chapter of growth”. La Colombe will continue to operate as an independent brand.

• Fri, 15 Dec – TIPA and ATI unveil fully-compostable coffee capsule lids. The companies say the patented lidding material solves previous issues like poor sealing, delamination, leaching, and inconsistent flow. It’s received OK Biobased’s highest accreditation of four stars and is compatible with all compostable coffee filling lines.

• Sun, 17 Dec – Caffè Nero to close 19 Harris and Hoole stores before Christmas. The cafés operate out of Tesco supermarkets in the UK, but Caffè Nero says it wants to focus on standalone stores going forward.

Coffee news image credits:

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest coffee news stories in the sector, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.

Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence article on Chobani’s acquisition of La Colombe.

The post Coffee News Recap, 22 Dec: Chobani acquires La Colombe for US $900 million, climate change could halve global robusta production by 2040 & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

Mon, 11 Dec

• SCA announces World of Coffee Panama 2026. The SCA has partnered with the Specialty Coffee Association of Panama and the Panamanian government to expand the World of Coffee trade show to Central America. The event will take place at the Panama Convention Center in October 2026.

• Triesteespresso Expo will return to Trieste, Italy from 24 to 26 October 2024. The eleventh edition of the annual coffee event will once again be held at the Trieste Convention Centre, featuring three days of “full immersion in the world of coffee”. The 2023 event attracted over 13,000 visitors.

• Nescafé says soluble coffee remains key to recruiting more coffee consumers in Asia Pacific region. The Nestlé company says it hopes to increase coffee consumption and sales in countries like India and China, using soluble coffee as a way to introduce consumers to the wider coffee category.

• Suntory BOSS Coffee says iced coffee is the drink of choice for 88% of young Australians. The company commissioned a study that found that around four in five young Australians are “obsessed” with iced coffee, with 61% of the remaining demographic “eager to jump on the bandwagon”.

• UK specialty roaster Established Coffee celebrates ten year anniversary. The roaster announced a special release to mark its 10th anniversary. The Finca Kilimanjaro is a washed coffee from El Salvador, with notes of blackcurrant, ruby grapefruit, and nougat. Customers are eligible for a 10% discount on all wholebean coffee and brewing equipment to celebrate.

• Quattro R fund acquires 50% of the capital of Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group. The deal will result in a capital increase of US $98 million, helping to bring MZBG back onto the stock market after it withdrew in 2021.

• Limited sponsorship opportunities remaining for Australia’s Richest Barista competition. The Melbourne International Coffee Expo is calling on all interested parties to submit applications to sponsor the coffee competition. It says that sponsors will gain “unparalleled visibility” for their brands “in front of the global coffee industry and coffee lovers alike”.

• JNP Coffee offers holiday sale on spot coffees from Burundi. The green coffee sourcing company says several of its fully washed and natural lots from Burundi are available at discounted rates to celebrate the holiday season.

Tue, 12 Dec

• Potential buyers eye Mercon following bankruptcy protection filing. The company is continuing to trade while Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings are underway. However, five “strategic potential purchasers” have already contacted the company to discuss acquiring its assets.

• Nicaragua’s CISA Exportadora closes following Mercon bankruptcy filing. The main marketer of Nicaraguan coffee suspended operations following a bankruptcy protection filing by its parent company, Mercon. The national government says it will support producers with legal measures to ensure the company fulfils its obligations.

• China overtakes the US as the branded coffee shop capital of the world. The Guardian reports that China’s branded coffee shop market grew by 60% in just a year, reaching a total of 49,691 stores to overtake the US as the world’s biggest coffee shop market.

• Latest Finlay’s Global Beverage Report says 2024 trends include fads, hyper-targeted health, and statement spending. The annual report outlines anticipated market trends for 2024, noting that consumers expect more speed and sustainability from beverage brands.

• Eversys invites consumers and clients to learn more about its Asia Pacific partners. The fully automatic espresso machine manufacturer has compiled several updates on its partnerships in the region, including stories about Roots, Fore Coffee, Tim Hortons, and Tomoro.

• Equator Coffees opens third Southern California café in Laguna Beach. The company has partnered with electric automaker Rivian to open a café at the Rivian South Coast Theatre. The café will serve specialty coffee, signature drinks, and a café menu.

• ICO forecasts 5.8% increase in global coffee production in 2023-24 season. The organisation says total output could reach 178 million 60kg bags in the upcoming season, citing shifting trends in arabica and robusta varieties, regional dynamics, and considerations around adverse weather.

Wed, 13 Dec

• Yara announces imminent acquisition of Agribios Italiana’s organic-based fertiliser business. Yara says it’s in the process of acquiring the business, adding that the “bolt-on” acquisition will support its organic strategy in Europe. It says it remains committed to promoting regenerative agriculture and improving soil health.

• Registration opens for 2024 Specialty Coffee Expo. The SCA says attendees can now register for the event, set to take place at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, USA from 12 to 14 April 2024.

• National Yemen Coffee Auction scheduled for 11 January 2024. The auction features 17 Yemeni coffee lots from several regions, including an anaerobic fermented Ja’adi produced by Mukhtar Hafaz-Allah Ahmed, which received a score of 91 points. Auction samples are available now.

• Robusta coffee futures prices reach highest levels in over 15 years. Reuters reports that robusta prices grew by 1.7% to reach US $2,769/tonne, marking the highest price since January 2008. In related coffee news, Brazilian farmers remain reluctant to sell, while Vietnam is beginning to export its most recent crop.

• Tim Hortons launches in South Korea. The Canadian coffee chain has opened a store at Sinnonhyeon Station in Gangnam, Seoul. It adds that it plans to open a total of 150 outlets across the country within five years.

• Finnish researchers successfully develop lab-grown coffee. Scientists cultured cells sourced from arabica leaves before freeze drying, grinding, and roasting them to create “lab-grown coffee” that partially mimics some flavours and aromas of conventional coffee.

• Cultivated Biosciences develops yeast-based, dairy-free coffee creamer. The Swiss startup says its coffee creamer is made using yeast-based fat, adding that it matches the performance of dairy creamers. It contains no binders or additives.

Thu, 14 Dec

• ProfilePrint completes Series B fundraising for its AI ingredient quality platform. The Singaporean company says its platform empowers users to “swiftly identify specialty-grade coffee for export”, among other features. The new funding will help expand into new markets.

• Sucafina continues working towards responsible sourcing with IMPACT programme. The company says it’s committed to tackling climate change, deforestation, unsustainable farming practices, poverty, and human rights issues through the programme. It currently includes the IMPACT Sustainability Standard and five clear IMPACT Goals to “drive measurable, positive change”.

• Bellwether Coffee partners with The Hagen Project to expand into Europe. The company has announced its expansion into the European market with its first fully-electric roaster installation in the region in collaboration with Hagen, London. It adds that the partnership will pioneer electric roasting in London.

• Registration opens for Coffee Technicians Guild Summit 2024. The summit is set to take place at Middleby Innovation Kitchens in Lewisville, Texas on 15 & 16 February 2024, featuring two days of networking, learning, and activities. Early bird tickets are available until 19 January.

• Krispy Kreme opens first flagship store in France. The chain has partnered with Wagram Finances to open a flagship store at the Westfield Forum des Halles shopping centre in Paris. It adds that it plans to open several dozen “access points” in France in 2024.

• ofi AtSourceV and AtSource+ recognised as equivalent schemes to the GCP’s Coffee Sustainability Reference Code. The Global Coffee Platform has recognised two of ofi’s sustainability management systems as equivalent to its CSRC, second party assurance, noting the company’s dedication to sustainability.

Fri, 15 Dec

• CAFEEX Shanghai 2023 set to take place from 29 to 31 December. The third edition of the international coffee expo will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre, featuring an extensive exhibition hall, a specialty coffee forum, cupping sessions, and various competitions.

• Team We are the 1.33% wins The Barista League Atlanta 2023. Marissa Yoree and Addison Mathis won the multi-disciplinary barista competition, which was hosted at Eventide Brewing on 2 December. Guest judges included Kat Melheim and Anthony Ragler of Black & White Coffee Roasters.

• THAIFEX-HOREC Asia set to take place from 6 to 8 March 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. The HoReCa expo will feature numerous exhibitions, including the latest products from coffee businesses. It will also host the ASEAN Barista Team Championship.

• SIGEP The Dolce World Expo scheduled for 20 to 24 January 2024 in Rimini, Italy. The 45th International Trade Show of Artisan Gelato, Pastry, Bakery and the Coffee World will take place at the Rimini Expo Centre, featuring extensive business opportunities, exhibitions, and several competitions.

• Cotti Coffee opens first Vietnamese stores. The Chinese café chain has entered its sixth foreign market with three stores in Ho Chi Minh City. It now operates more than 6,000 stores in China alone.

• Third Wave Coffee lays off 120 employees just months after securing US $35 million in funding. Reports suggest that the Indian company is restructuring to consolidate its teams, giving redundant employees a choice between immediate departure and two months’ salary or the option to continue working until mid-February 2024.

• Greggs opens 500th franchised store in the UK. The café chain has reached its target of 500 franchised UK stores, which now account for around 20% of its total business. It now aims to reach 3,000 total stores in the UK.

• Alimentaria 2024 set to take place from 18 to 21 March in Barcelona, Spain. The annual food, drinks, and gastronomy experience will be held at the Gran Via Venue, featuring over 3,000 exhibitors and numerous networking opportunities. Organisers expect more than 100,000 visitors to attend.

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

• Thu, 23 Nov – co-cre8 launches nationwide paper cup collection and recycling service in the UK. The service is designed for all participants in the paper cup life cycle, regardless of size or volume. The company will also offer businesses guidance on on-site cup recycling.

• Thu, 30 Nov – Ripple Foods secures US $49 million in new funding round. The plant-based dairy alternative brand, which manufactures plant milk from yellow peas, has now accumulated US $274 million in funding, aiming to expand into new markets.

• Thu, 30 Nov – Allegra World Coffee Portal releases Project Café East Asia 2024 market report. The report surveyed over 4,000 Chinese coffee shop consumers and includes over 300 consultations with leading industry stakeholders in East Asia. It outlines the coffee market forecast for 2024.

• Thu, 7 Dec – Fairtrade America forecasts transparency, regenerative programs and private label opportunities in 2024. The organisation says that as businesses continue to adapt to regulations and greater consumer skepticism around greenwashing, “accountability and demonstrable impact for people and planet are more necessary than ever for brands and retailers alike”.

• Sat, 9 Dec – Nicaraguan coffee producers form committee to “influence” Mercon’s bankruptcy process. At least 60 producers met on Friday to discuss how Mercon Coffee Group’s bankruptcy process will affect the livelihoods of thousands of coffee workers in the country. The producers intend to take part in “any type of negotiation” to ensure their interests are prioritised.

• Sun, 10 Dec – India and Vietnam set to lead Asia’s growth in coffee consumption. According to Euromonitor Asia, coffee consumption is correlated with discretionary income and urbanisation. It forecasts that India and Vietnam will experience consumption growth of 37% and 32%, respectively by the end of 2027.

• Sun, 10 Dec – Lavazza partners with Sainsbury’s and Waitrose to bring Cuban coffee to the UK for the first time. Lavazza will distribute its Tierra coffees through the retail chains, aiming to help kickstart the Cuban coffee sector. Despite economic sanctions, Cuba produced more than 7,000 tonnes of coffee during the most recent season.

Coffee news image credits:

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest coffee news stories in the sector, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.

Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories.

The post Coffee News Recap, 15 Dec: China overtakes US as the branded coffee shop capital of the world, Finnish researchers develop lab-grown coffee & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

Mon, 4 Dec

• Tay Wipvasutt wins 2023 World AeroPress Championship in Melbourne, Australia. The Thai barista came out on top at the world finals, beating out numerous national champions to become this year’s World AeroPress Champion. His winning recipe is now available online.

• Milan Coffee Festival 2023 concludes in Italy. The annual festival featured various coffee-related attractions, including the Roasters Village, Latte Art Live, the Mindful Coffee Tasting Experience, and this year’s Coffee Masters Milan.

• MICE 2024 to host education sessions for café owners. Organisers say the sessions will help café owners run their businesses better, offering them insights into scaling, branding, design, upselling skills, and equipment sourcing. MICE 2024 will take place from 12 to 14 May at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

• IWCA reports back on 20th anniversary celebrations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The organisation hosted its annual International Women in Coffee Convention from 16 to 22 October, marking 20 years of supporting the work and growth of women in the international coffee community. Attendees enjoyed origin trips, workshops, panels, cupping sessions, and networking events.

• Luckin Coffee loses trademark infringement lawsuit in Thailand. The Chinese coffee chain claimed that Thai company 50R Group registered the Luckin trademark without its consent, going on to open multiple stores in the country. However, the court ruled that there was no infringement.

• Natural SL-28 receives 91.70 points at Los Rodriguez Collection Nº2 competition. The coffee was grown at the El Fuerte farm in Samaipata and topped the Exotics category. A Gesha from the Alasitas farm in Caranavi received 91.20 points, topping the Gesha Washed category, while a Gesha from the Floripondio farm in Samaipata received 91.50 points, topping the Natural Gesha category.

• 4C Regional Stakeholder Conference held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The regional conference focused on the latest developments in sustainability certification and requirements for coffee exports, featuring a diverse agenda headlined by renowned global coffee professionals and industry executives.

Tue, 5 Dec

• Voting opens for SCA Romania and SCA Portugal Chapter Committee elections. Voting for both chapters runs from 5 to 13 December, with successful candidates set to be announced on 18 December. Positions include National Coordinator and Events Coordinator.

• Beyers Koffie and CEE announce first industrial-scale fully electric coffee roasting line. Beyers Koffie, a subsidiary of Sucafina, has partnered with “cleantech” company CEE to develop a line of fully electric coffee roasters, promising reduced emissions and improved energy efficiency for industrial roasting companies.

• Cup of Excellence announces Origin immersion Program: El Salvador 2024. The course, taught by CoE Head Judge Luis Rodríguez, will take place at the Instituto Salvadoreño Del Café in San Salvador from 26 February to 1 March 2024. Attendees will learn about a range of topics, including cupping and scoring coffee and the history of the Salvadoran coffee industry.

• Asia International Coffee Conference 2023 held in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The two-day forum took place at the Reverie Saigon Hotel, hosting more than 200 coffee industry executives and numerous exhibitions. This year’s theme was “From Bean to Brew: The Economics of Coffee”.

• SCA Green Coffee Summit held online. The two-day, free-to-attend virtual summit hosted several live lectures, market presentations, and panel discussions, focusing on providing “insights and well-founded, actionable knowledge for producers, traders, and green coffee buyers”.

• Royal Coffee adds Peru Organic Palomar Biodynamic Washed green coffee to Crown Jewels lineup. The traditional Peruvian coffee is produced by Dagoberto Marin Ludeña at the Chacra D’Dago estate. It’s certified organic and biodynamic and has a flavour profile that includes notes of ime, honey, dark chocolate, apple, and lemongrass.

Wed, 6 Dec

• Hard Beans Coffee Roasters launches Hardtank automatic cold brew machine. The Hardtank is aimed at hospitality businesses, promising drastic cost savings and increased efficiency. The basic model produces cold brew in just 90 minutes and can brew up to 250l per day.

• Saudi chain Barn’s set to launch initial public offering within the next year. The chain, which currently operates more than 550 stores in Saudi Arabia, seeks to raise funds through the IPO, aiming to reach 1,000 stores globally by 2030.

• Study finds adding a spritz of water before grinding coffee yields better espresso, less chaff. University of Oregon researcher Christopher Hendon found that adding a single squirt of water to beans before grinding can significantly reduce the static electric charge on the resulting grounds, yielding less waste and a more consistent flow rate.

• Emma Chamberlain calls building her coffee brand “the hardest thing she’s ever done”. Speaking on the Colin & Samir podcast, the social media influencer said she has regretted entering the coffee business in the past, despite raising US $14 million in capital to secure retail shelf space. The interview lasted nearly three hours.

• ICO warns that new European Union deforestation regulations may lead to a coffee shortage in 2025. Executive Director Vanúsia Nogueira says the organisation still has “many doubts and questions” about the regulations, adding that as a result, the EU may not receive enough coffee to meet demand in 2025.

Thu, 7 Dec

• Perfect Daily Grind releases 2023 PDG holiday gift guide. The latest edition of our annual guide features a wide variety of coffee-related gift ideas, ranging from stocking fillers under US $50 to premium gifts like professional espresso machines.

• SCA opens applications for WCC Competitions Strategic Committee. The SCA has several positions available on the overall CSC strategy group, along with the competition-specific rules and regulations sub-committees. Applications are open until 8 January 2024.

• Vietnamese chain Cong Ca Phe opens first store in Canada. The country represents the company’s third international market, following launches in South Korea and Malaysia. It now operates 76 locations in total, serving classic Vietnamese coffee drinks.

• McDonald’s announces new coffee chain CosMc’s. The company opened its first CosMc’s store in Bolingbrook, Illinois, USA, adding that it will open further locations in Illinois and Texas in 2024. Unlike McCafé, the chain will focus on a diverse drinks menu including churro frappes and turmeric spiced lattes.

• Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association anticipates drop in annual export volumes. The association says output has fallen over the past year, further complicated by a lack of carry-over stock and growing local demand. The annual export is expected to reach between 1.6 to 1.7 million tonnes, compared to 1.78 million tonnes the previous year.

• ICO says 2023/24 will be an “exceptional off-year” for Brazilian coffee production. The organisation says despite still recovering from the 2021 frosts, the Brazilian coffee industry is on track to drive a 5.8% increase in global coffee production in the coming season. Total production for the 2022/23 reached 168.2 million 60kg bags, representing a 0.1% increase year-on-year.

• Mercon Coffee Group files for bankruptcy protection in the US. The major green coffee trader says an “exceptionally challenging operating environment” has forced it to seek financial assistance, as several lenders have opted not to extend credit agreements. The company will will work with clients to “ensure a seamless process concerning open contracts”.

Fri, 8 Dec

• The Coffee to make Middle East debut in 2024. The Brazilian coffee chain says it plans to open stores in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt next year, adding to its 23 international stores and 200 Brazilian stores.

• Green coffee company Belco launches new website. The website enables customers to purchase sustainably produced and sourced green coffee from several prominent origins, including Brazil, El Salvador, Ethiopia, and Colombia.

• Starbucks’ market value falls by US $11 million following protests and pro-Palestinian boycott. The company has seen stocks plummet just weeks after unionised employees held a US-wide Red Cup Day strike, protesting alleged unfair working conditions and the company’s perceived support for Israel.

• Franchisee Moonglow Trading secures seven-figure funding for Black Sheep Coffee expansion plans. The hospitality business plans to open up to four new Black Sheep Coffee franchises in the UK, adding to its existing 54 locations. It says it plans to explore more opportunities outside of London.

• Study finds possible carcinogenic contaminant in coffee from 20 brands. Japan’s Fujian Province Consumer Council says it tested various coffee products from companies like Starbucks, Luckin, Tim Hortons, KFC, McDonalds, and Costa Coffee, finding traces of acrylamide in all of them. The World Health Organisation lists the compound as a possible carcinogen for humans.

• Caribou Coffee opens first location in Florida, USA. The new store is operated by franchisee Wake Up 727 and is located in St. Petersburg. Earlier this year, the company announced plans to franchise more than 300 new locations across the US.

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

• Fri, 1 Dec – SCA and ICO partner to advance cooperation within the global coffee industry. The two organisations signed a memorandum of understanding, pledging to work together to “reach new heights” in specialty coffee sustainability and education. The MoU also “outlines a joint commitment to expanding market promotion and encouraging the consumption of high-quality coffee.”

• Fri, 1 Dec – Reborn Coffee makes international debut in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The American coffee chain’s local partner, Barrie Nasim, has opened his first licensed outlet at the Exchange TRX shopping centre. CEO Jay Kim says further international expansion will take place in South Korea and the UAE.

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest coffee news stories in the sector, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.

Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence news piece on beanless coffee.

The post Coffee News Recap, 8 Dec: EU anti-deforestation regulations could cause 2025 coffee shortage, spraying beans with water could improve extraction & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

Mon, 27 Nov

• Early bird tickets now on sale for PRF Guatemala 2024. Early bird tickets are available until 1 February 2024, giving both local and international attendees the opportunity to save ahead of the two-day forum. PRF Guatemala will take place at Anacafé in Guatemala City on 7 & 8 March 2024.

• Alexa Elizabeth Lee wins 2024 UK Cup Tasters Championship at Manchester Coffee Festival. Lee, who is the Operations Manager at Carbon Kopi Artisan Coffee Bars, placed first at the competition – with Julian Loayza placing second and Richard Hill winning third place. The 2023 Manchester Coffee Festival took place on 18 & 19 November.

• Trieste Coffee Experts 2023 hailed as exceptional success. More than 100 guests attended the event in Trieste, Italy, with many more joining via live stream to watch 26 speakers share their insights on the future of coffee. The conference was hosted by Bazzara Caffè at the Savoia Excelsior Palace.

• European Coffee Awards announced at 2023 European Coffee Symposium. This year’s symposium ran from 27 to 29 November at the W Barcelona Hotel. Notable award winners included Lavazza (Best Coffee Roaster – Europe), Origin Coffee Roasters (Best Specialty Coffee Roaster), La Marzocco (Best Coffee Equipment Supplier), and WatchHouse (Best Independent Coffee Shop – Europe).

• Probat thanks jubilarians and future retirees for decades of service. The coffee roaster manufacturer recognised 13 employees for their dedication to the company. It hosted a celebration at its headquarters in Emmerich am Rhein, Germany.

• Coffee and cocoa in EU warehouses at risk of destruction under new regulations. Financial Times reports that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of non-compliant coffee and cocoa stored in EU warehouses may end up being destroyed as a result of the EU’s new anti-deforestation laws. Alternatively, the commodities may have to be sold outside of the EU.

• IWCA launches Giving Tuesday to raise funds for women in the coffee industry worldwide. The Global Leadership Alliance will match all donations made from 28 November to 31 December 2023, up to US $25,000. The IWCA is calling on donors to contribute any amount, aiming to contribute to its mission of securing sustainable livelihoods for women in the coffee industry.

• Anfim launches new Alba commercial espresso grinder. The grinder features 80mm flat steel burrs, a 2kg hopper capacity, and a grinding time of 1.3s for a single espresso dose. Baristas can use the 3.5 inch touch screen display to programme various recipes and monitor different metrics.

Tue, 28 Nov

• Coffee industry celebrates the life of renowned coffee professional Gianni Cassatini. Cassatini, known for his trademark Borsalino hat, was an icon of Italian coffee culture, helping to spread coffee knowledge and passion throughout North America. Simonelli Group president Nando Ottavi says he was a “remarkable human” who “was always ready to help those in need”.

• Indonesian coffee farmers use geothermal heat for coffee processing. Producers in Kamojang, Indonesia are using the Geothermal Coffee Process (GCP) to significantly reduce the time it takes to ferment and dry coffee. The process has the potential to reduce both CO2 emissions and organic waste.

• Milano Coffee launches espresso blend featuring 20 different single origin coffees. The Californian roaster designed the Turks Crown blend, the first 20-bean blend in the world, to celebrate its 20th anniversary. It’s described as “a full spectrum of positive coffee flavours with a silky elegant mouthfeel and luscious texture”.

• UK coffee chain Knoops plans to double in size in 2024. The chain, which serves chocolate drinks alongside an espresso-based menu, recently secured US $10.4 million in funding. It now plans to open 20 new stores in 2024. It aims to reach 200 total stores in the UK over the next few years.

• Global Coffee Platform recognises seven more sustainability schemes as equivalent to the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code. The GCP says Exportadora de Café Guaxupé’s Guaxupé Planet, Nespresso’s AAA Sustainable Quality Program, NKG’s NKG Bloom, ofi’s AtSourceV and AtSource+, Racafé’s CRECER, and 3E® by RGC Coffee have all been recognised as equivalent to the Coffee SR Code (2^nd party assurance).

• Carhartt WIP and Rocket Espresso collaborate on new apparel and coffee machine line. The range includes a limited-edition, chrome-wrapped Porta Ticinese espresso machine and matching Porta Ticinese grinder. It also includes t-shirts, sweaters, and aprons.

Wed, 29 Nov

• Poll finds 19% of British coffee consumers don’t know how coffee is produced. The poll of 2,000 UK consumers was commissioned by Nestlé and conducted by OnePoll. It also found that 4% believe their coffee is farmed in the UK, while 48% don’t know how long it takes for coffee to pass through the value chain.

• Swiss startup Mikafi unveils small-batch electric coffee roaster. The company says its MikafiOne roaster comes integrated with an IoT platform that helps roasters ensure efficiency and quality. Users can completely automate roasts, suiting smaller hospitality businesses.

• Coffee & More secures US $150 million in funding for global expansion. The Indian coffee company says it received funds from investors in Singapore, the US, and Europe. It plans to open 170 new outlets across India, as well as several locations in England and Switzerland.

• Starbucks opens fourth store in Rome, Italy. The company says it will continue to invest in the Italian market, citing the country’s rich coffee culture and tourism activity.

• National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers says coffee production will reach 16 million 60kg bags in 2027. The FNC says it’s implementing various plans to increase coffee production in Colombia, after it reported a 12% drop in production during the current crop season. Growth will be driven by a 20% annual renewal of coffee farms.

• San Francisco coffee startup aims to become “the Dom Perignon of coffee”. Sāe Coffee Studio’s founders, Luis “Luchi” Pincay and Christina Minju, say they aim to import, roast, and sell the finest coffees from around the world, sourcing coffee through competitions like Cup of Excellence.

• La Colombe Coffee launches K-Cup pods. The American specialty coffee roaster now offers two blends in the K-Cup format, compatible with Keurig pod brewers: Nizza (medium roast) and Corsica (dark roast).

Thu, 30 Nov

• Early bird tickets go on sale for first-ever Nordic Coffee Fest. The festival will take place on 24 & 25 February 2024 at the Eriksberghallen in Gothenburg, Sweden, featuring a Roasters Village, cupping space, and the inaugural Nordics Best Roaster competition. Early bird tickets are available until 1 January 2024.

• CATIE and ECOM partner to train coffee farm technicians in Costa Rica. The partnership aims to train a total of 20 technicians responsible for coffee farms in the Western Valley, Orosi, and Turrialba. CATIE says it hopes to directly contribute to strengthening the local coffee industry, helping it to adapt to climate change and “bridging the gap between science, challenges, and opportunities”.

• Juan Valdez reports 16% year-on-year sales growth in Q3 2023. The Colombian coffee chain plans to accelerate international expansion, including its first UAE store and a re-entry into the Mexican market.

• Seco partners with unnamed client to develop digitised coffee machines. The coffee machine manufacturer says it expects to generate more than US $54 million in revenue from the new fully automatic coffee machines. It plans to incorporate both AI and cutting-edge electronics.

• Spinelli Coffee reportedly planning to close all outlets in Singapore. The coffee chain first entered the Singapore market in 1996, but has faced severe financial setbacks in recent years. Its sister brand, A Spinelli Joint, has also closed all locations in the country.

• Suntory makes multimillion US dollar investment in beanless coffee startup Atomo Coffee. The liquor and beverage producer says the investment will support its mission to limit deforestation and other environmental impacts of coffee production. Atomo will unveil its California, USA processing facility next week, where it will manufacture beanless coffee from dates and sunflower seeds.

• Coffee prices rise ahead of ICE inventory rule change. The arabica contract for March delivery closed up by 6.95% on Thursday, while the corresponding robusta contract increased by 3.49%. From 1 December 2023, ICE will ban the resubmission of old coffee inventories, preventing some sellers from using a loophole to avoid “age penalties”.

• HUMAN MADE and Blue Bottle Coffee launch seasonal gift sets. The third collaboration between the two companies features keychains, pin set, mugs, and gift bags adorned with the HUMAN MADE heart logo. It also includes three coffee blends: TIME ORIGINS, FUTURE BLEND, and PAST BLEND.

• Löfbergs announces plans to build new roastery in Karlstad, Sweden. The Swedish roaster says its latest sales figures reveal an upward trend, encouraging it to invest in new infrastructure to meet increasing demand. It currently operates in ten northern European markets.

Fri, 1 Dec

• World AeroPress Championship 2023 finals held in Melbourne, Australia. The event was hosted at 14 Duke Street in Abbotsford from 1 to 3 December, featuring the final competition to decide this year’s World AeroPress Champion. The event was preceded by the 2023 Australian AeroPress Championship, also held on 1 December.

• Last chance to apply to be a speaker at PRF Guatemala 2024. Coffee industry professionals have until 1 December 2023 to apply to speak at the two-day forum. It’s set to take place on 7 & 8 March 2024 and Guatemalan coffee professionals are especially encouraged to participate.

• The Barista League returns to Atlanta, USA. The multi-disciplinary barista competition took place at Eventide Brewing on 1 December. Guest judges included Anthony Ragler and Kat Melheim of Black & White Coffee, as well as Geetu Vailoor of Academy Coffee.

• Blue Bottle Coffee and The Weeknd unveil latest Samra Origins Single Origin coffees. The Samra Origins Single Origin Vol. 1 and Samra Origins Single Origin Vol. 2 coffees will be available from 4 December. Vol. 1 is a natural coffee with bold fruit flavors and softer floral notes, while Vol. 2 is a washed coffee with a lighter, delicate acidity and citrus notes.

• SCA to host Coffee Value Assessment Course for Cuppers in Dublin, Ireland on 2 & 3 December. The course aims to introduce experienced coffee cuppers to the evolved cupping protocol and the new Coffee Value Assessment system. Coffee Laboratory Ireland will host the event.

• Asia International Coffee Conference 2023 scheduled for 5 & 6 December in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The conference will take place at the Reverie Saigon Hotel, hosting numerous roasters, traders, producers, sustainability managers, and potential investors. The theme of this year’s event is “From Bean to Brew: The Economics of Coffee”.

• Pret A Manger launches Club Pret subscription service in France. French customers now have access to the subscription and loyalty programme, which entitles them to 20% off the entire menu and up to five barista-made beverages per day for €25 (US $27.34) per month.

• Redemption Roasters set to launch crowdfunding campaign to fund ten new stores. The UK social enterprise offers prisoners and prison leavers at three UK prisons rehabilitation through coffee training. It currently operates a roastery in Hertfordshire, England and ten cafés in London.

• Expat Coffee Roasters opens first location in Jakarta, Indonesia. The café is the chain’s second outside of Bali, bringing its total to four in Indonesia. In addition to coffee, the Jakarta store will feature an all-day dining menu showcasing international dishes “while celebrating local flavours and produce”.

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

• Fri, 17 Nov – USDA lowers Brazil coffee production outlook, increases Colombia outlook for MY 2023/24. Brazilian coffee is expected to fall short of estimates by 1.5 million 60kg bags, while Colombia’s coffee production is expected to recover to a total of 11.5 million 60kg bags as a result of drier conditions and improved sunlight.

• Wed, 22 Nov – USDA lowers Vietnam MY 2023/24 coffee production estimate by 3.8 million 60kg bags. The department says unfavourable weather conditions as a result of climate change and El Niño adversely affected coffee production in Vietnam. Total production is now predicted to reach just 27.5 million 60kg bags.

• Wed, 22 Nov – Brazil’s São Mateus Agropecuaria receives Best of the Best Award at 8th Ernesto Illy International Coffee Awards. Producer Josè Eduardo Dominicale received the award from Illy president Andrea Illy, beating eight other coffees sourced from Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua, and Rwanda.

• Fri, 24 Nov – Tomoro Coffee opens first outlet in China. The Indonesian coffee chain has opened a store in Shanghai’s Qingpu E Link World Industrial Park. It added that it plans to open a further 400 new outlets in Indonesia over the next few years.

• Fri, 24 Nov – Café Kitsune announces first Saudi Arabian store. The French-Japanese café chain will open a store in Riyadh next year, aiming to expand operations in the Middle East. Earlier this year, it announced plans to open a store in Dubai by the end of 2023.

• Fri, 24 Nov – Sunergos baristas in Louisville, USA hold strike over wage negotiations. Workers told WLKY News that they have spent more than a year waiting for a new contract agreement, hoping to secure improved wages and working conditions.

• Fri, 24 Nov – Visual Capitalist releases infographic visualising the global coffee trade. The infographic depicts global coffee trade by country, demonstrating which countries import and export significant amounts of coffee. It asserts that nearly 84% of global supply comes from just ten countries.

• Fri, 24 Nov – Ugandan coffee exports grew by 3.4% year-on-year in October. The Uganda Coffee Development Authority says the continent’s largest exporter of coffee shipped 470,080 60kg bags in October 2023, generating US $79 million in sales.

Coffee news photo credits: Shane Gallagher, Simonelli Group

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Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and be sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence news piece exploring new research into the coffee’s health benefits.

The post Coffee News Recap, 1 Dec: World AeroPress Championship 2023 held in Melbourne, coffee industry celebrates the life of Gianni Cassatini & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

Mon, 20 Nov

• Volunteer & scholarship applications open for PRF Guatemala. PRF Diamond Sponsor Mayorga Coffee will once again offer 500 local coffee producers the chance to attend the two-day forum in Guatemala City. Meanwhile, prospective volunteers are encouraged to apply to help host the event on 7 & 8 March 2024.

• Three 2023 World Coffee Champions crowned in Taiwan. China’s LiangFan won the 2023 World Latte Art Championship, the UK’s Rastislav Kasar won the 2023 World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, and Indonesia’s Taufan Mokoginta won the 2023 World Coffee Roasting Championship.

• Starbucks says it plans to establish an Environmental, Partner, and Community Impact Board Committee. The company says the new committee will assist the Board of Directors in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities as it responds to shifting regulations and standards, as well as drive accountability across Starbucks promises on environment, partners, and community impact.

• COFE announces partnership with De’Longhi and Jazean. The online coffee marketplace says the partnership will “integrate the brilliance of premium Italian coffee machines with the richness of top-tier Saudi coffee beans”. It will involve in-app brand integration and distribution strategies.

• Study suggests coffee could help prevent Covid-19 infection. A study published in Cell & Bioscience found that drinking one to two cups of coffee per day could curb Covid-19 infection, citing compounds like chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, cafestol, melanoidins, and trigonelline as potential aids.

• Kyle Engelman replaces Ellen Starr as Executive Director of Grounds for Health. Starr is retiring after 13 years with the nonprofit organisation, which carries out cervical cancer prevention programmes in coffee-producing communities.

Tue, 21 Nov

• PRF launches PRF Seed entrepreneurship competition. The competition aims to award volunteer and scholar leaders who are committed to generating impactful ideas in coffee. The US $10,000 prize pool will be distributed among a maximum of four winners. Finalists will be selected through public voting and the winners will be announced at PRF Guatemala on 7 & 8 March 2024.

• Lao Specialty Coffee hosts “meet the producers” and tasting event in London, England. The event took place at Colonna and Small’s in Leather Lane. Attendees interacted with several of Lao’s producers and had the chance to sample various coffees.

• Early bird tickets for MICE2024 now available. Attendees can secure discounted early bird tickets until 31 January 2024. Next year’s MICE will take place at the Melbourne International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 12 to 14 May 2024.

• Camber Coffee launches new collaboration with Death Cab For Cutie and The Postal Service. The coffee collaborations celebrate 20th anniversary milestones for both bands, featuring coffees “personally tasted and approved” by the artists. The coffees are exclusively available through the respective band websites.

• Intelligentsia launches RTD canned cold coffee. The coffee features the brand’s Black Cat Espresso, sourced through direct trade. It’s available in four or 24-can packs.

• Rancilio unveils Grindtec Kryo Elite coffee grinder. The Kryo Elite 65 OD features 64mm flat steel burrs and a digital display. Rancilio says it can grind 4.5g per second for espresso, while users can programme three different dose settings.

• Oatly launches Hey, Barista coffee magazine app. The Oatly-funded app features café listings and insights from coffee creatives and other coffee professionals. It’s available on both iOS and Android.

• Luckin Coffee overtakes Starbucks as leading coffee chain in China. The Chinese coffee chain has leveraged technology like mobile ordering to increase its reach, alongside aggressive store expansion. It now operates around 11,000 stores in the country.

• Lavazza unveils new flagship store in London, England. The Great Marlborough Street store features a design inspired by the Italian company’s headquarters in Milan. It includes three distinct areas: the Caffetteria, the Pasticceria, and the Gastronomia.

Wed, 22 Nov

• Last chance to apply to be a speaker at PRF Guatemala 2024. Coffee industry professionals have until 1 December 2023 to apply to speak at the two-day forum. It’s set to take place on 7 & 8 March 2024 and Guatemalan coffee professionals are especially encouraged to participate.

• Labour coalition nominates three candidates to Starbucks board of directors. The Strategic Organizing Center has nominated former senior White House official Maria Echaveste, experienced executive Joshua Gotbaum, and labour law expert Wilma Liebman to the board, aiming to “help the company address its significant human capital issues and chart a sustainable path forward”.

• Sucafina continues to expand IMPACT responsible coffee sourcing programme. The green coffee trader says it’s in the process of expanding the programme into China, Vietnam, Uganda, Colombia, and Honduras. The programme provides assurance that the practices along Sucafina’s supply chain are compliant with a range of standards and focuses on five measurable goals.

• Bakers + Baristas secures new loan to help accelerate expansion in the UK and Ireland. The Causeway Capital subsidiary currently operates more than 60 outlets across the UK and Ireland and anticipates a total of US $24 million in sales in 2024.

• Study finds spent coffee grounds may be useful in preventing neurodegenerative disease. Researchers at the University of Texas say Carbon Quantum Dots (CACQDs) produced by caffeic acid in used coffee grounds can protect brain cells against the damage caused by diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

• Saudi Coffee Company partners with Beans United to promote local green coffee. Beans United will offer Saudi green coffee to its Piccolo Specialty Coffee Roasters clients across the country. The Saudi Coffee Company says the deal will help support local farmers and “advance the technical knowledge of agriculture in the coffee sector”.

• The London Coffee Festival set to return from 11 to 14 April 2024. The annual coffee festival will once again take place at the Truman Brewery in Spitalfields, London. Organisers promise the biggest event yet, featuring industry talks, Latte Art Live, and Coffee Masters London 2024.

• Danish company develops DesignerWater for coffee brewing. The water, developed in cooperation with the University of Copenhagen, minimises lime scale buildup and corrosion in brewing equipment. The company says it’s been “scientifically proven and tested by a trained sensory panel”.

Thu, 23 Nov

• SCA hosts Coffee Value Assessment Course for Cuppers in Bandung, Indonesia. The event took place at 5758 Coffee Lab on 23 & 24 November, introducing experienced cuppers to the new cupping protocol and value assessment system.

• Cxffeeblack continues to raise funds for the next Black Barista Exchange programme. The programme will give young African coffee professionals the opportunity to train in the US before taking a number of African American baristas on an origin trip in Africa. The project will wrap up with a visit to the Color of Coffee Symposium in Houston, Texas in March 2024.

• Coffee charity organisations encouraged to apply for 2024 NCA Charity Showcase and Charity of the Year Award. The application process is now fully online, with the deadline for applicants set for 8 December 2023. The events aim to highlight charities dedicated to supporting coffee communities.

• Coffee Planet receives four awards in the Middle East. The UAE coffee company received four awards in recent weeks: Team of the Year – Food & Beverage and National Business Award for Food and Beverage (Middle East Management Excellence Awards), Food Service Icon (Retail Middle East Magazine Food Service Icons Awards), and UAE Superbrand (19th Annual Superbrands Tribute).

• ACE Los Rodriguez Collection Nº2 private collection auction scheduled for 30 January 2024. Available lots include a natural SL-28 that received 91.70 points, a washed Geisha that received 91.20 points, and a natural Geisha that received 91.50 points. The auction will include a total of 30 lots.

• Turn Capital acquires Flash Coffee’s Thai business. The company says it plans to open 100 new stores over the next two years, effectively doubling Flash Coffee’s presence in Thailand.

• Nespresso launches take-away concept store in Madrid, Spain. The “Nespresso-to-go” concept store is located at the company’s Gran Vía boutique, offering customers take-away Nespresso coffee. The company says the pilot project represents a “strategic step” in its brand evolution.

• Ole & Steen apoints Joachim Knudsen as new Group CEO. The former McDonald’s executive has 35 years of industry experience and will help to optimise the business, aiming to deliver stronger organic growth and profitability.

Fri, 24 Nov

• North American Agroforestry Conference to take place in Costa Rica in 2024. The biennial event aims to enrich understanding of research and development outcomes within temperate agroforestry production systems. It will take place at CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) in Turrialba, Costa Rica from 20 to 22 February 2024.

• Trieste Coffee Experts 2023 takes place on 25 & 26 November in Trieste, Italy. The sixth edition of the invite-only event aims to inspire the creation of new tools and strategies to disseminate coffee culture in the Italian market and beyond.

• European Coffee Symposium 2023 scheduled for 27 to 29 November in Barcelona, Spain. The annual event is split into two distinct categories – with the Supply & Innovation Sessions held on the first two days, and the Symposium Conference taking place on the last day. It will be hosted at the W Barcelona Hotel.

• The Barista League heads to Atlanta, USA on 1 December. The multi-disciplinary barista competition will be accompanied by plenty of drinks, a live DJ, and several spectator challenges. Guest judges include Anthony Ragler and Kat Melheim of Black & White Coffee and Divya Raghavan of CoffeeKiRani.

• Triestespresso Expo to return for 11th edition from 24 to 26 October 2024. Organisers have announced the dates for next year’s event, promising three days of full immersion in the world of coffee at the Trieste Convention Centre in Italy.

• Café World Summit 2024 scheduled for 20 to 23 March in Costa Rica. Organisers say they expect more than 3,000 coffee professionals to attend the event, which will feature four separate forums, more than 40 exhibits, and a Brewers Cup competition.

• First-ever CoHo Expo set to run alongside European Coffee Symposium in Berlin, Germany next year. The combined ECS + Coho Expo is touted as Europe’s flagship coffee and hospitality event and will feature exhibitions from various hospitality businesses, one-on-one networking meetings, a seminar programme, and the annual European Coffee Awards.

• SCA Green Coffee Summit full schedule now available. The online summit is scheduled to take place on 5 & 6 December, focusing on “Green Coffee & Extrinsic Attributes” on day one and “Green Coffee & Value Design” on day two.

• International Coffee and Chocolate Exhibition 2024 set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 5 to 9 December. The industry event will feature an extensive trade show, over 100 activities, a dedicated awards ceremony, and the Saudi Arabian Brewers Cup competition. It will be held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

• SIGEP 2024 to feature more than 1,200 brands from 20 to 24 January 2024. The 45th edition of the World Dolce Expo will be held at the Rimini Expo Centre in Italy, featuring a complete overview of the latest foodservice and coffee industry developments. Tickets are available now.

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

• Thu, 8 Nov – Oatly discontinues construction of new production facilities in North America and Europe. As part of its “asset-light production strategy”, the company will instead focus on expanding capacity at existing facilities, citing high capital expenditure requirements.

• Thu, 16 Nov – Yemen announces 17 qualifying samples for second National Coffee Auction. The Supreme Committee for the National Coffee Auction of Yemen says the samples represent the best and finest types of coffee produced in Yemen. The auction will take place online on 11 January 2024.

• Thu, 16 Nov – Arvid Nordquist launches Nordic Light light roasted coffee blend. The Swedish roaster says its first light roast features hints of orange and caramel aromas, with well-balanced acidity and a fruity sweetness.

• Thu, 16 Nov – Three winners announced at 2023 Champions of Brazilian Origins Contest. The winners were announced during Brazil International Coffee Week in Belo Horizonte and are as follows: Pieter Johannes (Alta Mogiana), José Ricardo Carvalho (Cerrado Mineiro), Marcos Hartmann (Chapada de Minas), Elias Krohling (Espírito Santo), Fabiano Diniz (Matas de Minas), and Eduardo Silva (Sul de Minas).

Coffee news photo credits: Producer & Roaster Forum, World Coffee Championships

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest coffee news stories in the sector, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.

Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read this week’s Coffee Intelligence news piece on cold coffee innovation.

The post Coffee News Recap, 24 Nov: Last chance for speaker applications for PRF Guatemala, Luckin overtakes Starbucks as biggest Chinese chain & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

Mon, 13 Nov

• Australia’s Richest Barista set to return at MICE 2024. The competition will take place at the Melbourne International Coffee Expo from 12 to 14 May 2024. Competitors will stand to win their share of a prize pool worth AU $40,000 (US $26,000).

• Choose Hospitality Pledge encourages young UK professionals to consider hospitality industry jobs. The initiative, founded by Nestlé Professional, Choose Hospitality, and CareerScope, says more than 40% of UK hospitality businesses are experiencing skilled worker shortages. It’s seeking motivated ambassadors who want to inspire future generations to work in hospitality.

• General Atlantic acquires majority stake in Joe & the Juice. The company says its new investment will help accelerate the café chain’s international expansion plans.

• Brazilian coffee exports increased by 24.5% year-on-year in October. Cecafe says both robusta and arabica recorded strong performances in October, adding that the month was especially positive given recent shipping challenges.

• Alliance for Coffee Excellence hosts CoE Colombia 2023 cupping sessions in USA, Taiwan, and South Korea. Specialty coffee roasters, buyers, and café owners are encouraged to attend to sample some of this year’s CoE Colombia Lots.
  • Taichung City: 13 Nov at Blossom Valley
  • USA: 17 November at Caravela Coffee in Houston, Texas
  • Taipei: 18 Nov at the Pebble Coffee booth, Taiwan International Coffee Show
  • South Korea: 21 Nov at MGPC in Busan

• Over 60 competitors applied to take part in the Barista League Milwaukee. The competing baristas represented 14 different local coffee shops, including Backlot Coffee, Soulgood Coffee, and Crescendo Espresso Bar. Team Fleetwood Macchiato took the top spot, with the next Barista League event to take place in Atlanta, Georgia on 1 December.

• Coffee of the Year 2023 winners announced at Brazil International Coffee Week. Deneval Miranda Vieira Júnior of Sítio Cordilheiras Do Caparaó in Caparaó is this year’s arabica category champion, while Wagner Gomes Lopes of Sítio 3 Marias in Espírito Santo is the robusta category champion. A total of 65 finalists took part in the competition.

• The 27th annual Asia International Coffee Conference to take place on 5 & 6 December. More than 200 leading industry experts are expected to attend, including experts in sustainability, the Vietnamese market, robusta production, and more. The theme of this year’s Asia International Coffee Conference is “From Bean to Brew: The Economics of Coffee”.

Tue, 14 Nov

• Warner Bros. Discovery opens first permanent Central Perk café in Boston, USA. The company has already featured several pop-up versions of the Friends-inspired store in New York and Los Angeles. The new store honoured late actor Matthew Perry at its launch.

• Quench acquires US office coffee supplier Neighbors Coffee. The company says the acquisition highlights the growing role of coffee in its portfolio, adding that it aims to provide commercial customers with the broadest array of premium point-of-use offerings.

• Fellow products recognised in Oprah’s Favorite Things, Good Housekeeping, USA Today, and more. The Stagg EKG Pro Electric Kettle was included in the 2023 Oprah’s Favorite Things holiday gifts list, the Tally Pro Scale was included in the Good Housekeeping 2023 Best Kitchen Gear, Coffee, and Tea Awards, and the Carter Move Mug was named “Best Travel Coffee Mug / Tumbler 2023” by USA Today.

• Study finds compostable capsules are the most sustainable option for single-serve coffee. Researchers at Wageningen University assessed the environmental impacts and circularity of various single-serve coffee capsule materials. It found that when material circularity and greenhouse gas emissions are considered, compostable capsules are the most sustainable option.

• Coffee Planet appoints new COO and CFO to leadership team. The Emirati company has named founder Matthew Yorke Smith as Chief Operating Officer, while non-executive director Rob Saunders will take over as Chief Financial officer.

• Jacobs Douwe Egberts announces plans to close processing facility at UK factory. According to the BBC, the company intends to replace the Banbury, Oxfordshire processing facility with a packing facility. The Unite union says the change will put 280 workers at risk of redundancy.

• Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii announces two multi-unit development agreements in Phoenix, Arizona, US. The company has partnered with several local entrepreneurs to expand its presence in the greater Phoenix area. It has signed agreements for eight new stores in total.

• Löfbergs launches GrowGrounds in an attempt to reverse coffee’s negative climate and environmental impact. The new company is lead by Lars Aaen Thøgersen, Christina Singh, and Poul David Videbæk, three coffee professionals with extensive industry experience. It aims to “eliminate coffee’s negative CO2 impact and restore nature”.

• Coffee Circle Foundation opens submissions for its Coffee Vision Fund I. Every year, the German roaster invests some €4 million (US $4.3 million) in coffee-producing communities around the world. The €500,000 (US $543,072) initiative is open to international applicants who want to run projects related to water, sanitation, and hygiene, education, sustainability, fair supply chains, and climate resilience.

• Reborn Coffee reports 81% increase in revenue year-on-year in Q3 2023. The US coffee company says it recorded US $1.5 million in revenue in Q3 2023. It now operates 14 locations, with one more currently in development.

Wed, 15 Nov

• World Coffee Research releases new video series on robusta clonal nursery management. The five videos, created in support of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority’s Clonal Robusta Coffee Nursery Manual, cover topics ranging from propagation of clonal plantlets to management of nursery pests and diseases.

• European Coffee Awards 2023 announces shortlist. Candidates in various categories include Costa Coffee, Espresso House, Coffee Lab, Blank Street Coffee, Five Elephant, Origin Coffee Roasters, and WatchHouse. The awards ceremony will take place at the European Coffee Symposium on 28 November.

• Green Mountain Coffee Roasters announces partnership with actor Kevin Costner. The company’s new Horizon Blend by Kevin Costner is described as a “bold and smoky” dark roast inspired by the American West. The Academy Award winner currently stars in Yellowstone, a neo-Western drama TV series.

• Fairtrade America certifies 16 new brand partners in 2023. New partners include Metropolis Coffee Company and Twiga Coffee – bringing the number of Fairtrade-certified products to 84 this year.

• Study finds coffee consumption reduces the risk of developing IBS. The study, published in Nature, found that individuals who consumed coffee – regardless of the quantity or frequency – had a reduced risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome compared to those who abstained from coffee.

• Cotti Coffee opens first Hong Kong store. The Chinese coffee chain operates more than 6,200 outlets, but the Sheung Wan store is its first in Hong Kong. At launch, it offered customers limited-time discounts and says this will become a regular Monday offering.

• Caravela Coffee unveils new sourcing strategy. The company’s new “One Caravela” strategy aims to transform operations at its seven export and four import offices to facilitate greater collaboration and co-creation. It’s also investing in the upskilling of its global teams to enable greater autonomy, imagination, and self-management.

• Tims China reports another record-breaking quarter. The official operator of Tim Hortons stores in China reported a 42% increase in revenue year-on-year in Q3 2023, backed by 63 net new store openings and a 90.3% increase in loyalty club membership.

Thu, 16 Nov

• High Density 2023 takes place online. The theme of this year’s conference was “Not Just Origin”, highlighting how the coffee industry needs to recognise the differences between producing countries. It featured a full-day speaker programme including Mikael Jasin, Morgan Eckroth, Mario Fernández, Lucia Solis, and Karl Wienhold.

• MTPak Coffee launches 2023 Packaging Design Awards. The awards aim to celebrate the artistry of specialty coffee packaging. Specialty coffee roasters of all sizes are encouraged to submit their designs, with the winning design receiving US $5,000 cash or US $15,000 in MTPak Coffee packaging credit.

• Equator Coffees launches new Holiday Blend range. The Certified Organic blend contains coffees from Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Ethiopia. The company will donate 5% of sales from the blend and related merchandise to Coordinadora de Organizaciones de Desarrollo de Concepción Huista in Guatemala.

• Thousands of Starbucks workers hold strike across the US. Nationwide walkouts took place on the company’s annual Red Cup Day, when the chain hands out free limited-edition reusable red cups to promote the holiday season. As part of the strikes, workers are calling on the company to turn off mobile ordering on high-volume promotion days, improve staffing and scheduling issues, and take part in more reasonable bargaining with the union.

• New Washington, DC café, Tonari, promises fusion of Italian and Japanese coffee cultures. The café follows on from the success of the Tonari restaurant and offers customers all-day breakfast, various coffee-based drinks, and “Italian onigiri”.

• Catalyst Trade announces closure. The Portland, Oregon coffee company says lack of financing, interest rate hikes, and steep Ethiopian coffee price hikes are some of the factors that have forced it to cease trading. It will host a liquidation sale in coming weeks.

• Last chance to back crowdfunding campaign for The Coffee Deck. The deadline for pledges for the illustrated deck of cards, which features various coffee facts, is 22 November.

• Certification scheme 4C offers solution to support EU coffee companies to comply with anti-deforestation measures. In partnership with Global Risk Assessment Services, 4C is providing EU importing operators (including for coffee) and their suppliers with customised solutions in response to EU anti-deforestation measures – including adopting deforestation-free practices, operational legitimacy, and supply chain traceability.

• Big Guns Coffee and Isothermal Community College announce first-ever indoor hydroponic coffee farm. The joint venture aims to achieve proof-of-concept for indoor hydroponic coffee farming, hoping to attract investment for a large-scale coffee farm in Tennessee.

• Cumulus Coffee unveils cold brew machine and specialised coffee capsules. The startup, backed by investors including former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, says its machine offers premium cold brew coffee for at-home consumption. The aluminium capsules are recyclable and brew cold-pressed espresso in under 45 seconds.

Fri, 17 Nov

• Bellwether Coffee and Heirloom Coffee Roasters open the Heirloom Regenerative Coffee Lab. The two companies say the lab will reduce the carbon footprint of roasting by up to 92%. The opening was supported by the California Energy Commission’s Food Production Investment Program grant.

• Manchester Coffee Festival takes place on 18 & 19 November. The annual festival features an exhibition, various talks and panels, workshops, tasting sessions, and two competitions: the second edition of Extracted Development and the 2024 UK Cup Tasters Championship.

• Three 2023 World Coffee Championships held in Taipei, Taiwan. The 2023 World Latte Art, World Coffee in Good Spirits, and World Coffee Roasting Championships take place from 17 to 20 November at the Taiwan International Coffee Show 2023 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre.

• Mahlkönig to host EK Omnia coffee grinder launch events in three Australian cities in December. The company has partnered with its local distribution partners, Brewtech and AMC, to host launch parties in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane on 6, 8, and 14 December, respectively.

• Combat2Coffee offers UK veterans rehabilitation, outreach, and training through coffee. Founded by army veteran Nigel Seaman, the organisation uses a mobile platform to offer coffee training to armed forces veterans. Participants have the chance to earn their National Level 2 Barista qualification and are taken out into the community to practise their skills at public events.

• Pret A Manger opens first store in Spain. The UK café chain says the Barcelona store is the first of 70 Spanish and Portuguese cafés in development by Ibersol Group, its local franchise partner. The company currently operates more than 660 stores globally.

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

• Fri, 10 Nov – Kona coffee producers accuse Kroger of not following through with settlement agreement. According to Cincinnati Business Courier, the Hawaiian farmers allege that Kroger breached the US $13.5 million settlement, which came about after they sued Kroger, Walmart, Costco, Albertsons, Safety, and other retailers in 2019 for mislabeling coffee as Kona coffee.

Coffee news photo credits: Specialty Coffee Association, World Coffee Events

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The post Coffee News Recap, 17 Nov: Three 2023 World Coffee Championships take place in Taipei, 2023 Coffee of the Year winners announced at SIC & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

Mon, 6 Nov

• SCA releases updated 2024 World Barista Championship rules & regulations. The association says the rule changes focus on minor language clarifications to current practices around judging, conflicts of interest, and the milk beverage. It has also updated the tactile experience section of the espresso evaluation protocol.

• Starbucks announces improved employee benefits. The company says updates to employee benefits include earlier vacation accrual for new hires and incremental pay increases. It has also introduced a Starbucks North America Barista Championship.

• Saudi Coffee Company launches its first model farm in Jazan. The government-owned company says the massive facility aims to grow five million coffee trees by 2030. It will also offer insights into sustainable agriculture.

• Panamanian Geisha sells for US $686 per cup at Chinese coffee shop. The coffee was auctioned for US $10,005/kg at Best of Panama 2023 and each serving uses 15g. The Hanghzou coffee shop, Pumpli House, has now gone viral on Chinese social media.

• Starbucks reports first profitable year in Australia. The company says it made over US $2 million in profit during the 2023 financial year, after posting a loss of US $3.5 million the previous year.

• Pocket’s Chocolates launches collaboration with Blue Bottle Coffee. The chocolate-covered almond bar is inspired by Blue Bottle’s signature New Orleans-style spiced cold brew latte. It’s available exclusively at Blue Bottle stores in the US.

• illycaffè announces judges for 2023 Best of the Best Awards. The awards will be announced at the Ernesto Illy International Coffee Awards on 16 November. Judges include Guatemalan taster Silvia Escobar, Federação dos Cafeicultores do Cerrado President Glaucio De Castro, and CoffeeLab Director Sunalini Narayan Menon.

Tue, 7 Nov

• Brandon Lee wins 2023 American AeroPress Championship. Lee topped runners-up Cecil Cope and Tyler Galbraith at the event held at Onyx Coffee Lab’s Rogers HQ on 2 & 3 November. He will go on to represent the USA at the 2023 World AeroPress Championship in Melbourne, Australia from 1 to 3 December.

• Sintercafé International Coffee Week 2023 held in Costa Rica. The event was held at the Hotel Real Intercontinental in San José from 8 to 10 November and welcomed more than 500 key decision makers in the coffee industry.

• Two washed Geisha lots receive 90.74 points at 2023 Cup of Excellence Peru. The lots were produced by Yoniser Mego Silva on the Alton Mirador farm in Cajamarca. A total of 33 lots will be auctioned on 30 November.

• Stone Brewing launches full line of specialty coffee in partnership with NuZee. The brewery says the line is inspired by its coffee-infused beers and includes single-serve brew bags, pour-over bags, industrially compostable K-Cups, as well as whole beans.

• Fairtrade partners with Satelligence to expand coffee and cocoa producer deforestation monitoring. The organisation says the programme prioritises producer access to satellite monitoring data to boost forest protection and meet EU regulations. It’s hoped that Fairtrade cooperatives will use the data to better manage forest landscapes.

• New AstroBrew cold coffee maker promises to prepare cold brew in just 20 minutes. The countertop cold brew maker automatically chills coffee to 32°C in 20 minutes and can also prepare iced coffee and ice tea. Brewed coffee stays fresh for up to 30 days.

• SCA announces Coffee Value Assessment Patrons Programme. Adding to its Global Events Initiative, the SCA has introduced an official Patrons Programme, which will facilitate the SCA and Coffee Science Foundation’s continued research and development of the CVA and enable companies and organisations to support further refinement and development of the system.

• Coffee Quality Institute appoints Michael Sheridan as new CEO. Sheridan has spent two decades in international coffee development. He will guide the nonprofit organisation’s attempts to best meet emerging challenges in the industry to support global coffee-producing communities.

Wed, 8 Nov

• Brazil International Coffee Week 2023 held in Minas Gerais. First held in 2013, the event has grown into one of the largest coffee industry expos in the world. The 2023 edition took place at Expominas in Belo Horizonte from 8 to 10 November, featuring exhibitions, lectures, workshops, competitions, and coffee tastings.

• NCA Annual Convention early bird tickets 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.

• ACE to host Los Rodriguez Collection Nº2 Private Collection Auction on 30 January 2024. The Bolivian private collection auction features various lots produced by the Los Rodriguez family, promising citrus, caramel notes from the Caranavi region and the bold and fruity flavors of the Samaipata valleys. Sample sets are available now.

• Allpress and Minor Figures to host Manchester Coffee Festival warm-up party on 16 November. The party will take place at Allpress Espresso Café in Manchester, featuring a barista competition, food & drinks, a live DJ, and a celebration of Allpress’ new location.

• Blue Bottle Coffee and artist Devon Rodriguez collaborate on “The Human-Generated Art Experiment”. Blue Bottle hosted a collaborative event in New York City on 25 October, where Rodriguez and an AI image generator simultaneously created artworks from the same prompts. The event aimed to draw parallels between “the human touch” involved in coffee brewing and artistry.

• Dutch Bros reports 33.2% increase in total revenues year-on-year. The coffee chain recorded net income of US $13.4 million in the 2023 financial year. It also opened 39 new stores during Q3 of 2023 and now operates a total of 794 locations.

• Swiss Water reports 29% decrease in year-on-year revenue in Q3 2023. The premium green coffee decaffeinating company adds that it recorded a net loss of US $0.4 million during the same period, while its adjusted EBITDA for Q3 decreased by US $2.8 million.

Thu, 9 Nov

• Tanzania Coffee Research Institute develops four drought-resistant coffee varieties. The institute says the arabica varieties will be distributed to local farmers during the coming 2023/24 growing season. According to The Citizen, several growing regions suffer from insufficient rainfall.

• Coffee Board of India appoints MJ Dinesh as new CEO. Dinesh will serve a three-year term, contributing his extensive experience in policymaking and administration in the Indian coffee industry.

• Nespresso announces David Beckham as new brand ambassador. The English former professional footballer has starred in a new advert for the Nestlé brand, joining actor George Clooney as a brand ambassador.

• Westrock Coffee Company reports 4.6% year-on-year decrease in sales in Q3 2023. The American company says sales decreased by US $10.7 million year-on-year in Q3, while its adjusted EBITDA fell by US $6.3 million during the same period.

• Coffee prices close higher on dwindling ICE inventories. ICE-monitored arabica inventories reached a 24-year low of 302,235 60kg bags of green coffee on Thursday. As a result, the arabica contract for December delivery increased by 2.55%, while the corresponding robusta contract increased by 1%.

• vida e caffè launches 100% South African coffee blend. The South African coffee chain says it sources the coffee for its RedBerry blend from producers in the KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces, adding that it aims to support local farmers.

• Starbucks faces wide-scale boycotts over Israel ties, sues union over deleted pro-Palestinian post. Starbucks employees are reporting lower footfall at various cafés following several calls to boycott the chain over alleged support for Israel. Last month, Starbucks filed a legal complaint against Starbucks Workers United over a since-deleted social media post stating “Solidarity with Palestine”.

• Quench announces acquisition of Neighbors Coffee Co. The American filtered water, ice, and coffee company says the acquisition aligns with its goal of providing commercial customers with “the broadest array of premium point-of-use offerings”.

• De’Longhi reports 3.3% year-on-year increase in revenue in Q3 2023. The company says its adjusted EBITDA increased by 5.7% during the same period. However, year-to-date revenue decreased by 6.1% compared to the same period last year.

Fri, 10 Nov

• The Paris Café Festival set to return from 9 to 11 March 2024. The 5th edition of the annual event will take place at Le Carreau du Temple, featuring dozens of industry exhibitors, a dedicated Pro Day, and several coffee competitions – including Roast Masters Paris and Latte Art Live.

• Cafe Imports hosts Cupping Corner at Coffee Fest Orlando. The cupping programme includes demonstrations, an FAQ session, featured cuppings, and the “2 Brews & a Lie” triangulation challenge. Coffee Fest Orlando takes place on 10 & 11 November at the Orange County Convention Centre.

• Artpresso restocks accessory line for Breville espresso machines. The coffee machine accessory manufacturer says the line, which includes the Lance Hendrick Signature Collection, is available once more. It includes custom covers, portafilter handles, and grinder hopper lids.

• DoubleShot Coffee founder Brian Franklin launches crowdfunding campaign to fund new book. The American company says The Coffee Purist will feature various stories relating to its history, including its legal battle with Starbucks. The book is set to be published in November 2024.

• Breville says the average UK coffee consumer will drink 62,000 cups in a lifetime. The coffee machine manufacturer commissioned a study of 2,000 coffee consumers, finding that the average consumer will drink around 18,000 litres of coffee in their lifetime. It added that 41% of respondents said they struggle to function properly until they’ve had their first cup.

• Flash Coffee owes employees US $220,500 and owes creditors US $11 million. The coffee chain owes outstanding amounts to around 120 creditors after closing all 11 of its Singapore stores in October to focus on other markets. Authorities are in the process of taking assets into custody, which will be sold to settle debts.

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

• Wed, 1 Nov – Paris Baguette announces partnership with French football club Paris Saint-Germain. The deal will see the café chain carry out a range of marketing activities in South Korea and elsewhere, while its logo and advertising video will be displayed during live games at the Parc des Princes stadium.

• Thu, 2 Nov – Panera Brands cuts corporate staff by 17% ahead of initial public offering. The company, which operates Panera Bread and Caribou Coffee, has let go of around 300 employees as it aims to streamline operations ahead of its IPO.

• Fri, 3 Nov – Kona Coffee Cultural Festival gets underway in Hawaii. The 52nd edition of the festival aims to preserve, perpetuate, and promote the Kona region’s nearly 200-year coffee growing heritage. The event runs until 12 November.

• Fri, 3 Nov – New study finds humans smell in 3D. A study published in Current Biology suggests that the human brain records smell information – including coffee aromas – in different places depending on which nostril it comes from.

• Fri, 3 Nov – US grocery store coffee sales drop below pre-pandemic levels. Reuters reports that overall packaged coffee sales fell by 3.7% from September 2022 to September 2023, suggesting that high coffee prices are leading to lower consumption.

• Sat, 4 Nov – Police probe death of three workers at Ugandan coffee factory. According to Monitor, three casual workers died after they reportedly suffocated in the Zigoti Coffee Factory’s elevator shaft.

Coffee news photo credits: World Coffee Events

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest coffee news stories in the sector, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.

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The post Coffee News Recap, 10 Nov: WBC rules & regulations announced for 2024, most expensive 2023 BoP Gesha sells for US $686 per cup & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

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

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest coffee news stories in the sector, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.

Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence news piece questioning whether coffee machines will save BT’s sliding share price.

The post Coffee News Recap, 3 Nov: Exhibitor registration opens for WoC Copenhagen and Specialty Coffee Expo in Chicago, 2023 Brazil International Coffee Week to take place from 8 to 10 November & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

Mon, 23 Oct

• Pret A Manger and Dallas International announce joint venture to accelerate expansion in the US. The UK coffee and food-to-go chain says there is significant growth potential in the US market. Dallas International will exclusively operate 50 existing Pret locations in three US states, and will also have the exclusive rights to open new cafés in these markets.

• New NCA study finds US consumers spent US $301 million on coffee every day in 2022. Conducted by Technomic on behalf of the association, the study found that US consumers spent nearly US $110 billion on coffee and related products last year – equating to 8% of the total value of the country’s entire food service industry.

• ONA Coffee and Customs Den collaborate on limited-edition sneakers. The Australian specialty coffee roaster says the shoes are inspired by “the magic of Raspberry Candy” – one of its most popular blends. Each hand painted pair takes up to 10 hours to produce, and only 30 pairs of the sneakers will be released.

• New research finds coffee and tea drinkers are less likely to be frail in their 70s. A study of more than 12,000 participants over 20 years found that drinking coffee or tea in midlife can make you stronger as you age. Researchers say further studies are needed to establish which chemical compounds are responsible.

• ABC Fund invests US $847,000 in Ugandan coffee supplier. JKCC General Supplies specialises in sourcing high-quality coffee from more than 3,700 smallholder producers across Uganda.

• Juan Valdez opens first outlet in Egypt. The Colombian coffee chain’s Giza café is the first of 60 planned in the country as part of its Middle East and North Africa expansion strategy.

• Keurig Dr Pepper to invest a further US $100 million in South Carolina coffee manufacturing facility. The company, which has now invested a total of US $480 million in the facility, expects to create 250 new jobs by 2027.

• Veneziano Coffee Roasters opens new location at Melbourne Airport in Australia. The local roaster says its new coffee shop will showcase the best of Melbourne’s coffee culture to the 9.2 million travellers passing through terminal 1 every year.

Tue, 24 Oct

• This year’s Green Coffee Summit to take place online on 5 & 6 December. The third edition of the free summit will feature presentations, lectures, and panel discussions which provide reliable and actionable knowledge about specialty coffee markets to producers, traders, and green coffee buyers.

• FII Institute announces Saudi Coffee Company as official coffee partner at Future Investment Initiative 2023. The state-owned company showcased its JAZEAN brand at the event, which took place from 24 to 26 October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

• IDH seeks partner to support development of low-carbon emission coffee supply chain in Vietnam. The organisation says the partner will need to help upgrade its existing carbon calculation tool and methodology, as well as to develop strategies to commercialise lower carbon emission coffee to its customers.

• Vietnam on course for record coffee exports in 2023. The country’s Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry predicts exports to reach 1.7 million tonnes this year, and is encouraging producers to focus on improving quality to continue growth.

• Gen Z is fuelling the at-home coffee sector in the US. Newsweek says Gen Z and millennials are invested in improving their home brewing setups – including posting them on social media platforms like TikTok.

• Irish rugby legend Keith Earls to focus on coffee roasting business post-retirement. The 36-year-old announced his retirement from professional rugby after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He will now focus on Eleven14 Coffee Roasters, a Limerick specialty coffee roaster co-founded with former teammate Damien Varley.

• Indigenous Suruí producers in Brazil grow specialty coffee following reclamation of native land. The Paiter Suruí people are using their extensive knowledge of agroforestry to produce specialty coffee in Rondônia state. The community is also receiving training and access to infrastructure from local farm 3 Corações.

• Costa Coffee helps to drive Coca-Cola’s coffee business sales by 6% in Q3 2023. The company says Costa Coffee performed strongly in the UK and China – helping it to achieve 8% growth in net revenue overall.

• Ernesto Illy International Coffee Awards sustainability roundtable to take place at the United Nations in New York on 16 November. The theme of the discussion is “How to protect the future of coffee”, and will focus on how global agricultural practices impact climate change, biodiversity, human health, carbon sequestration, and the sustainability of farmers.

Wed, 25 Oct

• SCA announces board of directors for 2024-25. New board members were promoted to their positions without an election as the number of candidates this year was equal to the number of open seats. The new board of directors are:
  • Giovanni Fucili, Sales Director EMEA for Simonelli Group S.p.A.
  • Jiyoon Han, co-owner of Bean & Bean Coffee and Q grader
  • Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian, president and CEO of JNP Coffee
  • Rob Stephen, Managing Director of Covoya Specialty Coffee

• Dalla Corte unveils new Zero Plus espresso machine. The machine features the Digital Flow Regulator, which allows baristas to fully customise flow rate using digital touch screens. The new library also enable users to store multiple flow profiling recipes.

• Cup of Excellence changes competition rules for first time in 24 years ahead of 2023 CoE Brazil. The non-profit says the changes will foster fair competition and “redefine” how the industry discovers and markets exceptional coffees. Each participating country can choose to feature three distinct categories, which will be cupped and scored separately:
  • Dry process (naturals)
  • Wet process (including washed, honey, pulped naturals, and semi-washed)
  • Experimentals (including wet & dry processes with special treatments)

• Starbucks China adapts to domestic market with new Intenso Collection. The premium coffee range contains double the amount of espresso and is served in a smaller 259ml cup.

• American woman awarded US $3 million in lawsuit settlement after being severely burned by coffee at Dunkin’ drive-thru. The 70-year-old woman’s lawyer said the burns, caused by a hot cup of coffee, resulted in over US $200,000 in medical bills. Dunkin’ franchisee Golden Donuts, LLC agreed to the settlement to compensate the woman for her injuries.

• Union says former Flash Coffee Singapore employees won’t receive owed salaries in the near term following liquidation. Administrators placed Flash Coffee under provisional liquidation earlier this month as a result of liabilities. The Food, Drinks and Allied Workers Union has told affected parties that liquidation will delay the payment of outstanding salaries.

• Neumann Kaffee Gruppe joins ILO Child Labor Platform. The ILO project will bring together a coalition of governments, companies, and stakeholders to tackle the root causes of child labour, which has increased for the first time in 20 years according to official data.

• Analysis shows coffee shop workers are among the jobs with the highest LGB+ representation in England and Wales. A study by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that coffee shop staff, theme park attendants, and entertainment presenters are among the occupations in England and Wales with the highest proportion of employees identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or other minority sexual orientations.

• Almost 90% of exhibitor booths sold out for SIGEP 2024. The 45th edition of the event, which will take place from 20 to 24 January, is set to include more than 1,200 brands over 129,000 sq m floor space.

• Coffee By Design voluntarily recognises worker unionisation. According to the Portland Press Herald, the coffee chain’s founder told employees that the company recognises their union, Local 327, and will negotiate a new contract while working with the Laborers’ Union.

• La Marzocco ranks first in Italy’s Best Workplaces for Blue Collar 2023. The company was recognised by Great Place to Work Italia as an example of an excellent work environment, as well as for its focus on staff wellbeing in its production department.

Thu, 26 Oct

• Speaker applications open for PRF Guatemala on 7 & 8 March 2024. PRF will return to the Anacafé and Guatemalan Coffees venue in Guatemala City for the first time since 2019. Over 4,000 attendees are expected to take part in lectures, workshops, cuppings, and competitions. Prospective speakers can apply to showcase their knowledge and expertise on a number of topics by filling out this form in English or this form in Spanish.

• ASEAN Café Show 2023 takes place in Bangkok, Thailand. The three-day event will run until 29 October, and includes a trade show, a series of talks, cupping sessions, and the 2024 Thai Coffee Roasting Championship.

• Applications open for 2024-25 NKG PACE programme. The initiative is open to members of the black community interested in developing a career in coffee, including in Q grading and quality control. The programme will take place in Hoboken, Seattle, and San Diego, US, and applications close on 30 November.

• SCA Coffee Retail Summit takes place online. The SCA presented this year’s summit at community events in Busan, South Korea, Chicago, US, and Copenhagen, Denmark. Speakers included Collective Coffee CEO Cees Kuypers and Supply Change Capital CEO Shayna Harris.

• Café Imports launches free open-source coffee education platform. The ed+u platform provides live online classes covering a variety of topics. The first classes took place on 26 & 27 October, featuring discussions about coffee taxonomy, anatomy, and origins.

• Blue Bottle collaborates with NIGO on HUMAN MADE coffee and street wear collection. The collection celebrates the opening of the first Blue Bottle cafe in Shibuya, Tokyo – designer Nigo’s hometown – and includes a t-shirt, hoodie, sweatshirt, hat, keychain, and a Past and Future Blend bundle.

• Coffee professional Olga Lucia Cuellar Gomez launches fundraiser to provide financial support during cancer treatment. Olga was diagnosed with cancer on 7 June 2023 and is currently self-employed, so will use donations as financial support while she focuses on her recovery.

• Amatera raises US $1.6 million to expand climate-smart coffee breeding platform. The French start-up aims to develop climate-smart perennial crops, including a new coffee variety that combines the resiliency and high yields of robusta with the flavour profile of arabica.

• Team Fleetwood Macchiato wins the 2023 Barista League Milwaukee. Usama Abdelsalam and Rylah Kluck secured their spots at next year’s Mystery Coffee Vacation. Guest judges included Veronica Pearl of Glitter Cat Barista and Sean Liu of Discourse Coffee.

• Kenya Coffee Producers Association says just 11.5% of coffee producers understand milling and marketing contracts. The association’s latest report also found that despite the country selling most of its coffee to the US, only 1% of local producers own US dollar accounts. In total, the association estimates that just 10% of producers actively take part in the value chain.

• Keurig Dr Pepper reports 3.2% decrease in net coffee sales during 2023 Q3. Net coffee sales reached US $1.01 billion, compared to US $1.05 billion in the same period last year. Pod revenue decreased by 4.8%, which the company says was driven by shipment declines.

Fri, 27 Oct

• The 2023 Cyprus, South Australia, Brazil, and Japan AeroPress Championships to take place on 27 & 28 October. The winner of the South Australian competition will secure one of seven spots at the national championship on 1 December, while the winners of the Cypriot, Brazilian, and Japanese competitions will proceed to the World AeroPress Championship finals in Melbourne from 1 to 3 December.

• Kenyan government secures direct trade coffee sales with The Java Coffee Company. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua signed an agreement with the coffee firm in Rotselaar, Belgium. The company pledges to purchase an initial shipment of 10,000 60kg bags of green coffee.

• Bean Voyage to host Women-Powered Coffee Summit on 2 & 3 November in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The two-day event aims to champion gender equity and justice in the global coffee industry. Speakers will include Kat Melheim of Roasterkat & Coffee People Zine and Giselle Barrera of Latinas in Coffee.

• Curate Coffee Roasters to host Omakase Experience in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia on 27 November featuring 2023 World Barista Champion Boram Um. Alongside WBC finalist Cole Torode, Um will host a three-course coffee experience as part of his Dream Team World Tour.

• South Korean chain TOUS les JOURS opens first Canadian café. The company’s Canadian debut comes after strong sales in the US market. The Calgary location will serve as a springboard for further expansion.

• Paris Baguette partners with local franchisee to develop stores in the Middle East. The South Korean café chain aims to enter several Middle Eastern markets by 2033, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain with the support of Galadari Brothers Group.

• Alshaya Group targets 3,000 Starbucks stores in the Middle East by 2028. The Kuwaiti franchise group already operates around 2,000 stores across Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern countries. It now aims to open a further 250 stores per year by 2028.

• Coffee Fest Orlando 2023 to take place on 10 & 11 November. The Orlando, Florida event will take place at the Orange County Convention Centre, and will feature exhibitions, educational events, and several competitions.

• Origin Roasted ships Peru coffee harvest to coffee subscribers in record time. The US company, which also roasts coffee in Colombia, shipped the Peruvian Double Caturra in late October after it was harvested in August.

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

• Mon, 16 Oct – Workers at Vibrant Coffee Roasters in Philadelphia, US seek union election. Employees have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations board, and plan to join the local Workers United chapter.

• Thu, 19 Oct – Bazzara adds three new coffees to its Luxury Blend range. The Italian roaster has launched the Panarabica range, which includes coffee sourced from Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

• Fri, 20 Oct – Researchers say coffee consumption can reduce the risk of migraines. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a causal link between coffee consumption and reduction in migraine risk. However, it also found no similar associations for other neurological diseases studied.

• Sat, 21 Oct – Coffee consumption may protect kidney function. A study published in Nutrients found that despite long-held hypotheses, drinking coffee may be beneficial for kidney function. However, this only applies for people with a “higher genetic predisposition” to caffeine intake.

• Sat, 21 Oct – Indian Coffee Board to launch collaborative research project with local producers. The project aims to improve robusta productivity and will focus on clonal propagation.

• Sat, 21 Oct – Bamboo “eco-cups” may pose health risks. The Guardian reports that despite companies promoting them as sustainable, bamboo cups are usually non-recyclable. They may also accelerate the degradation of plastic resin that could be harmful to human health.

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest coffee news stories in the sector, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.

Coffee news image credits: Producer & Roaster Forum

Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence news piece on PRF Guatemala 2024.

The post Coffee News Recap, 27 Oct: Speaker applications open for PRF Guatemala, CoE changes competition rules for first time in over 20 years & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

Mon, 16 Oct

• CostaX unveils new Podio capsule machines at HostMilano 2023. The Costa Coffee subsidiary’s Podio X1 and X2 machines are targeted at hotels, restaurants, bars, and workspaces. The capsule systems feature plug-and-play functionality, intuitive interfaces, and smart connectivity. CostaX machines will be available from early 2024.

• Nespresso partners with Royal Mail UK to boost collection rates of recyclable aluminium capsules. Customers can now arrange free collection of used coffee capsules through Royal Mail, or alternatively drop them off at one of more than 14,000 locations nationwide.

• UK Coffee Week takes places to raise funds for Project Waterfall. Thousands of coffee shops, roasters, and consumers are taking part to raise funds for the initiative. This year, Project Waterfall will use donations to provide coffee-producing communities in Berbere, Ethiopia with clean drinking water, sanitation, and educational opportunities.

• Cup of Excellence to host cupping sessions in Amsterdam, Houston, and Taiwan in November for this year’s Colombian competition. The cupping sessions will give buyers the chance to sample lots from this year’s CoE Colombia at the following locations:
  • Amsterdam, Netherlands: 9 November at The Coffee Quest
  • Houston, Texas, US: 17 November at Caravela Coffee
  • Taichung City, Taiwan: 13 November at Blossom Valley
  • Taipei, Taiwan: 18 November at Pebble Coffee

• Early bird tickets for 2024 National Coffee Association Convention available until 16 November. NCA members are also eligible for a further discount. The 2024 NCA Convention will take place in Nashville, Tennessee from 7 to 9 March.

• UK’s Origin Coffee receives US $3.8 million investment to support growth. The funding will be used to support the company’s digital, retail, and wholesale activities throughout the next four years. Origin will also plan to increase its direct green coffee purchases from producers by 77%.

• This year’s San Francisco Coffee Festival take place on 11 & 12 November. Tickets for the 2022 event completely sold out, so organisers are encouraging prospective attendees to secure their spots early.

• This year’s IWCA Convention takes place Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the first time. This year’s convention will run until 22 October, and features several industry-leading speakers. The IWCA Convention Scholarships also helped to cover a portion of attendees’ fees, including funding from companies such as JNP Coffee.

Tue, 17 Oct

• AeroPress launches new range of accessories. AeroPress owners can now customise their brewers with decorative lids and sleeves. New products also include the AeroPress Organiser Stand – which features separate compartments for the brewer, stirrer, filter cap, and paper filters – and the AeroPress Carafe, which is the only carafe specifically designed for the AeroPress.

• Chilean Matias Faúndez wins the 2023 Latte Art Grading System World Championship at HostMilano. Faúndez faced off against some of the best latte art competitors in the world, beating participants from Peru, Colombia, Italy, and Spain to win the 2023 championship.

• Ground Control launches compact New Ground Control commercial batch brewer. The company says the new machine costs 45% less than its predecessor (the Cyclops) without compromising on functionality. The compact brewer can fit under countertops, while the Smart Dispenser system records and displays brewing data via Bluetooth.

• Rancilio Group launches Egro MoDe fully-automatic coffee machine at HostMilano. The compact machine includes the choice of one or two integrated bean hoppers, as well as a single or double instant product hoppers. The Egro’s modular design means it can be attached to a milk module – with a maximum output of 150 cups per day.

• Baristas at three Coffee by Design cafés announce plans to unionise. Workers at the Portland, Maine locations say 89% of the retail workforce has authorised the formation of a Laborers’ International Union of North America chapter. The chain’s owner has agreed to enter contract negotiations.

• Equator Coffees reopens San Francisco café. The SOMA location closed following challenges caused by the pandemic. The roaster says it hopes to support the revitalisation of the area.

• Cimbali Group unveils rebranding at HostMilano. Formerly known as Gruppo Cimbali, the company’s rebrand includes a new name, corporate identity, logo, and branding colours. The reveal took place at HostMilano, where the company hosted a large booth.

• Panel recordings of first-ever Ally Open Summit available on YouTube. The panel discussions featured several international industry experts, leaders, and competitors, including 2022 World Coffee Roasting Champion Felix Teiretzbacher, 2022 World Brewers Cup Champion Sherry Hsu, 2022 US Barista Champion Morgan Eckroth, and 2022 US Cup Tasters Champion Julien Langevin.

Wed, 18 Oct

• Costa Coffee reports return to profitability in 2022. The UK coffee chain announced full-year profit of US $297 million in 2022 and 21% year-on-year sales growth. This follows a US $46.6 million loss in 2021.

• Voting opens for SCA Germany, Ukraine, and UK Chapter elections. Voting for all three Chapter Committee elections closes on 25 October, with results to be announced on 1 November.

• SCA Norway Chapter announces new committee members. Six coordinators have been elected to the national committee:
  • National Coordinator: Marit Lynes
  • Community Coordinator: Tobias Abrahamsen
  • Education Coordinator: Madelein Solheim Johnsen
  • Judges Coordinator: Espen Stokkan Smith
  • Marketing & Communications Coordinator: Lise Romo
  • Events Coordinator: Stig Morten Hiller

• Nespresso launches functional capsules for the Vertuo brewer. The new line includes capsules with added caffeine, ginseng, and vitamin B12, as well as a half-caf option.

• Digital Coffee Future to host virtual Coffee Prices & Technology Summit: Trends, Margins, and Pay Gap on 25 & 26 October. The online event will feature discussions around coffee price dynamics and their impact on the industry. Expert speakers will include JNP Coffee’s Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian, Sucafina’s Ilya Byzov, and Vuna Origin Consulting’s Sara Morrocchi.

• Juan Valdez aims to operate 50 stores in Turkey by the end of 2024. The Colombian coffee chain says it plans to accelerate expansion in Turkey over the next 12 months, after opening its first Turkish store in Istanbul in April 2022.

• Trabocca celebrates its 20 anniversary. The Dutch company hosted celebrations at its offices in Amsterdam, Addis Ababa, and Minneapolis – reflecting on its growth and dedication to sourcing traceable coffees.

• Vision Zero Fund and International Labour Organisation co-host Challenges to guaranteeing Occupational Safety and Health in the Coffee Supply Chain webinar. As part of the #CoffeePeople campaign, the two organisations will host several online webinars and launch a documentary. The next webinar will take place on 9 November at 15:00 CET.

• Bonavita Enthusiast with Glass Carafé becomes the latest SCA Certified Home Brewer. The eight-cup batch brewer features a pre-infusion mode that mimics the pour over brewing methods.

• Nespresso and Peet’s resolve capsule trademark lawsuit. The companies have settled the dispute out of court after Nespresso filed a trademark lawsuit last year, alleging that Peet’s used its capsules to create a false association with the Nespresso brand.

• Saudi Coffee Company launches specialist academy to empower local coffee producers. The Saudi Coffee Company Academy will initially focus on farmers, but aims to train more than 400 individuals annually in various areas of the coffee industry. Courses include Best Agriculture Practices, Best Processing Practices, Barista, Brewing, Sensory, Roasting, and Green Beans.

• Colombia reports 2% year-on-year increase in coffee production in September. The National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers adds that exports increased by 1% during the same period, while production for the current year remains 6% lower than the previous season.

• SCA calls for proposals for 2024 Specialty Coffee Expo Lecture Series. The SCA is looking for industry experts to submit lecture proposals for the 2024 Specialty Coffee Expo in Chicago, US from 11 to 14 April. Topics include business, coffee science, and sustainability.

Thu, 19 Oct

• Winners of the 20th annual Roaster of the Year Award announced. Bridge City Coffee of Greenville, South Carolina is the Micro Roaster of the Year, while Verve Coffee Roasters of Santa Cruz, California is the Macro Roaster of the Year.

• EL&N makes its debut in Poland. The UK boutique café chain has opened a store in Warsaw, Poland – marking its 18th outlet in Europe and 35th in the world. The store is located in the Westfield Arkadia shopping centre.

• Pact Coffee becomes first UK roaster to launch Rwandan micro-lot coffee at Waitrose stores. The light roast specialty coffee is sourced from Kibirizi washing station, which is a collective of 1,130 smallholder producers in the Karongi District. Waitrose now also stocks Pact’s Bourbon Cream Espresso and Fruit & Nut Espresso blends.

• Fairtrade America and Fairtrade Canada partner for first time for Fairtrade month. As part of the “We Are Fairtrade” campaign, the two chapters will co-host the This is the Future of Farming – A Conversation with the Next Generation of Farmers webinar on 25 October at 17:00 BST, which includes the perspectives of a coffee producer.

• Sustainability firm Carble launches Carblecast educational podcast. Hosted by CEO Sander Reduerink, the podcast explores how global companies can produce commodities like coffee and cocoa that benefit all people in the supply chain, while also mitigating environmental impacts.

• Coffee in Action’s Vadym Granovskiy hosts flat red tasting at Ukrainian restaurant Mriya in London. The UK Cezve/Ibrik Champion served the Ukrainian coffee drink for guests at the restaurant, and also spoke about the history of coffee in the country.

• Balzac Brothers to host Q grader certification course from 2 to 7 February 2024 in Charleston, South Carolina. The six-day Coffee Quality Institute course includes both training and the certification exam. Q grader Traci Armstrong and the Balzac Brothers team will host the course.

• US branded coffee shop market exceeds 40,000 outlets for the first time. The latest Project Café USA 2024 report says there are now 40,062 locations nationwide, and adds that the sector reached 104% of its pre-pandemic market value over the past year.

• Coffee futures increase sharply on tight supplies. The arabica contract for December delivery increased by 3.73%, while the corresponding robusta contract increased by 3.14%. Global coffee inventories continue to shrink, with El Niño expected to increase prices further.

• New project builds detailed logistics network to assess how Colombian coffee producers can benefit from improved road infrastructure. Researchers at Univalle used geographic information systems to analyse more than 3,200 routes in Nariño, Colombia to determine the overall efficiency of the local coffee logistics network. The data will be applied to future road infrastructure developments.

• More than half of Brazil’s 2023/24 coffee crop has already been sold, while coffee exports slowed by shipping issues. Reuters reports that Brazilian coffee farmers have already sold 56% of their harvest, compared to 60% at the same time last year. Meanwhile, exporters are reporting delays in coffee shipments as a result of limited availability of trucks and containers.

• Starbucks and Nespresso helped Nestlé achieve 7.8% organic growth over the past nine months. Despite total sales decreasing by 0.4%, Nestlé says it experienced healthy growth partially driven by Starbucks and Nespresso product sales.

Fri, 20 Oct

• South African Specialty Coffee Expo to take place in Cape Town for the first time. After hosting successful events in Johannesburg, organisers will bring the event to Maker’s Landing from 27 to 29 October 2023. The expo will feature a Roaster’s Village, dozens of exhibitions, and the 2024 regional Western Cape Barista Championship.

• Amsterdam Coffee Festival to return from 4 to 6 April 2024. The annual expo celebrates the vibrant Dutch specialty coffee scene. The event will feature the Roasters Village, the Faemina Coffee School, Latte Art Live, and the Roast Masters competition.

• ASEAN Café Show 2023 to be held from 26 to 29 October in Bangkok, Thailand. Taking place at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre, the event will host four Thai Coffee Championships, including the Barista Championship and Brewers Cup. The 17th edition of the Thailand Coffee Tea & Drinks expo will also take place alongside the ASEAN Café Show, as well as the Thailand Bakery & Ice Cream.

• The Barista League Milwaukee set to take place on 21 October at Colectivo Coffee. The multi-disciplinary barista competition will feature the Mystery Mocktail Challenge and a dedicated Brew Bar. Judges will include Arielle Rebekah of Trans & Caffeinated Consulting and Veronica Pearl of Glitter Cat Barista.

• This year’s Taiwan & Korean AeroPress Championships scheduled for 28 October. The Taiwanese competition will be hosted by Sunbear Co. at CMP Park2 in Taichung City, while 180 Coffee Roasters will host the Korean event at Gute Leute in Seoul. The winners will go on to represent their countries at the 2023 World AeroPress Championship in Melbourne, Australia from 1 to 3 December.

• Registration opens for Roast Summit 2024. Next year’s summit will take place at the McMenamins Kennedy School and Buckman Coffee Factory in Portland, Oregon on 22 & 23 February 2024.

• Cuptasters Grand Battle 2023 take places in Thailand. Special guests include 2022 World AeroPress Champion Jibbi Little and 2023 World Cup Tasters Champion. The final round will be held on 10 December 2023.

• Cotti Coffee registers multiple trademarks for baijiu liquor-infused cold brew. The Chinese coffee chain will likely launch a baiju-infused cold brew product in the coming months, following the runaway success of rival Luckin Coffee’s Moutai latte in September.

• Caffè Nero reports 13.5% year-on-year sales growth in the period ending 31 August 2023. The UK coffee chain further reported 19% year-on-year sales growth at group level, adding that it now operates 620 outlets in total.

• Last chance for volunteer registration for 2023 World Coffee Championships in Taipei. Prospective volunteers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, with the roles of check-in assistant, stage assistant, pack-up assistant, and emcee still available. The World Latte Art, Coffee Roasting, and Coffee in Good Spirits Championships will be held in Taipei from 17 to 20 November 2023.

• Prague Coffee Festival 2023 to take place at Holešovice Market on 21 & 22 October. The annual coffee festival will include a roasters exhibition, a lecture programme, and various workshops.

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

• Tue, 3 Oct – Matthew Algie launches Piacetto Italian coffee range. Scotland’s largest roaster acquired the blend from Tchibo Coffee, which was relaunched at the 2023 Caffè Culture event in London.

• Wed, 11 Oct – Pret A Manger to open first Canadian store in 2024. The UK café chain plans to open a store in Toronto’s financial district early next year, marking its first foray into the Canadian market.

• Fri, 13 Oct – Dutch Bros achieves target of 800 stores in the US by the end of 2023. The coffee chain will now focus on opening a further 200 stores nationwide by July 2025.

• Sun, 15 Oct – New Zealand takeaway coffee prices are rising at the fastest rate in a decade. According to Stats NZ, the average price of a takeaway coffee in New Zealand increased by 6.9% between June 2022 and July 2023.

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest coffee news stories in the sector, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.

Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence News & Opinion piece on selling specialty coffee in supermarkets.

The post Coffee News Recap, 20 Oct: Nespresso and Peet’s resolve capsule trademark lawsuit, UK Coffee Week raises funds for Project Waterfall & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.