Mon, 22 May

• SCA announces speaker schedule for 2023 Education Summit to take place in Busan, South Korea. Speakers will include Peter Giuliano and Dr. Mario Fernández-Alduenda, who will present the new Coffee Value Assessment, and Dr. Nancy Cordoba, who will share the latest ongoing research on sweetness in coffee. The 2023 Education Summit will take place on 31 May & 1 June.

• Dunkin’ India closed 11 stores over the past year. Franchise partner Jubilant FoodWorks Limited says it wants to attract younger customer demographics through a renewed, more coffee-focused brand identity.

• USDA anticipates 2% rise in India’s coffee exports in 2023/24 season. The USDA forecasts exports will reach 6.3 million 60 kg bags during the period, driven by strong export prospects.

• Benjamin Put wins 2023 Canadian Barista Championship. Ply Pasarj of Rogue Wave Coffee placed second, while Jair Garduno of Hatch Coffee came third. Put of Monogram Coffee will represent Canada at the 2023 World Barista Championship at World of Coffee Athens in June.

• SCA launches survey for its Sustainable Coffee Agenda. The SCA is looking for professionals across the supply chain to assess and track the impact of how value is created, measured, and distributed in the industry, with the broader goal of creating more equitable value distribution. Results of the survey will be used to generate a report. The survey is also available in Spanish here.

• SCA Denmark announces winners of 2023 National Barista, Brewers Cup, and Cup Tasters Championships. Patrik Rolf is this year’s Danish Barista Champion, Kian Hickman placed first at the Danish Brewers Cup, and David Savovski is the 2023 Danish Cup Tasters Champion. All three will represent Denmark at the World Coffee Championships in Athens.

Tue, 23 May

• SCA announces workshop schedule for 2023 World of Coffee Athens. Workshops across the three-day event will include Understanding and applying the evolved cupping protocol: the SCA’s Coffee Value Assessment, Physical and sensory evaluation of experimentally processed coffees, and Espresso extraction and beverage creation on fully automatics.

• This year’s Sheffield Coffee Festival to take place on 3 & 4 June. The event will include an exhibition, latte art and home brewing workshops, the Northern Filter Championships, coffee tasting sessions, and a series of talks.

• Swiss company Pinecone launches Foxtail commercial grinder and Pinion home grinder. The Foxtail includes 120mm flat burrs which can grind up to 2.5kg (5lbs) of coffee per minute. The Pinion grinder, meanwhile, includes 65mm flat burrs and can dispense ground coffee directly into portafilters.

• Royal Coffee sells new coffee from award-winning Ecuadorian producer Juan Peña. The Ecuador Zamora Chinchipe Chito Community coffee is part of Peña’s new project, and is produced with the same protocols as award-winning Hacienda La Papaya. Buyers of five boxes will receive a sixth box at 50% off with the code: 30036.

• Robusta futures reach 15-year high as demand rises and production estimates fall. Robusta futures closed at US $2,629 on Monday – the highest price since 2008. Industry experts say the rise is attributed to increased demand for robusta-based blends and dwindling supplies. Meanwhile, ICE arabica futures fell to US 189.20 cents/lb.

• World’s largest coffee variety trial cupping to take place in June. As part of the International Multilocation Variety Trial, Q graders from 29 international companies will assess the quality and sensory attributes of 31 varieties. World Coffee Research says the project aims to help its members determine which varieties might have high-quality potential in their respective countries.

Wed, 24 May

• USDA downscales estimates for Vietnam’s 2022/23 coffee production by nearly 6%. The USDA says it anticipates a total of 29.75 million 60kg bags of green coffee. Reasons for the decline include an off-cycle year, higher production costs, and a decrease in the size of coffee-growing areas.

• Artpresso Design partners with BIGFACE on custom espresso machine and barista accessories. The collaboration with NBA player Jimmy Butler’s coffee brand includes a customised La Marzocco Strada espresso machine, as well as milk jugs, bar towels, tampers, and distribution tools.

• This year’s German Coffee Roasting Championship takes place in Emmerich. Probat is hosting the two-day competition. The winner will go on to represent Germany at the 2023 World Coffee Roasting Championship in Taiwan in November.

• Poursteady launches PS2 two-cup automatic pour over brewer. The new Poursteady includes an integrated boiler, precision temperature control, and on-machine recipe creation and calibration technology.

• Researchers plan to use parasitic wasps to target coffee borer beetle in Hawaii. The University of Hawai’i’s Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences partnered with USDA to disseminate thousands of Phymastichus wasps in coffee-growing areas. The wasp parasitises the beetle, which reduces its negative impact on coffee yields.

• Flash Coffee Indonesia’s Managing Director steps down. Maxine Chaury spent two years in the role, and helped increase revenue by 33% during that time.

• Caffè Nero launches Nero Book Awards. The UK coffee chain says its awards scheme celebrates excellence in UK and Irish literature. The first edition will open for entries on 19 June and will include four categories: children’s fiction, debut fiction, fiction, and nonfiction.

Thu, 25 May

• Analysts say El Niño poses a larger risk to robusta than arabica. Reuters reports that the weather phenomenon – which disrupts rainfall and temperature patterns, and is expected to develop in the second half of 2023 – could decrease supplies and raise prices of robusta. Conversely, it may reduce the chance of frost occurring in some of Brazil’s arabica-growing regions.

• Research indicates that loyalty schemes and subscriptions don’t directly result in financial benefits for coffee shops and roasters. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that rather encouraging repeat customers, loyalty schemes and subscriptions rely on customers to purchase additional or more expensive items during their visits.

• International Coffee & Tea Asia Expo and Café Asia 2023 begin in Singapore. The tenth edition of both events will run until 27 May, and will include more than 200 exhibitors, educational talks, live brewing demonstrations, and networking opportunities. Fraser and Neave will also launch its Ömilk Oat Barista drink at this year’s Café Asia. Four-time Singapore National Latte Art Champion Jervis Tan will be at the event to host demonstrations.

• This year’s International Café & Beverage Show hosts the 2023 Malaysian Coffee Championships. The three-day event is hosting this year’s Malaysian Barista, Brewers Cup, and Latte Art Championships, as well as a trade show and a series of lectures and workshops.

Fri, 26 May

• UK government to potentially ban use of plant milk homophones on packaging. The draft proposal could ban terms such as “mylk” or “m*lk”. Plant-based product packaging may also be prohibited from including phrases like “not milk” or claiming they are “alternatives to dairy products”.

• Saudi specialty coffee chain Barn’s to open ten stores in London, UK. The company currently operates over 500 stores across Saudi Arabia, and plans to reach 1,000 global stores by 2030 – including ten in London.

• Scottish roaster announces multi-million pound investment in Glasgow headquarters. Matthew Algie, which has been operating for more than 150 years, says the upgrade will enable it to roast over 2,500 tonnes of coffee every year. Upgrades to the headquarters include a new green coffee handling and blending system, updated automation solutions, and new packaging lines.

• The Barista League takes place in Brno, Czech Republic for first time. The barista-style competition includes three rounds of multidisciplinary tasks, as well as the Mystery Mocktail Challenge and the Guess the Infusions interactive experience.

• SToK Cold Brew Coffee sponsors Wrexham historic Racecourse Ground. The sponsorship deal with US actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who co-own the cold brew company, will now see the grounds renamed as the SToK Racecourse.

• Next year’s London Coffee Festival to take place from 11 to 14 April 2024. The event will be held at the Truman Brewery in East London, and will host the 2024 Coffee Masters competition.

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

• Thu, 4 May – Costa Coffee India renews business strategy to target more millennial and Gen Z consumers. The coffee chain says India remains a key part of its market focus. Costa Coffee plans to open new stores in eight to ten major cities in the country and has redesigned existing stores to appeal more to younger consumers.

• Thu, 11 May – Reborn Coffee reports 51% revenue increase in 2023 first quarter. The Californian specialty coffee retailer operates 12 international locations, and plans to open another four in the coming months.

• Wed, 17 May – Tim Hortons opens five new locations in Bahrain. Middle Eastern franchisee AG Café now operates eight Tim Hortons stores in Bahrain, a “key market” for the company.

• Thu, 18 May – Uganda’s coffee sector to benefit from new modern railway line between Kampala and Kenya. Turkish firm M/s Yapi Merkezi aims to begin construction this year. It’s hoped the line will improve efficiency and affordability of the export of Ugandan coffee.

• Thu, 18 May – Lavazza opens SCA Premier Training Campus in Chicago, US. The training facility will host classes led by SCA Authorised Specialty Coffee Trainers, as well as industry events and new product launches and demonstrations.

• Thu, 18 May – Brazilian National Supply Company cuts estimates for 2023 coffee production to 54.74 million 60kg bags. Conab says the total crop is still expected to grow by 7.5% compared to the previous harvest, despite a predicted 7.6% decline in this season’s robusta harvest.

• Thu, 18 May – USDA anticipates 3% increase in Colombia’s 2023/24 coffee production. Total production volume is expected to reach 11.6 million 60kg bags of green coffee by the end of the season. However, the USDA says Colombia’s slowing economic growth will restrict substantial growth of its coffee sector.

Photo credits: SCA Denmark

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Mon, 15 May

• Apply to be a volunteer at this year’s PRF Colombia. The event will take place on 14 & 15 September 2023 at the Plaza Mayor in Medellín. PRF Colombia will feature lectures, panel discussions, workshops, cupping sessions, several coffee competitions, and the second iteration of the Global Coffee Awards. English volunteers can apply here and Spanish volunteers can apply here.

• Australian Specialty Coffee Association announces winners of 2023 Barista Championship and Brewers Cup. Jack Simpson is the 2023 Australian Barista Champion, while Tom Hutchins placed first at the 2023 Australian Brewers Cup. Both will represent Australia at the World Coffee Championships in June.

• Most Brits agree UK government should do more to reduce impact of climate crisis on coffee supply chain. A new survey by Christian Aid also suggests 57% of British consumers are concerned about the impact of climate change on food supply chains, including coffee. The international development agency is also calling on the UK government to provide more support to farmers in developing countries.

• New 2023 National Coffee Data Trends Specialty Coffee Report finds coffee is still US’ favourite beverage. The report, which is published by the National Coffee Association in partnership with the Specialty Coffee Association, found that 52% of Americans had consumed specialty coffee in the past week.

• Volunteer applications still open for World of Coffee Athens. The SCA has added more volunteer shifts for the event, which will take place from 22 to 24 June – and will host the 2023 World Barista Championship and World Brewers Cup.

• Hublot and Nespresso collaborate on watch made from recycled coffee capsules and used coffee grounds. The two Swiss companies partnered to create the Hublot x Nespresso Big Bang Unico Origin watch – which currently retails for US $24,100.

Tue, 16 May

• Washed long-fermented Gesha breaks Colombia Land of Diversity auction record. The coffee, produced by Domingo Torres Angulo and purchased by Koffee Kult, sold for US $120.50/lb, with a total value of more than US $31,878. All 27 lots sold for an average of US $22.77/lb, breaking another record for the auction.

• Coffee prices rise following strong Brazilian real and decline in global production volumes. The most active ICE contract for July increased by 3.58% after Brazil’s currency rallied to a four-week high on Monday. ICE certified stocks also dropped significantly, which led to an increase in arabica prices.

• Belgian coffee company Miko acquires Germany’s PROCON. The coffee roaster and service specialist says its acquisition of coffee vending machine operator PROCON, which largely focuses on offices and workspaces, will allow it to expand across Germany.

• Entries open for 2023 Golden Bean North America roasting competition. Applicants can now submit their entries for the competition, which will take place from 8 to 12 August in Columbus, Ohio.

• EU Council gives final approval to adopt new anti-deforestation regulations. The new mandatory due diligence rules apply to all operators and traders who buy or sell a number of commodities in the EU, including coffee. Industry professionals exporting to the EU now have to prove production of their coffee results in no deforestation following 31 December 2020.

• Mahlkönig announces new international distributors. New partners include BaristaEquip and Chris’ Coffee in the US, JAKSU in Argentina, Altatec in Paraguay, SIDASA and Icoffee Solutions in Guatemala, KMS Roasting in Uzbekistan, Unicafé in Modlova, Primulator AB in Sweden, Best Friend of Barista in Ukraine, and Espressomat in Spain.

Wed, 17 May

• On The Ground calls for donations to support victims of flash floods in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On 5 May, devastating floods destroyed infrastructure and displaced communities in parts of the country. The non-profit says the donations will provide vital aid to those affected, including the KACCECO, Muungano, and Spoacdi co-operatives.

• This year’s Manchester Coffee Festival to host 2024 UK Cup Tasters Championship. The festival will take place on 18 & 19 November 2023, and will feature a series of talks and tasting sessions – as well as the new Extracted Development competition, which focuses on combining barista and roaster skills.

• Digital Coffee Future launches Digital Fundamentals Education Programme. Developed in partnership with The Chain Collaborative, the ten-hour online course explores how coffee professionals can understand and apply digital tools and technology in their businesses.

• Oatly launches four “new and improved” products in the UK. The oat milk manufacturer now sells Light, Semi, Whole, and “No” Sugars oat milks in UK stores. All products are available as both chilled and shelf-stable.

• Applications open for Australia’s Richest Barista competition at MICE 2023. A total of 32 competitor spots are available, 15 of which are open to MICE 2023 exhibitors, five for Australian Specialty Coffee Association Members, and 12 for industry professionals. Applications close on 9 June.

Thu, 18 May

• Specialty Coffee Association updates rules and regulations for 2023 Taipei World Coffee Championships. Updated rules apply to the 2023 World Latte Art, World Coffee in Good Spirits, and World Roasting Championships. The SCA says the most significant rule change applies to the World Roasting Championship, which will now include new evaluation scales which are more clearly aligned with the SCA’s new Coffee Value Assessment.

• This year’s National Coffee & Cacao Convention to take place on 25 & 26 May in Lima, Peru. The event will include panel discussions, lectures, and several coffee competitions. The National Coffee & Cacao Convention will be held at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Miraflores, Lima.

• Kuwait AeroPress Championship 2023 set for 6 October. The national competition will be hosted at Brewever Academy in the AlHamra Shopping Centre. Entry is free for spectators.

• Switzerland becomes first country to ratify the 2022 International Coffee Agreement. The country, which has been a signee to the original agreement since 1964, is a key market in the coffee industry.

• Danish roaster CleverCoffee launches 100% carbon-neutral coffee. Impact No. 01, which is sourced from Fazienda Santa Clara in Brazil through exporter Sancoffee, has been certified as 100% carbon neutral. CleverCoffee is also selling Impact No. 02, which is a shade-grown and certified organic coffee sourced from the Cafesmo Co-operative in Honduras.

Fri, 19 May

• Dalla Corte to host second iteration of World Espresso Championship on 25 June. Entry to the competition is currently only available to national Barista and Brewers Cup Champions. The 2023 World Espresso Championship will take place at the 360 Hotel in Athens following this year’s World of Coffee event.

• Meticulous automatic lever espresso machine raises more than US $5 million in crowdfunding campaign. The robot lever espresso machine uses a digital motor and high-precision sensors to automatically brew espresso, and includes an integrated scale. The company is also selling an automated modular milk steamer. Shipping will begin in December 2023.

• British actress Millie Bobby Brown launches coffee lifestyle brand. Florence by Mills Coffee currently offers two whole bean and roast & ground options, as well as single-serve bags, capsules, and concentrate.

• Thomas Ashbourne Craft Spirits partners with US actor Neil Patrick Harris on the After Hours espresso martini. The RTD coffee cocktail includes dark roast coffee, with hints of vanilla and dark chocolate.

• World AeroPress Championship releases statement on Slovakian competition. The event organiser says following a violation of its code of conduct, it is no longer affiliated with the competition.

• Shanghai Coffee Culture Week to be held from 20 May to 2 June as part of Double Five Shopping Festival. The third edition of the event will feature a range of coffee-themed promotions, cultural activities, and booths run by local and boutique coffee brands.

• Natural Pacamara receives top score of 91.78 points at 2023 Cup of Excellence Honduras competition. The coffee was grown by Oscar Edgardo Tinoco Madrid on Finca Pino De Oro. The auction will take place on 29 June.

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

• Wed, 10 May – Swiss Water reports 28% revenue increase in 2023 first quarter. The decaf coffee manufacturer says revenue increased by US $10.6 million, mostly thanks to a 21% increase in sales during the analysis period.

• Thu, 11 May – Krispy Kreme reports 14.4% increase in organic revenue during 2023 first quarter. The doughnut and coffee chain says e-commerce channels and partnerships with retailers were the biggest drivers of growth.

• Thu, 11 May – Labour unions ask UN agency to investigate Starbucks’ use of legal loopholes. Reuters reports that Service Employees International Union, Workers United, and the AFL-CIO claim US labour laws allow Starbucks to exploit and cause “excessive delays to frustrate organising and bargaining rights”.

• Thu, 11 May – Starbucks opens first location in Rome. The store overlooks the Piazza Montecitorio in central Rome, and is the company’s 25th location in Italy. The chain plans to open two more stores in Rome by the end of May.

• Fri, 12 May – Manual grinder Pietro wins 2023 Red Dot Design Award. The flat burr hand grinder placed first in the 2023 Kitchen Appliances Category of the international design competition.

• Fri, 12 May – Bad Ass Coffee launches green coffee energy drink line. Mana beverages contain “organic adaptogenic botanicals” extracted from cascara, lotus flower, and green coffee, among other ingredients.

• Sat, 13 May – De’Longhi reports decline in 2023 Q1 revenue. The Italian coffee machine and appliance manufacturer said revenue fell by 18%, although it also states these figures are in comparison to “extraordinary growth” over the last two years.

• Sun, 14 May – Coffee to be first commodity export in new Honduras-China free trade agreement. Honduras will soon begin negotiating a FTA with China, which aims to drive the country’s economic growth through the export of coffee, shrimp, bananas, and other products.

Photo credits: Producer Roaster Forum

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Mon, 8 May

• International Coffee Organisation to work with European Union on new anti-deforestation regulations. The ICO’s Coffee Public-Private Task Force held a webinar to discuss the new EU deforestation-free regulations, which included 260 coffee professionals and EU representatives. The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to work with the EU and all coffee sector stakeholders to implement due diligence checks.

• This year’s World AeroPress Championship to take place in Melbourne, Australia. The 2023 WAC finals will take place immediately after this year’s Australian AeroPress Championship, which will be hosted by Fieldwork Coffee. This year’s theme is “Plungin’ Down Under”, with more details to be announced soon.

• Anaerobic natural Red Bourbon coffee receives top score of 87.23 points at 2023 Best of Ka‘ū competition. The coffee, grown by Leo Norberte of JN Farms, will be up for auction along with seven other Ka‘ū lots at the Isla Custom Coffees & Alliance for Coffee Excellence Private Collection Auction on 15 June.

• National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers receives 750 lots in eighth Land of Diversity competition. The lots were grown in 16 of the country’s departments, with 39 of them from Antioquia, Cauca, Cundinamarca, Huila, Norte de Santander, Tolima, and Santander selected for international auction.

• ZHAW Coffee Excellence Centre opens applications for 2023 Certificate of Advanced Studies. The online course covers all levels of the supply chain, and will begin in early October.

Tue, 9 May

• AeroPress launches new Clear brewer. The AeroPress Clear is a fully transparent plastic brewer, which the company says allows users to more accurately observe and adjust extraction. The new brewer is currently available in the US for US $49.95, and will be available from international distributors soon.

• WMF Professional Coffee Machines partners with Diebold Nixdorf on self-service checkout technology. The new partnership will allow retailers to connect WMF coffee machines with Diebold Nixdorf’s cloud-based Vynamic self-checkout platform.

• Dutch Bros reports 30% revenue increase in 2023 first quarter. The US drive-thru coffee chain recorded US $197.3 million in revenue between 1 January and 31 March 2023. Dutch Bros also opened record 45 stores during the analysis period.

• Researchers develop model to explain why finer grind size results in “weaker” espresso. Researchers at the University of Huddersfield designed a mathematical model to assess the impact of uneven extraction. The study found that excessively fine grind size creates a “positive feedback loop” that results in higher variations in flow rate, and can thereby decrease extraction – resulting in weaker-tasting espresso.

• Voting opens for SCA Greece Chapter committee elections. Voting will remain open until 24 May. The roles up for selection are Community Coordinator and Marketing & Communications Coordinator.

• Starbucks launches limited-edition Green Apron Blend. The company says the new blend was co-created by its “store partners” (or employees). For a limited time, US 10 cents from each cup sold in stores will go to the Starbucks Caring Unites Partners Fund, which supports employees with emergency funding.

Wed, 10 May

• Oatly appoints new CEO following significant financial losses. Christophe Flatin will replace Toni Petersson as new CEO, following an earlier announcement that the company has secured new funding in an effort to achieve “financial self-sufficiency”. Flatin has 30 years’ experience working at Mars, including CEO and president of the Royal Canin cat and dog food brand and president of the company’s chocolate division.

• This year’s Toronto Coffee Festival takes place at Evergreen Brick Works. Canada’s flagship three-day coffee event includes the Lab and Sensory Experience workshops, as well as Latte Art Live.

• Union Hand Roasted Coffee releases 2022 annual impact report. Last year, the UK B Corp says it paid US $3 million above C market price for all coffees sourced, and reduced its carbon emissions throughout the year by 23 tonnes.

• Tim Hortons to launch in South Korea in 2023. The Canadian coffee chain will sign a master franchise and development agreement with quick service restaurant operator BKR Co., Ltd.

• More than 440 producers took part in 4C and Melitta Improving working and living conditions for coffee smallholders in Colombia project. The three-year project, held in partnership with National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, included nearly 600 on-farm training sessions and online workshops. The project supported producers with implementing climate-smart farming practices, receiving higher prices for 4C-certified coffee, and encouraging more youth to be involved in coffee production.

Thu, 11 May

• Glasgow Coffee Festival 2023 to be held on 13 & 14 May at the Briggait. The event will include a series of talks from UK-based coffee professionals, as well as cuppings and tasting sessions. This year’s Glasgow Coffee Festival will also launch Scotland’s first coffee scholarship, which will provide barista training and work experience opportunities to disadvantaged youth.

• Six US beverage equipment manufacturers merge to form Lotus Beverage Alliance. Alpha Brewing Operations, GW Kent, Twin Monkeys, Stout Tanks and Kettles, Brewmation, and Automated Extractions now fall under one group.

• Brazilian coffee exports declined by 10.3% in April 2023. The Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé) says exports throughout the first four months of this year are also down by almost 20% to just under 11.1 million 60kg bags.

• Flash Coffee raises US $50 million in Series B financing round. The tech-driven coffee chain secured funding from several investors. Funding will be used to expand its footprint across the Asia Pacific region and to accelerate product innovation.

• LEON and World Land Trust’s “rainforest-saving coffee” reforests 2,000 acres of land. This equates to around 1m2 of forest saved for every seven cups of coffee – which the health-focused fast food chain sources from Peru and Honduras.

• International Trade Centre launches fourth edition of the Coffee Guide in Amharic. This marks the first time that the Coffee Guide has been published in Amharic, the most widely-spoken language in Ethiopia.

Fri, 12 May

• Cxffeeblack launches crowdfunding page for its Barista Exchange programme. As part of a collaboration with SoGiv Shoes, Cxffeeblack is selling its Pan-African Cxffeeblack Runner shoes. Proceeds of sales will go towards its Barista Exchange initiative, which allows young coffee professionals from Africa to train in the US, as well as funding origin trips for black American baristas.

• Nestlé to host Nescafé Plan 2030 Progress Highlights webinar on 6 June. The webinar will provide a number of updates on the Nescafé Plan 2030 project, including an impact assessment report from Rainforest Alliance.

• Breville to launch new Barista Touch Impress on 16 May. The new home espresso machine includes a number of features, such as the intelligent dosing Impress Puck System, hands-free Auto MilQ technology for steaming a range of milks (including plant-based options), and the ThermoJet heating system.

• Le Paris Café Festival 2023 to take place at Le Carreau du Temple from 13 to 15 May. This year’s competition will include the Roasters Village and The Lab, as well as Latte Art Live, Roast Masters, and a revamped Best Espresso Blend of France competition hosted by Collectif Café.

• Next Barista League event to take place in Brno, Czech Republic on 26 May. This will be the first Barista League competition to be held in the city, and will include the Mystery Mocktail Challenge.

• Natural Gesha receives top score of 91 points at 2023 Cup of Excellence Mexico competition. The coffee, grown by Gustavo Boltjes Rising of Finca Las Nieves, will be up for auction along with 25 other lots on 20 June.

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

• Mon, 1 May – Tim Hortons India appoints Tarun Jain as new CEO. Jain, who replaces previous CEO Navin Gurnaney, previously served as CEO of Costa Coffee in India.

• Tue, 2 May – Black Sheep Coffee to open first Middle Eastern location in Dubai. The coffee chain (which exclusively sources and uses fine robusta) signed a 30-year agreement to open 250 stores in the Middle East over a 15-year period.

• Wed, 3 May – Qatari barista Ranij Basnet wins Costa Coffee’s Global Barista of the Year competition. The 24-year-old has been working as a Barista Maestro for two years at a Costa Coffee location in Doha.

• Thu, 4 May – Brazilian and UK researchers recycle plastic in used coffee pods to manufacture filaments for 3D printers. Research teams at the Federal University of São Carlos, State University of Campinas, and Manchester Metropolitan University were able to use waste polylactic acid (PLA) from coffee capsules to produce the filaments, thereby reducing environmental impact.

• Fri, 5 May – Australian researchers find coffee consumption could improve brain health. The Centre for Eye Research Australia in Melbourne found that drinking two to three cups of coffee per day could increase the thickness of the macular retinal nerve fibre layer – a sign of good brain health.

• Fri, 5 May – Mayorga Coffee’s Eduardo Choza places fourth at 2023 US Roasting Championship. The company’s Head of Coffee competed against 24 US coffee roasters. Choza was the only East coast roaster to reach the top five highest-scoring competitors.

Photo credits: Ádám Csordás

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The post Coffee News Recap, 12 May: World AeroPress Championship 2023 will take place in Melbourne, Oatly appoints new CEO & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Mon, 1 May

• Westrock Coffee publishes 2022 Sustainability Progress Report. The report highlights the company’s key environmental and social sustainability activities from last year, including increasing global purchases of certified and verified responsibly-sourced coffee by 9% – amounting to an increase of over 19.5 million lbs.

• Nomad Coffee Group achieves B Corp certification. The group – which includes Veneziano Coffee Roasters, Black Bag Roasters, Coffee Hit, and Flight Coffee – implemented several new initiatives to receive the certification, including its Volunteer Time Off Policy and Parental Leave Policy, as well as improving waste management and coffee sourcing programmes.

• World AeroPress Championship announces more confirmed national competition hosts. New confirmed hosts include Five Elephant for the Germany competition, I.A.C. and Benki Brewing Tools for the Indian championship, and The Barista League for the Swedish event. WAC also confirmed that competitors will not be able to use the new AeroPress Flow Control Filter Cap as part of the competition.

• Luckin Coffee reports 84% year-on-year increase in 2023 Q1 revenue. The Chinese coffee chain also stated it opened 1,100 net new stores during the analysis period – totalling more than 9,300 stores in China so far.

Tue, 2 May

• Starbucks surpasses expectations and reports 14% net revenue increase in 2023 Q2 financial results. The results were largely driven by strong performance in North America and a sharp recovery in China following store closures during the pandemic. Same-store sales in China grew by 30% in March alone.

• World Coffee Research creates new membership category for B2B roasters. The new category applies only to B2B roasters who focus solely on roasting and manufacturing products for third parties. WCR says the revised category will help to make its operations more transparent and equitable.

• Vietnam’s robusta production likely to drop in 2023 as more farmers grow durian fruit. According to Bloomberg, the country’s 2023/24 coffee harvest is likely to be the lowest in four years, largely because growing crops like durian is more profitable for farmers.

• Restaurant Brands International reports 17.9% sales growth for Tim Hortons during 2023 Q1. The Canadian coffee chain opened 300 new stores during the analysis period, totalling 5,620 global outlets – including the first location in Pakistan.

• FairWave Holdings acquires two more US coffee brands. The company, which describes itself as a specialty coffee collective, has made undisclosed investments in Folly Coffee and Philtera Cold Brewed Coffees.

Wed, 3 May

• Registration opens for World of Coffee Athens. Visitors can now apply to attend the event, which will take place from 22 to 24 June at the Athens Metropolitan Expo centre. Submissions for this year’s Coffee Design and Best New Product Awards have also been extended to 23:59 on 5 May.

• Blue Bottle Coffee partners with musician The Weeknd on new Ethiopia-focused Samra Origins range. The new line will launch on 9 May with a limited release of the Exceedingly Rare Ethiopia Cup of Excellence Wolde Faye Koricha for US $65 per 100g. Blue Bottle will also launch several Samra Origins blends later in the year.

• NKG Stockler forms regenerative agriculture-certified coffee farm collective. The first seven Regenagri-certified farms are in Cerrado Mineiro, Brazil, with plans to expand farming practices in other coffee-growing regions.

• Next year’s National Coffee Association convention to take place in Nashville, Tennessee. The annual event will be held from 7 to 9 March 2024, with more details to be announced soon.

Thu, 4 May

• Starbucks appeals US judge’s ruling over unlawful firing in Memphis union case. The company’s lawyer claimed employees in Memphis were fired for violating a company safety policy after opening the store without consent and allowing members of the press inside. Starbucks has said it reinstated the workers despite disagreeing with the judge’s ruling.

• World Coffee Research publishes new Robusta Variety Catalogue. The new guide profiles 47 robusta varieties from countries including Brazil, India, Indonesia, Uganda, Mexico, and Vietnam. The catalogue also outlines several different variables, such as yield potential, stature, bean size, nutrition requirements, lineage, and susceptibility to pests & diseases.

• illycaffè reports 13.2% year-on-year global revenue increase for 2023 Q1. In Italy and the US, revenue respectively grew by 10.7% and 27.7% compared to the same period in 2022.

• Colombian coffee production fell by 9% during last 12 months. Total production so far in 2023 has also fallen by 6% to 3.26 million 60kg bags – largely attributed to higher rainfall levels and lower fertiliser application because of higher prices.

Fri, 5 May

• Melbourne International Coffee Expo announces sponsors for first-ever Richest Barista competition. Sponsors of this year’s event are Dalla Corte, the Alternative Dairy Co., Naked Syrups, and Riverina Fresh. Competitor registration will open soon, and the competition will take place at MICE from 17 to 19 August 2023.

• Hawaii Coffee Association to host this year’s annual conference, trade show, and cupping competition on 15 to 17 June. The event will also include a new latte art competition, interactive workshops, and seminars about fermentation, and will be held in Lihue, Kauai.

• ICO Composite price reaches highest level since September 2022. Between March and April 2023, the ICO Composite Price Indicator increased by 5%, averaging around 179.51 US cents/lb during the period. Average prices for all group indicators increased in April 2023, while global green coffee exports decreased by 9.6% to 10.90 60kg million bags.

• FoodBev Awards to launch first edition of World Coffee Innovation Awards. Winners are shortlisted across a number of categories, including Best Milk Alternative and Best RTD Product. Entry opens 5 May and the winners will be announced at the 2023 Caffè Culture event in October.

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

• Wed, 19 Apr – McDonalds trials cold brew at Southern California locations. The fast food chain is testing out new black and Marble cold brew drinks.

• Wed, 26 Apr – Caffè Vergnano signs exclusive distribution partnership in United Arab Emirates. In partnership with hospitality solutions provider STREE, the Italian coffee company will supply its HoReCa products to restaurants and hotels in the country.

• Wed, 26 Apr – Oatly signs its first-ever global airline partnership with SWISS International Air Lines. The airline will serve RTD Oatly Caffè Lattes onboard all of its flights.

• Thu, 27 Apr – Nestlé uses Airbus satellites to monitor reforestation. Airbus’ Pléiades Neo satellites will monitor more than 150,000 shade trees on coffee farms in the Ranong and Chumphon provinces of southern Thailand.

• Thu, 27 Apr – Keurig Dr. Pepper reports 1.3% decline in coffee sales during 2023 Q1. K-Cup revenue, however, grew by 2.9% during the analysis period.

• Fri, 28 Apr – Lavazza appoints new Board of Directors. The Italian coffee company announced Giuseppe Lavazza as the new Chairman and Alberto Lavazza as Honorary Chairman. Marco Lavazza has also been reappointed as Vice Chairman.

• Fri, 28 Apr – Value of global coffee capsule market to be worth US $11.9 billion by 2032. Allied Market Research states the market will grow by 7.6% during the analysis period.

Photo credits: World AeroPress Championship

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Mon, 24 Apr

• Uganda reports 2% year-on-year increase in coffee exports in March. The Uganda Coffee Development Authority says the country shipped 487,797 60kg bags of coffee in March 2023. The increase in exports was largely attributed to exporters shipping reserve warehouse stocks to capitalise on higher robusta prices.

• SCA announces winners of 2023 Best New Product Awards and Coffee Design Awards. This year’s winners were announced at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Portland, Oregon, which attracted more than 12,000 visitors:
  • Best New Product Awards:
    • Coffee Accessories: Ion Beam by Acaia
    • Commercial Coffee Preparation and Serving Equipment: Latte Art Factory Bar Pro by Frank Buna, which has won three Best New Product Awards in less than a year – making it the first-ever product to do so
    • Consumer Coffee Preparation and Serving Equipment: The Barista Touch Impress by Breville
    • Open Class: Redefined by Rarebird, Inc.
    • Specialty Coffee Beverage Additive: Puremade Toasted Black Sesame Syrup by Torani
    • Specialty Non-Coffee Beverage Standalone: Ginger Spice Chai Concentrate by Art of Tea
  • Coffee Design Awards:
    • Branding: Dear Francis
    • Packaging: Stereoscope

• First-ever World of Coffee Asia event to take place in Busan, South Korea from 1 to 4 May. The event will run in addition to WoC Dubai from 21 to 23 January 2024, as well as the main European event in June 2024. WoC Busan will also host the 2024 World Barista Championship.

• Pret A Manger opens first store in India. The UK food and coffee to-go chain’s new store is in Mumbai, and is operated by local business partner Reliance Brands Limited.

• Neumann Kaffee Gruppe appoints Ruben Scholz as new Chief Operating Officer. Scholz, who has worked at the green coffee trader for 25 years, joins the company’s Board of Management. Scholz will take responsibility for NKG’s global business operations and trading strategy.

• Coca-Cola credits Costa Coffee for 9% increase in coffee business growth last year. The company says Costa Coffee performed strongly in the UK and China, resulting in significant growth for its coffee division.

Tue, 25 Apr

• SCA announces 2023 US Coffee Championship winners. This year’s winners, who will go on to represent the US at their respective competitions, include:
  • Isaiah Sheese – Barista Champion
  • Wenbo Yang – Brewers Cup Champion
  • Jake Donaghy – Cup Tasters Champion
  • Sam Schroeder – Coffee in Good Spirits Champion
  • Piyapat Lapteerawup – Latte Art Champion
  • Andrew Coe – Roasting Champion

• Janis Podins wins 2023 Coffee Masters at London Coffee Festival. The three-time Latvian Barista Champion used a Bolivian coffee roasted by Coffee Collective in his routine.

• Good Food Awards 2023 announces 16 Coffee Winners recipients. This year’s winners Good Citizen Coffee Co.’s Chocolate Oat Milk Nitro Iced Coffee, a Colombia washed Laboyano coffee from Pedestrian Coffee, and a Burundi Gahahe Cima natural coffee from Blossom Coffee Roasters.

• Nestlé reports high single digit growth for coffee products during 2023 first quarter. The company says there was robust demand for Nescafé and Starbucks-branded products during the analysis period, including the Nescafé Farmers Origins capsule range.

• This year’s Australian Barista and Brewers Cup Championships to be held from 8 to 12 May 2023. The competitions will take place at The Industrique in Coburg North, Melbourne, with the winners going on to represent Australia at the World Coffee Championships in Athens, Greece in June.

• Rave Coffee opens new roastery in Cirencester, UK. The company says following a 22% turnover increase in 2022, it was able to invest £1 million (US $1.25 million) in a new roasting facility. The new roastery includes two Loring roasters, as well as a cupping room and coffee laboratory.

• Caribou Coffee announces plans for over 300 new franchise locations. The coffee chain signed several multi-unit development agreements with franchise partners in the US, following rapid expansion of its franchise programme in 2021.

• JDE Peet’s to combine out-of-home and Consumer Packaged Goods European segments. The coffee and tea company says the merger will allow it to apply a “true” omnichannel approach to the European market, as well as leveraging its brands more effectively.

Wed, 26 Apr

• New documentary series The Road to Milan previews at Specialty Coffee Expo. The documentary series follows 2021 WBC runner-up Andrea Allen as she prepared for the competition, and is set for official release in the coming months.

• Robusta futures reach 12-year high following growing demand and dwindling supplies. The robusta contract for July 2023 closed at US $2,444 per tonne on Monday – 2.6% higher than the previous session. ICE arabica futures also reached a six-month high of US $1.9345/lb.

• Pret A Manger raises price of coffee subscription service. The food and coffee to-go chain raised the price of its monthly subscription to £30 (US $37.34) – an increase of 20%. However, the service has now been expanded to include a 10% discount on all products sold in its shops.

• Last remaining defendant in four-year-old Kona coffee lawsuit agrees to pay US $12 million settlement. A judge has approved the settlement proposed by MNS Ltd., one of the original 21 defendants accused of falsely marketing their products as Hawaiian Kona coffee. The settlement is almost twice the amount of the second largest settlement in the case to date.

• US National Labor Relations Board accuses Starbucks of illegally refusing to negotiate at 144 unionised coffee shops. The NLRB asserts Starbucks illegally “failed and refused” to negotiate in good faith at the 144 locations by “insisting upon proposals that are predictably unacceptable to the union” and “demeaning and otherwise undermining the union’s chosen representatives”. Starbucks denies the allegations.

Thu, 27 Apr

• This year’s London Coffee Festival attracts some 30,000 visitors. The four-day event was held at Truman Brewery in Spitalfields, London, and included prominent UK and European roasters, such as Five Elephant and Manhattan Coffee Roasters. The festival also showcased some of the latest coffee innovations, including Heylo’s modular espresso machine.

• Macap releases new MI20 Touch and MI40 Touch grinders. The MI20 Touch features 58mm flat burrs and can be programmed to dispense up to four different doses, while the MI40 Touch includes 65mm flat burrs and a stepless adjustment system.

• New app coffee knowledge app Coffeem launches on Apple store. The free app, created by Eyup Mert, provides users with brewing and roasting tips, as well as advice from industry experts.

• Precipice Coffee becomes first solar-powered all-electric roaster in Maine, US. The company, which uses a Bellwether roaster, says the machine has helped it to reduce carbon emissions by up to 87%.

• Rokit Health launches new line of RTD wellness coffees in the UK. The cold brew and oat milk canned drinks are available in Mind Boost, Immunity Boost, and Energy Uplift flavours.

• Australia’s Market Development Facility and Palladium Group International release Sri Lanka Coffee Investment Prospectus. The report outlines MDF’s work in the Sri Lankan agricultural industry, including in coffee. MDF has supported more than 29,150 farmers in the country, including coffee producers.

Fri, 28 Apr

• Tallinn Coffee Festival takes place in Estonia. The annual two-day event will host the 2023 Estonian Cup Tasters Championship, as well as a series of lectures, panels, and cupping sessions.

• National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia announces Germán Alberto Bahamón Jaramillo as new General Manager. The FNC says the decision was made unanimously. Bahamón Jaramillo has more than 20 years’ experience holding senior level positions at companies such as Apple and Sony Ericsson.

• Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association generated some US $20 million in business at this year’s Specialty Coffee Expo. The organisation adds that Brazilian producers connected with more than 720 industry professionals at the event, most of which were new clients. The BSCA estimates it will generate a further US $100.1 million over the next 12 months.

• Roastery management software start-up Bean Mind launches online. The platform’s cloud-based software Beanventory integrates all roastery systems onto one interface, which the company says helps to improve operational efficiency.

• Dutch Coffee Championships 2023 to take place on 29 and 30 April. The event, which will be hosted by Alleborgh Espresso in Almere, will include the Dutch Barista, Brewers Cup, and Latte Art Championships.

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

• Mon, 17 Apr – Brazilian brand Mais1.Café aims to operate 900 stores by end of 2023. The coffee chain already operates more than 600 stores across Brazil, and has expanded into neighbouring Paraguay.

• Mon, 17 Apr – Scooter’s Coffee opens 600th US store in Tennessee. The drive-thru coffee chain plans to operate 800 US stores by the end of the year, and 1,000 stores by the end of 2025.

• Tue, 18 Apr – Nespresso and Starbucks Reserve launch limited-edition Remix Blend capsules. The blend, which includes Starbucks Aged Sumatra and Nespresso Ethiopoa Mokaboji, has notes of wild berry and sweet spice, with hints of citrus.

• Wed, 19 Apr – Café Kitsune opens first store in Taiwan. The French coffee and lifestyle brand also operates outlets in Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, South Korea, and Indonesia.

• Wed, 19 Apr – Starbucks launches Oleato beverages in Japan. Following launches in Italy and the US, the olive oil-infused coffee beverages are now available at more than 60 Starbucks stores across the country, including the Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo.

• Thu, 20 Apr – Chamberlain Coffee launches new line of RTD plant-based cold brew lattes. The coffee lifestyle brand’s new products include Mocha Latte, Cinnamon Bun Latte, and Vanilla Latte.

• Sun, 23 Apr – Ground Control soft launches new brewer at Specialty Coffee Expo. The new prototype machine uses the same technology as the Ground Control Cyclops, but is more compact and includes an interactive colour-changing LED interface.

Photo credits: Specialty Coffee Association

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Mon, 17 Apr

• Colombian chain Juan Valdez to open flagship store in Madrid in May 2023. The company’s new location will open in the Torre Caleido skyscraper, with plans to open more outlets across Spain in the coming months.

• Pu’er set to become China’s main coffee trading hub. The region is now home to around 45,266ha of coffee-growing land. Moreover, the development of a coffee processing plant and the new China-Laos Railway aims to make Pu’er a major trade hub for coffee in Southeast Asia.

• Chronova Engineering to launch Kickstarter campaign for manual modular Epoch espresso machines. The Epoch Fulcrum is a lever-operated espresso machine, while the Epoch Helix uses a screw thread to build up to nine bars of pressure. The handles and bases of both models are also customisable.

• Caribou Coffee drops plant milk surcharges for loyalty members. From 4 May, Caribou Perks members will be able to order any plant milk for free.

• La Marzocco opens temporary store at 2023 Design Week Milan. The company will showcase its GS3, Linea Mini, and Linea Micra espresso machines from 17 to 23 April at the event. The new pop-up location will also host coffee and ice cream tastings, as well as workshops.

• Starbucks certifies more than 3,500 Greener Stores in the US and Canada. Greener Stores must meet 25 criteria across eight environmental categories, such as water stewardship and energy efficiency. In March 2023, the company certified another 88 Greener Stores in 18 additional markets, including in the UK.

• Container shipping spot rates begin to recover after nine months of decline. The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index rose for the third week in a row in April, following nine months of continuous decline. However, experts remain unsure of the effect this may have on annual contract prices, including for coffee.

• Expo Café Uruguay 2023 to be held on 12 and 13 August. After a successful first edition in 2022, Expo Café Uruguay will once again take place in Montevideo. Last year, the inaugural event attracted more than 10,500 visitors and over 30 exhibitors.

Tue, 18 Apr

• Two Bonavita brewers receive SCA Certified Home Brewer mark. The Enthusiast with Stainless Steel Carafe and the 5-Cup Drip Coffee Brewer with Thermal Carafe have both received the certification, which ensures brewers meet the SCA’s quality standards for preparing specialty coffee at home.

• Arabica futures contract hits over US $2 and robusta futures reach 11-year high. Arabica futures have reached a six-month high, most likely because of lower export volumes from countries like Colombia. Dry weather conditions in Vietnam are also driving robusta futures higher, as well as excessive rainfall in Indonesia.

• International Coffee Organisation releases 2023 Coffee Report and Outlook. The new report outlines global production and consumption statistics for the upcoming year, and predicts that global production volumes will increase by 1.7% to 171.3 60kg million bags in 2022/23 – although this is still be a deficit of coffee. The ICO is set to release these reports twice every year.

• British Coffee Association appoints Dr. Krisztina Szalai as new Chair. Dr. Szalai, who is currently the Head of Sales at Caravela Coffee, says she will use her new role to support the UK coffee industry “at a critical time”, mentioning rising inflation and costs.

• Tata Coffee reports 10.2% increase in 2022 revenue. The Indian coffee company cited rising demand for hot coffee beverages at restaurants, cafés, and offices as the main reason for revenue growth.

• Nescafé launches Ice Roast soluble coffee. Ice Roast is the brand’s first-ever soluble coffee product designed specifically to be prepared with cold water or milk. The instant coffee product launches in China this month, as well as in Mexico in the coming weeks.

• Simonelli Group appoints Marco Feliziani as new CEO. Outgoing CEO Fabio Ceccarani leaves the company after 14 years. Feliziani has worked at Simonelli for eight years, having previously held the roles of Sales Director and Deputy Chairman of the company’s US branch.

Wed, 19 Apr

• Alliance for Coffee Excellence announces winning coffees up for Los Favoritos Vol VI Honduras & Nicaragua Private Collection Auction. A total of 15 coffees (six from Honduras and nine from Nicaragua) will be up for auction on 1 June 2023. There were six varieties represented in the competition, including Gesha, Yellow Pacamara, and Laurina, as well as six different processing methods.

• Re:co Specialty Coffee Symposium 2023 takes place in Portland, Oregon. The two-day event features sensory experiences, networking opportunities, and expert speakers including Professor Christopher Hendon of University of Oregon, founder of the Coffee Sensorium Dr. Fabiana Carvalho, and JNP Coffee founder Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian.

• Luckin Coffee opens more than 9,000 stores in China. The Chinese coffee chain says it experienced rapid expansion in the first quarter of 2023, averaging 13 stores a day – boosted by its recently-implemented franchising programme.

• SCA Greece opens nominations for volunteer committee elections. Nominations are open until 26 April, and voting will take place from 10 to 24 May. The roles open for election are Community Coordinator and Marketing & Communications Coordinator.

• Eversys appoints Andre Eiermann as new Global Marketing Director. Eiermann has extensive experience working in the coffee industry, including in green coffee trading, roasting, education, and competitions. Eiermann will seek to drive Eversys’ brand growth and expansion.

• Coffee shop software developer Odeko raises US $53 million in funding round. Odeko’s software allows coffee shops to manage supply chains and operations more effectively. The company will use the capital to continue expansion in new international markets.

• Reborn Coffee appoints new advisory board to provide strategic guidance for growth. The new board includes Bill Koschak, who currently serves as CFO at Calyxt, a plant-based synthetic biotechnology company. The company says the newly formed advisory board will help to grow and expand the brand in new markets.

Thu, 20 Apr

• SCA releases beta version of the Coffee Value Assessment at Re:co Symposium. As a result of a project first launched in 2020, the organisation’s revised cupping protocol and form will allow industry professionals to record data according to four different assessment categories – “physical”, “extrinsic”, “affective”, and “descriptive” – which the SCA says is more in line with its new definition of specialty coffee.

• This year’s London Coffee Festival takes place at the Truman Brewery. The event includes a trade show, the Roasters Village, a series of talks, and the 2023 Coffee Masters competition. Several prominent companies and brands will launch new products at the festival, including Cimbali’s new M200 espresso machine.

• IKAWA launches new Pro100x sample roaster. The new countertop roaster includes a Moisture Release Graph, which allows users to track roast profiles more effectively. The Pro100x can detect when first crack occurs based on the release of moisture. Pre-orders are expected to ship in June 2023.

• Green coffee processing equipment manufacturer Cimbria expands operations in South America. Cimbria says South America will be one of its most promising and important markets.

• Australian chain Coffee Hit rolls out new branding. The company’s new branding and marketing campaign includes the slogan “Coffee that goes places”, as well as new blend names and packaging.

• Cropster launches new BrewBeacon volumetric espresso machine connector. The IoT-powered BrewBeacon can be connected to up to four espresso machine groupheads to record and store real time brew data on Cropster Café software.

• Weber Workshops launches MOONRAKER WDT tool. The company’s new product uses geared and spirographic movement to evenly distribute ground coffee in portafilter baskets. The MOONRAKER is available to pre-order now.

• Coney Island Coffee invests more than US $621,345 in rebranding. The company – formerly known as Cinema Coffee Project – will now sell products online and through subscriptions, as well as in more stores in Ireland.

Fri, 21 Apr

• UK government signs 2022 International Coffee Agreement. The signing took place at the International Coffee Organisation headquarters in London in the presence of ICO Executive Director Vanúsia Nogueira. The ICA aims to strengthen partnerships and co-operation between the ICO and signatory governments, as well as with the private sector.

• Specialty Coffee Expo 2023 takes place in Portland, Oregon. This year’s event is being held at the Oregon Convention Centre until 23 April. The expo includes several show features, such as the Roasters Village, the Green Coffee Buyers & Sellers Programme, the Cupping Exchange, and this year’s US Coffee Championships.

• TONE Kaffeemaschinen launches new TONE TOUCH 04 batch brewer at Specialty Coffee Expo. TONE says its latest automated brewer uses ten times less energy than a traditional brewer, and allows the user to control agitation, flow rates, and pulse pouring.

• Acaia debuts new Ion Beam anti-static grinder tool at Specialty Coffee Expo. The Ion Beam includes an industrial-grade ion generator which helps to minimise static and clumping. Acaia also launched its Orion Nano coffee doser at the event.

• Alliance for Coffee Excellence open applications for new Executive Director. Following the departure of Darrin Daniel in March, the non-profit organisation is looking to hire a new executive director to lead both ACE and the Cup of Excellence prorgramme.

• SCA Market event to take place in Busan, South Korea on 23 April. The three-day event will include the Coffee Village, Cupping Room, and SCA Education Programme, as well as hosting the 2023 Korean Barista Championships.

• Bazzara’s Trieste Coffee Experts event to return in November 2023. The annual prelude event to the Triestespresso Expo will return for a sixth time this year, hosted by local family-operated roaster Bazzara. The theme of this year’s event is “Innovation & Sustainability”.

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

• Thu, 13 Apr – Ethiopian Coffee & Tea Authority reports coffee exporters have defaulted on at least 394 contracts since October 2022. Following a period of low international coffee prices, Ethiopian exporters have been withholding coffee to sell for higher prices on the local market. As such, the ECTA may struggle to meet its $2 billion income target.

• Thu, 13 Apr – Nespresso expands Australian logistics partnership with DHL. DHL Supply Chain will now provide storage, warehousing, and order packing services for Nespresso in Brisbane and Sydney, adding to existing partnerships in Italy, Brazil, and elsewhere.

• Fri, 14 Apr – Philippine start-up Pickup Coffee raises US $40 million in latest funding round. The quick service coffee brand’s funding round was led by Indonesian tech company GoTo. Pickup Coffee operates several locations in the country, and serves a number of signature drinks such as Nutellatte, Ube Latte, and Avo Latte.

• Fri, 14 Apr – US Department of Agriculture to fund new coffee productivity and resilience project. The Developing Field-Based High-Throughput Phenotyping for Coffee Yield, Physiological Performance, and Disease Resistance project, which will be run by Ohio State University, World Coffee Research, and two USDA research centres, will focus on making coffee breeding more efficient and cost-effective.

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest 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 stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence News & Opinion piece on the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia’s new leader.

The post Coffee News Recap, 21 Apr: Specialty Coffee Expo begins in Portland, arabica prices reach six-month high & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Mon, 10 Apr

• Registration opens for first-ever Specialty Coffee Association Educator Summit. The conference aims to provide coffee educators with the latest research and training techniques. The first Educator Summit will take place in Busan, South Korea on 31 May and 1 June 2023.

• International Coffee Organisation announces working group to enforce the 2022 International Coffee Agreement. Applications to join the working group is open to all ICO members. Participants will help to draft and review documents that will enforce the recently passed agreement.

• AeroPress launches Flow Control Filter Cap. The new brewing accessory includes a pressure-actuated valve which allows users to have more control over extraction. The Flow Control Filter Cap is compatible with any AeroPress model and can be used with both paper and metal filters.

• This year’s Re:co Symposium to take place in Portland, Oregon on 19 and 20 April. The event will feature expert speakers and panellists, as well as sensory experiences and networking opportunities. Registration is still open.

• Equator Coffees launches new Super Bloom seasonal blend for Earth Month. The blend includes coffees from Nicaragua, Thailand, and Java, with flavour notes of “confetti cake, cherry blossom, and starfruit”. The packaging was designed by queer illustrator RYMIE, and 5% of total sales will help fund new coffee quality control equipment for Equator’s partner company Cooperativa de Servicios Múltiples Sacaclí in Nicaragua.

• US roasting professional Bob Goldman launches fundraiser for pancreatic cancer research. Goldman, who works at Allegro Coffee Company, says his wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last year. All funds raised will be donated to Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Purple Stride Colorado 2023 sponsored walk.

Tue, 11 Apr

• Close to 300 people attend The Barista League Hamburg event. Ordna Event Agency, which organises the competition, says this represents a 60% increase on the previous year’s event. Attendees represented 46 different companies in the coffee industry, with 70 baristas taking part in the competition.

• Kitchenware brand Dash launches Rapid Cold Brew coffee maker before National Cold Brew Day. The company’s coffee maker uses patented VacuPress technology to prepare cold brew within nine minutes. National Cold Brew Day is celebrated on 20 April.

• Specialty Coffee Association publishes new The Value of Specialty Coffee Cuppers: Perspectives, Roles, and Professional Competencies white paper. The latest SCA white paper explores and defines the various roles and skills of cuppers within the coffee industry, as well as the value these roles add to the sector. The paper was developed by a SCA task force comprised of cuppers, organisation partners, and leaders in the coffee community “to help build a robust system for specialty coffee cuppers and graders”.

• Nescafé Origens do Brasil becomes first soluble coffee brand to receive carbon neutral certification. Nescafé’s Origens do Brasil instant coffee range recently received the certification from the Carbon Neutral Protocol, a major global framework for measuring and certifying carbon neutrality.

• Brazil’s coffee exports dropped by 23% in the first quarter of 2023. The Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé) says green coffee exports dropped by 19% in March, reaching the lowest levels for this month since 2018. Cecafé adds that stockpiles of the record 2020 harvest have nearly been depleted, so 2021 and 2022 crop losses are now being reflected in lower supply levels.

• KRUVE launches Kickstarter campaign for three-spouted CREATE milk pitcher. The brand’s new milk jug features three different-sized spouts: wide, classic, and narrow. The CREATE milk pitcher also includes volume markings on the inside of the jug, and can hold up to 300ml (10.6 oz) of milk.

• Algrano launches first impact report. In its first report, Algrano found that in 2022, 77% of all green coffee traded via its direct trade platform was through ongoing roaster-producer relationships – a 50% increase on 2019.

Wed, 12 Apr

• Keurig launches new K-Iced coffee maker and ICED pods. The company’s new single-serve coffee maker is designed to brew over ice, but can also be used to prepare hot coffee. The ICED pods are available in a range of flavours, including McCafé Mocha Frappe.

• Coffee now has the highest number of geographical indications in Brazil. According to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, there are now 14 Geographical Indicators and Denominations of Origin for coffee in the country – including in the regions of Cerrado Mineiro, Campo das Vertentes, Caparaó, Montanhas do Espírito Santo, and Matas de Rondônia.

• Latte Art Factory to make US debut at 2023 Specialty Coffee Expo in Portland, Oregon. Frank Buna will showcase the award-winning automated milk foaming system at this year’s event at the Oregon Convention Centre.

• Reborn Coffee reports 42.1% increase in 2022 revenue. The Californian specialty coffee chain recorded US $3.2 million in revenue last year, largely driven by increased sales at new locations and a continued focus on marketing campaigns. The company seeks to raise additional capital to support its future growth plans.

• This year’s London Coffee Festival to return to Truman Brewery from 20 to 23 April. The event is set to include more than 250 exhibitors, and will host the 2023 Coffee Masters competition and Smirnoff Cocktail Masterclass.

• Speaker applications open for PRF Colombia. On 14 & 15 September 2023, PRF will return to the Plaza Mayor venue in Medellín, Colombia. English and Spanish-speaking coffee professionals are eligible to apply, and applicants must have at least five years of experience in their respective fields, as well as some degree of experience in public speaking. To apply, please fill out the speaker application form in English here and in Spanish here. Applications close on 31 July 2023.

Thu, 13 Apr

• Café Show Vietnam 2023 takes place in Ho Chi Minh City. The 8th annual expo features a range of exhibitors, and will host the 2023 Vietnamese National Latte Art and Barista Championships.

• Colombian coffee production fell by 13% year-on-year in March. The National Federation of Colombian Coffee Growers says green coffee exports have dropped by 10% over the past 12 months. Despite low figures in March, however, exports in the 2023 first quarter fell by just 1% year-on-year.

• Heylo Coffee to showcase induction heating technology at London Coffee Festival. The brand’s Espresso Module’s induction heating system uses less energy than conventional boilers and can bring brew water up to required temperature within five seconds.

• Etkin launches Kickstarter campaign for new 2-Cup Dripper. The company says its new double-walled porcelain flat bottom brewer is designed to enhance sweetness and create a faster flow rate.

• Starbucks appoints Brad Lerman as Executive Vice President and general counsel. Lerman was previously the Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary of medical company Medtronic in Minneapolis. Lerman will lead Starbucks’ legal and regulatory affairs.

Fri, 14 Apr

• MONIN publishes 2022/23 UK Summer Drinks Trends report. The syrup manufacturer’s latest report found that one in ten of under-35s drink iced coffee every day, even during winter months. Caramel is also the UK’s preferred syrup flavour, followed by vanilla, salted caramel, and hazelnut.

• Octane Coffee debuts with fully automated drive-thru in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The drive-thru coffee concept aims to prepare and serve beverages within 15 to 30 seconds of arrival at the pick-up window.

• SCA Denmark hosts several 2023 national Coffee Championships at this year’s Danish Coffee Festival. The festival, which is taking place in Copenhagen, is hosting the 2023 Danish Cup Tasters, Barista, and Brewers Cup Championships.

• Lost Sock Coffee Roasters open pop-up coffee shop in Washington D.C. The new pop-up concept will open at Brightwood Pizza & Bottle at 711 Kennedy St. NW, and will serve espresso-based drinks, single origin coffees, and seasonal lattes.

• Sensible Coffee to co-host this year’s Gems of Araku private coffee auction on 24 May. The auction, which highlights the impact of soil and terroir on coffee grown in this valley region in India, will feature several different processing methods. The online auction starts at 9:00 EST.

• Expo Café Uruguay 2023 to take place on 12 and 13 August in Montevideo. After a successful first edition in 2022, the annual coffee expo will once again feature more than 30 exhibitors and over 40 different kinds of coffee.

What not to miss at the 2023 Specialty Coffee Expo

Next week, this year’s Specialty Coffee Expo will take place at the Oregon Convention Centre in Portland, Oregon from 21 to 23 April.

The event will host six US Coffee Championships: Barista, Brewers Cup, Coffee in Good Spirits, Cup Tasters, Roaster, and Latte Art Championships. Alongside these competitions, this year’s Specialty Coffee Expo will also include the Best New Product Competition, Coffee Design Awards, Green Coffee Buyers & Sellers Programme, Roaster Village, Coffee Science Foundation Scientific Poster Session, and Cupping Exchange, as well as lectures and workshops.

More than 400 exhibitors are expected to attend the event, including:

• Torr Industries – liquid product filling machine manufacturer, including the HIVE Cold Brew Coffee System
• SanCoffee – specialty green coffee trader in Brazil
• Ecotact – green coffee packaging solutions company
• MTPak Coffee – coffee packaging and takeaway cup manufacturer
• Ally Coffee – specialty green coffee importer
• JNP Coffee – specialty green coffee importer focusing on Burundian coffees produced by women farmer
• Marco Beverage Systems – beverage dispensing solutions manufacturer
• AeroPress – coffee brewer manufacturer
• Algrano – green coffee direct trade platform
• Fiorenzato – premium coffee equipment manufacturer
• Baratza – home and prosumer coffee grinder manufacturer
• Cimbali USA – commercial espresso machine and grinder manufacturer
• Covoya Coffee – specialty green coffee trader (formerly Olam Specialty Coffee)
• Dalla Corte – professional espresso machine and grinder manufacturer
• Guatemalan Coffees – official specialty green coffee trader for Anacafé
• Mercon Specialty Coffee – specialty green coffee trader
• Rancilio Group North America – commercial and prosumer coffee machine and grinder manufacturer
• Royal Coffee and The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room – specialty green coffee importer and education facility
• Toddy – cold brew equipment manufacturer
• Frank Buna – commercial coffee equipment manufacturer
• Stronghold – professional coffee roaster manufacturer
• Sucafina – international specialty green coffee trader
• Yara – crop nutrition manufacturer and supplier
• Cropster – coffee software company
• IMF – commercial coffee roaster manufacturer
• Aillio – compact coffee roaster manufacturer
• BWT water+more – water technology and solutions
• Metropolis Coffee Company – specialty coffee roaster

These companies will be joined by many other prominent brands in the industry, including roasters, green coffee traders, and coffee equipment manufacturers. For more information and to register, visit the Specialty Coffee Expo website.

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

• Mon, 3 Apr – Study finds that “moderate” coffee consumption could lower blood pressure levels. Researchers at the Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital in Bologna, Italy concluded that moderate (two or more cups) and heavy coffee drinkers had lower systolic BP (SBP) than people who didn’t drink coffee.

• Thu, 6 Apr – Tims China reports 57.2% revenue increase in 2022. The exclusive operator of Tim Hortons stores in China says it opened 227 new stores last year, which helped to bring in US $146.6 million in revenue.

• Thu, 6 Apr – Direct trade coffee platform Algrano launches in the US. The Swiss company allows roasters to purchase coffee from several producing countries, including Colombia, Brazil, and Rwanda. Minimum orders start at one 60kg bag.

Photo credits: Specialty Coffee Association, Producer Roaster Forum

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The post Coffee News Recap, 14 Apr: Speaker applications open for PRF Colombia, coffee sets new record for geographical indication in Brazil & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Mon, 3 Apr

• SCA announces 2023 UK Barista Champion. Ian Kissick of Formative Coffee in London placed first, and will represent the UK at the 2023 World Barista Championship in Athens, Greece from 21 to 24 June.

• This year’s High Density event to take place on 16 November 2023. The theme of this year’s event is “Not Just Origin” to acknowledge the diversity of different coffee-producing countries and regions. High Density is a free event, and registration is open now.

• Lacsnac launches single-serve coffee bags for nursing mothers. The Colombian Blend Lactation Coffee bags also contain fenugreek and thistle, which the company says can help to increase supply of breast milk. Each bag contains 120mg of caffeine, which is in line with medical recommendations for nursing mothers.

• Project Café Europe finds three out of four European branded coffee shop markets grew during the past year. The research project found that the total European branded coffee shop market grew by 3.3% over the last 12 months. Costa Coffee remains Europe’s largest coffee chain, followed by Starbucks and McCafé.

• This year’s US Comandante Championship to take place in Portland, Oregon. The grinder manufacturer will host the competition at Proud Mary Coffee Roastery on 20 April. A total of 18 participants will compete using C40 Nitro Blade grinders. Attendance is free for spectators, and the competition will take place prior to Proud Mary’s “Deluxe Coffee Getdown” event.

• Catalyst Trade to host pre-auction cupping on 22 April in Portland, Oregon. The US green coffee importer is set to host its first online auction in June later this year. The cupping session, which is capped at 50 attendees, will allow prospective buyers to try a range of Ethiopian coffees.

Tue, 4 Apr

• Price of Brazilian robusta recovers in late March following three weeks of devaluation. CEPEA reports that increased demand helped robusta prices recover during the last week of March, following three weeks of devaluation as a result of low purchase volumes and a decline in international coffee prices.

• SCA announces 2023 German Brewers Cup Champion. Home brewer Erik Freudenberg will represent Germany at the 2023 World Brewers Cup in Athens, Greece from 21 to 24 June later this year.

• Next year’s World Brewers Cup and World Cup Tasters Championship to take place at 2024 Specialty Coffee Expo. The SCA will host the two competitions at the 2024 Specialty Coffee Expo, which will take place in Chicago, US from 12 to 14 April next year.

• European Bioplastics supports motion to make coffee capsules mandatorily compostable. The organisation is backing the European Commission’s proposal to revise packaging rules for a number of products, including coffee capsules. European Bioplastics is also calling on the European Parliament and Council to impose the legislation, too.

• Rancilio Group and 2022 Barista League champion to showcase new Invicta espresso machine at 2023 London Coffee Festival. Along with Rancilio Group’s team, Claudia Cho Ngai Lam will present the new single-boiler espresso machine, which includes integrated Steady Brew technology, at the Truman Brewery from 20 to 23 April.

Wed, 5 Apr

• World Coffee Research launches Grafting Robusta resource for farmers. The new nursery training and best practices guide outlines a step-by-step process that farmers can follow when grafting their own plants, as well as techniques for maintaining grafted plants.

• World AeroPress Championship announces more confirmed hosts for 2023 national competitions. New hosts include Manual Specialty Coffee Roastery in Bahrain, Amor Perfecto in Colombia, and Every Half Coffee Roasters in Vietnam. The 2023 national AeroPress Championship season will officially begin on 1 May.

• SCA opens Coffee Design Awards applications for 2023 World of Coffee Athens. The winners of this year’s awards, which recognise creativity in the coffee industry, will be presented and celebrated at World of Coffee Athens from 22 to 24 June.

• New spring 2023 National Coffee Data Trends Report finds that more Americans drank coffee in the previous day than any other beverage. The National Coffee Association’s new report also concluded that past-day consumption of coffee increased across all demographics. Furthermore, out-of-home consumption is also recovering post pandemic, with 35% of past-day drinkers purchasing coffee outside of the home, compared to 31% in January 2020.

• Nguyen Coffee founder featured on Inc. magazine’s 2023 Female Founders cover. Sahra Nguyen, who founded the fine robusta company, was one of five women featured on the cover of the April issue.

Thu, 6 Apr

• Alliance for Coffee Excellence to host fifth Best of Yemen Private Collection Auction on 8 August 2023. This year’s auction will focus on “cultivating innovation”, and will highlight research and development carried out by Qima Coffee over the past few years. Samples are available to order now.

• Frank Buna announces World Latte Art Championship finalist Dhan Tamang as new Latte Art Factory ambassador. Tamang, who is also a six-time UK Latte Art Champion, will be a global brand ambassador for the automated milk foaming solution, and will join the Frank Buna team at World of Coffee Athens and HostMilano this year.

• World Coffee Research releases 2022 annual report. As part of its key results last year, the organisation launched the Innovea Global Coffee Breeding Network, advanced US legislation of strategic interest to the coffee industry, and increased available funding for coffee research and development.

• Neumann Kaffee Gruppe’s Partnership to Advance Coffee Equity (PACE) programme celebrates first graduating class. This year, Jayy Terrell, Charles Umeano, and Porttia Portis successfully passed the programme, which developed by NKG and the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity to increase diversity in the US coffee industry. Partners for the next NKG Pace programme are Jalen Kelly, Shaa’ista Sabir, and Zakiya Mason.

Fri, 7 Apr

• International Coffee Organisation’s Composite Indicator Price fell by 2.7% in March. The organisation says average prices for all group indicators (except robusta) decreased in March. Global green coffee exports also dropped by 20.23% in February compared to the same month in 2022 – leading the ICO to estimate that there will be a deficit of 7.3 million 60kg bags in the 2022/23 coffee year.

• Certified B Corp Sancoffee releases 2022 impact report. Among several key achievements, the Brazilian specialty coffee co-operative exported a total of 53,501 60kg bags in the 2022/23 season, and sequestered 68,798.55 tonnes of carbon dioxide across 20 farms – meaning the company is carbon neutral.

• Café Show Vietnam 2023 to take place from 13 to 15 April in Ho Chi Minh City. The annual event will be held at the Saigon Exhibition & Convention Centre, and will feature more than 200 exhibitors from ten different countries. This year’s Café Show Vietnam will also host the 2023 Vietnamese Latte Art Championship.

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

• Mon, 27 Mar – Huhtamäki says sustainable packaging is key to its long-term growth strategy. The Finnish packaging company announced its updated 2030 profitable growth strategy last week, which includes developing its new “blueloop” sustainable initiative.

• Thu, 30 Mar – Starbucks’ investors vote for external review of company’s handling of workers rights. Investors voted in favour of a proposal to commission and oversee an independent, third-party assessment of Starbucks’ “adherence to its stated commitment to workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights”.

• Thu, 30 Mar – Lavazza reports 17.6% increase in 2022 revenue. The Italian coffee company also completed the acquisition of MaxiCoffee, which Lavazza says will help with its international expansion plans.

• Fri, 31 Mar – Luckin Coffee opens first international locations in Singapore. The Chinese coffee chain’s Marina Square and Ngee Ann City stores are the first outside of China.

• Fri, 31 Mar – Global coffee pods market expected to grow by nearly US $10 million by 2027. Research firm Technavio anticipates a CAGR of 5.22% during the forecast period.

• Fri, 31 Mar – UK roaster says “it’s an ongoing gamble” to manage coffee supplies in the face of climate change. Cairngorm Coffee Roasters says that coffee businesses in consuming countries need to “strengthen links” with producers to solve supply chain issues.

• Fri, 31 Mar – Paulig reports 14% revenue growth in 2022, but profitability declines. The international food and beverage company, which also sells coffee, says increasing costs of raw materials, energy, and transportation led to a significant decline in profits.

• Sat, 2 Apr – Harrods unveils the world’s first Prada Caffè in London. The store was designed to mimic the interior of Prada’s historic boutique store in Milan.

Photo credits: Specialty Coffee Association, World Coffee Events

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Mon, 27 Mar

• International Women’s Coffee Alliance’s current Executive Director to leave organisation in May 2023. Dr Sarada Krishnan, who first joined the IWCA in June 2021, will continue as an advisor and will also assist in the appointment of a new Executive Director in the coming weeks.

• US gelato chain Cremalosa launches new coffee programme. The brand, which is owned by acclaimed US food writer Meredith Ford, will now serve coffee from Land of a Thousand Hills – a specialty roaster in Atlanta, Georgia.

• Fourth wave of coffee will focus on “the industrialisation of coffee” and “less about craft”. World Coffee in Good Spirits finalist Vladyslav Demonenko predicts that the fourth wave of coffee will be more geared towards better availability of high-quality convenient products, such as RTD drinks and capsules.

• UK roaster 200 Degrees to open new coffee shop and barista school in Chester. This will be 200 Degrees’ 19th location in the UK, and will include an in-house barista school open to both professionals and enthusiasts.

• Ethiopian coffee authorities to host two lectures on market access and genetic diversity at 2023 Specialty Expo in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Adugna Debela Bote, Director General of the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority will present the Ethiopian Coffees: New Market Systems Lead to New Access Opportunities lecture on 21 April. The following day, Dr. Kassaye Tolessa Sherge, Director of Food Science and Nutrition Research and Directorate of the Ethiopian Institute of Agriculture Research, will host The Quest to Understand Ethiopian Coffee Qualities lecture on 22 April.

• TechnoServe and Starbucks Foundation launch Mujeres CAFÉ initiative in Peru. The project will work with 1,300 Peruvian women in coffee farming communities to develop leadership, communications, and decision-making skills.

Tue, 28 Mar

• Suntory Beverage and Food’s first female CEO seeks US $5 billion in drinks acquisitions. The company, which is one of the biggest canned coffee manufacturers in Japan, is particularly interested in the US RTD beverage market.

• USDA’s Agricultural Research Service joins World Coffee Research’s Innovea Global Coffee Breeding Network to bolster genetic diversity. The partnership will specifically focus on the Hawaiian coffee sector, with the overall aim to better prepare for future threats from pests and diseases. In 2020, coffee leaf rust was first discovered on some of Hawaii’s islands.

• New study suggests how coffee helps to lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Research from Clinical Nutrition suggests that coffee lowers pro-inflammatory biomarkers like C-reactive protein, while also increasing anti-inflammatory biomarkers like adiponectin. However, the study found that people who smoke are unlikely to experience these effects.

• Scotsman Ice renews partnership with Specialty Coffee Association. The ice machine manufacturer has renewed its sponsorship with the SCA for another three years. Scotsman Ice will sponsor the 2023 World Barista and Coffee in Good Spirits Championships.

• International Trade Centre partners with International Coffee Organisation on new Sustainability Initiatives in the Coffee Sector mapping project. The new initiative is an effort to consolidate existing projects in coffee-producing countries onto one database to create an interactive map. The ITC and ICO are calling for suitable respondents to fill out a survey.

• Specialty Coffee Association announces 2023 Sustainability Award winners. The Business Model category winner is Primavera Green Coffee, the Project category winner is RENACER Coffee Training School by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and the Individual category winners are David Griswold and Jose Rivera. The winners will be formally recognised at Re:co Symposium on 19 and 20 April 2023.

Wed, 29 Mar

• SEB Professional opens Experience Centre in Geislingen an der Steige, Germany. The new facility showcases the company’s entire range of coffee machine systems including WMF Professional, Schaerer, and Curtis. The Experience Centre also features an auditorium and training centre.

• US’ National Labor Relations Board claims Starbucks illegally refused to bargain with workers on Zoom but former CEO maintains it “engaged in good faith bargaining”. The NLRB stated that Starbucks violated national labour laws by refusing to engage in collective bargaining sessions via video calls. However, as part of his US Senate testimony, Howard Schultz claims representatives “improperly demanded multi-store negotiations, delayed or refused to attend meetings, and insisted on unlawful preconditions.”

• More than 700 tickets sold for The Barista League’s second event held in Mexico City. Some 138 baristas applied to compete, with teams representing 16 different Mexican coffee companies. The winners of the competition are Sebas Bonelli and Kike Valle from Team Dirty Fingers. The next Barista League event will be held in Brno on 26 May.

• New ZHAW study singles out chemical compounds responsible for fruity flavours in fermented coffee. Scientists at the Coffee Excellence Centre at Zurich University of Applied Sciences used gas chromatography and nasal assessment to identify three chemical compounds which contribute to intense fruity aromas in fermented coffee: 2-methylpropanal, 3-methylbutanal and ethyl 3-methylbutanoate.

• Dean’s Beans launches organic Fairtrade-certified RTD cold brew line. The US specialty coffee company’s Nice Nitro canned cold brew is steeped for 24 hours.

• Global Coffee Platform recognises five sustainability schemes aligned with the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code. Louis Dreyfus Company’s Responsible Sourcing Program Advanced initiative, Mercon Specialty Coffee’s LIFT platform, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe’s NKG Verified programme, and Volcafe’s Verified and Excellence intiatives have all been recognised for their alliance with Global Coffee Plaform’s Coffee Sustainability Reference Code.

Thu, 30 Mar

• New award-winning docuseries The Road to Milan follows Andrea Allen’s journey to 2021 World Barista Championship. The documentary, which was produced by Wildly and is presented by Pacific Food Barista Series, received the Best Series Award at the 2023 Oregon Documentary Film Festival. The Road to Milan is also up for selection at the 2023 New York City Independent Film Festival.

• Fairtrade to raise its Minimum Price baseline for coffee. The organisation’s new Minimum Price will come into effect on 1 August 2023, and will raise the baseline price for coffee by 19% for robusta and 29% for arabica.

• German Brewers Cup 2023 takes place in Nürnberg. Rösttrommel Coffee Roasters are hosting the competition, with the winner going on to represent Germany at the 2023 World Brewers Cup in Athens, Greece this June.

• Saudi Arabian government approves signing of the ICO’s International Coffee Agreement. Saudi Arabia will sign the agreement as part of its The Year of Saudi Coffee campaign, which aims to increase exports of domestically grown coffee. The Saudi coffee sector is expected to produce 28,700 tonnes of green coffee by the end of 2026.

• illycaffè records its highest-ever revenue growth in a decade. The Italian coffee company experienced a 13.6% increase in 2022 revenue. It also reported a 16% increase in operating profit, and has expressed interest in expanding in the US market.

• Moccamaster K5 Grinder receives approval from European Coffee Brewing Centre. Technivorm’s new flat burr coffee grinder is the fourth product to receive approval from the ECBC.

Fri, 31 Mar

• Birmingham Coffee Festival to open ticket sales on 5 April. After a four-year hiatus, the festival returns to Birmingham’s Custard Factory venue on 8 and 9 July 2023. This year’s event will also hos the first-ever Extracted Development competition, which is open to both roasters and baristas.

• Venezuela Brewers Cup 2023 to take place on 1 April 2023 in Caracas. Registration is now open for the competition, which will be held at the Lidotel Caracas. Venezuela’s Caracas Quiere Café was recently welcomed as a new SCA Competition Body for the 2023 World Coffee Championships.

• Royal Coffee launches new bulk green coffee promotion. The US green importer is offering US $300 off when customers purchase ten or more standard-sized bags of coffee when customers use the code “10BAGS”. Customers can also buy 20 bags and save US $600 with code “20BAGS” and save US $900 when buying 30 bags with code “30BAGS”.

• UK Barista Championship 2023 takes place in Elstree, Hertfordshire. The highest-ranking baristas from five regional heats are competing for a place at the 2023 World Barista Championship, which will be held from 22 to 24 June. Competitors include semi-professional rugby player Kyle McGhie.

• Kansas City Asian American and Pacific Islander Festival 2023 to include city’s first Vietnamese coffee shop. The event, which will take place on 20 May, will feature Cafe Cà Phê, as well as other prominent coffee brands such as Umeshiso, Rancilio Group, and Oatly.

• Pact Coffee to launch “secret recipe” cold brew. The UK roaster’s new cold brew, which includes coffees from José Ramón Collazos in Colombia and María Del Rosario Ariza Coy from Farmers Co-op Society in Kenya, will be available on 5 April.

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

• Tue, 14 Mar – YouTuber Jacksepticeye’s Top of the Mornin’ coffee brand welcomes new CEO. Former Ugly Drinks CEO Hugh Thomas will help drive brand expansion and growth. The company donates 1% of proceeds to mental health initiatives for young people.

• Thu, 16 Mar – UK coffee subscription start-up secures funding on BBC’s Dragons’ Den. Richard and Fiona Jones successfully pitched their Beans Coffee Club to investors Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden. The couple successfully asked for £50,000 (US $61,000) for 15% of the business.

• Wed, 22 Mar – New study suggests coffee benefits physical activity but can reduce sleep. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that coffee consumers take an extra 1,000 steps per day on average than those who don’t drink coffee. However, coffee consumers also lose an average of 36 minutes of sleep each night, but this largely depends on caffeine consumption levels.

• Thu, 23 Mar – Empire State Building announces new Starbucks Reserve Sunrise Experience. The Starbucks Reserve store will host sunrise coffee sessions at the 86th Floor Observatory from 1 April 2023, which include a complimentary “microblend” coffee.

• Thu, 23 Mar – New Starbucks CEO wants to develop “a different kind of company” for employees. New CEO Laxman Narasimhan has told employees that the company plans to “reinvigorate” its work culture in the wake of a growing unionisation movement in the US. Narasimhan said he will also work four hours in a different US Starbucks store each month.

• Thu, 23 Mar – Specialty Coffee Association launches 2023 Specialty Coffee Education Survey. The SCA says the aim of the survey is to understand demand for coffee education programmes from the perspective of coffee educators. Survey results will be used to develop further SCA educational content.

Photo credits: The Barista League

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The post Coffee News Recap, 31 Mar: SCA announces 2023 Sustainability Award winners, new study suggests how coffee helps to lower risk of type 2 diabetes & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

Mon, 20 Mar

• PRF El Salvador announces winners of 2023 Salvadoran Barista Championship, Salvadoran Brewers Cup, Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Championship, and Global Roasting Contest. All four competitions took place at the two-day forum on 16 and 17 March 2023:
  
  • Carlos Cubias was announced as the 2023 Salvadoran Barista Champion, while Alejandro Méndez placed first at the 2023 Salvadoran Brewers Cup.
  • The winners of the 2023 Toddy Cold Brew Coffee Championship were Juan Aristizabal from Colombia and Julia Dziadevych from Ukraine.
  • The winner of the first-ever Global Roasting Contest, who received an Aillio Bullet Roaster R1 V2, was Shaun Aupiais from South Africa.

• US class action lawsuit claims Dutch Bros misled investors and failed to disclose crucial financial information. Several US law firms say certain investors may be entitled to compensation because of the company’s “materially false and/or misleading statements”, as well as Dutch Bros’ alleged failure to disclose its accurate financial circumstances.

• Grind acquires Bottleshot Coffee for US $18.3 million. The UK roaster says its acquisition of Bottleshot will allow it to expand into grocery and RTD coffee markets.

• New brand Native Design launches line of coffee tools. The US brand produces several coffee tools and accessories, including the Launchpad countertop pour over brewing station, Pro Tampers, and the Filter Crib paper filter holder.

• TYPICA announces series of events to celebrate new US launch. The green coffee trader will host several cupping sessions at three different New York City locations on 29, 30, and 31 March. TYPICA will also host a community dinner at its Brooklyn headquarters on 31 March.

Tue, 21 Mar

• WMF Professional releases new line of crystal glasses for hot beverages. The company’s TRUE FLAVOUR line includes four different glasses, which WMF says are made using an “innovative manufacturing process” to be able to withstand boiling temperatures.

• McDonalds to serve Oatly in coffee beverages at all locations in Austria. The fast food chain will now offer Oatly Barista Edition for its McCafé coffee beverages.

• Peet’s Coffee to offer complimentary plant milk options for all beverages throughout April. As part of its new spring plant-based menu, the US chain will offer complimentary oat, soy, or almond milk with all beverages. New spring menu items include the Lavender Vanilla Almond Latte and the Lavender Cold Brew Oat Latte.

• New greensquare trading tool launches online. The new ecommerce platform connects international roasters with hundreds of Australian green coffee traders. Users will also have access to digital documents and online delivery schedules.

• Saudi Coffee Company plans to boost coffee production in Jazan region. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Jazan Mountains Development Authority. The two will work together to promote locally-grown coffee on the international market.

• Melbourne International Coffee Expo to launch Richest Barista competition this year. The knock-out style competition will include three rounds: Barista, Latte Art, and Cup Tasting. Participants will compete for the chance to win a share of the AU $40,000 (US $26,000) prize pool. Registration is set to open soon.

Wed, 22 Mar

• Blank Street Coffee secures US $20 million investment to launch beverage subscription service. The chain’s new subscription service costs US $12 per week. Participating customers will be able to order free filter coffee, tea, and cold brew every two hours, and selected premium beverage will be available for US $1.

• Spanish coffee shop startup GoodNews becomes certified B-Corp. GoodNews, which operates 25 stores across Barcelona, Madrid, and Paris, is now one of around 160 coffee-related B-Corp companies in the world. The brand plans to continue expansion across Europe in 2023.

• Starbucks announces Laxman Narasimhan as new CEO two weeks early as workers strike at over 100 locations in US. Narasimhan, who was first named as incoming CEO on 1 September 2022, succeeds Howard Schultz – who returned as interim CEO effective 4 April 2022. Starbucks Workers United members in 40 US cities organised a strike in response to continued claims of the company’s anti-union activity.

• The Barista League to return to Hamburg, Germany on 25 March. The barista-style coffee competition will also include a Sucafina cupping challenge, Prana Chai “Prana Pong”, and the Mystery Mocktail Challenge.

• Starbucks launches Oleato olive oil-infused coffee drinks in the US. Following the Oleato beverage line launch in Italy last month, Starbucks will serve the olive oil-infused drinks at select locations in the US, as well as its Reserve stores.

• World Coffee Events to host webinar on updated rules and regulations for 2023 World Coffee Championships. Members of the WCC Competitions Strategic Committee will explain all update rules and regulations for the 2023 World Barista Championship and World Brewers Cup. Webinar registration is open now.

Thu, 23 Mar

• Sustainable Brand Index names Paulig as Finland’s most sustainable beverage brand. For the fourth year in a row, Paulig has been recognised as the country’s most sustainable beverage brand by Finnish consumers. The company also ranked 21st across all categories.

• Norway’s US $1.3 trillion wealth fund to vote in favour of motion for Starbucks to report on its labour rights records. The fund, which is one of the world’s largest investors, currently owns US $1.2 billion in Starbucks shares. Following a mass Starbucks Workers United movement in the US, the fund says it will vote in favour of commissioning an external assessment of Starbucks’ handling of labour right issues.

• Visitor registration opens for 2023 International Café and Beverage Show 2023. This year’s event will take place at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Malaysia from 25 to 27 May, and is set to welcome over 8,000 attendees.

• New survey reveals British consumers’ relationship with coffee has “changed forever” following the pandemic. The survey, conducted by Opinion Matters and commissioned by Cairngorm Coffee Roasters, found that 43% of British millennials are drinking more coffee than ever before. Moreover, a third of Gen Zs now see takeaway coffee as a necessity rather than a luxury.

• National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia selects shortlist of candidates for General Manager position. Between 27 March and 4 April, the shortlisted candidates – Germán Alberto Bahamón Jaramillo, Sandra Morelli Rico, and Santiago Pardo Salguero – will present their proposals to each of the 15 departmental committees of FNC coffee growers.

• Strauss Group reports 6.9% coffee sales growth in 2022. The Israeli food and beverage manufacturer says despite high green coffee prices and rising energy costs, it experienced strong growth in coffee sales in both Brazil and Eastern Europe.

Fri, 24 Mar

• Equal Origins to host What it means to #EmbraceEquity in coffee and cocoa webinar on 29 March. The online panel will feature speakers Michael Anthony Montalvan Tineo, General Manager at CAC La Prosperidad de Chirinos, and Kelly Amoroso, Senior Coffee and Tea Buyer at Allegro Coffee. Registration is open now.

• European Coffee Symposium 2023 announces first speakers and panellists. The event, which will take place from 27 to 29 November in Barcelona, Spain, will include Maxwell Colonna-Dashwood of Colonna Coffee, Roland Horne of WatchHouse, and Ignacio Llado Alvarez-Sallas of Blank Street Coffee.

• Gruppo Cimbali to move US headquarters to Seattle, Washington. As of 1 June 2023, the Italian coffee equipment manufacturer will move all US offices and operations to Renton, Seattle – including a larger manufacturing plant for Slayer machines. Cimbali says the move will allow it to operate more efficiently and effectively in the US.

• Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association says women are leading more than 25% of coffee farms in Brazil. According to the latest survey from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, around 89,000 women are running or co-running coffee farms and estates in the country – the equivalent of 815,000ha.

• Juan Valdez reports 52% increase in sales in 2022 following international expansion. The Colombian coffee chain says its gross profits totalled US $608,000, which helped to offset losses of US $283,000 in the previous year.

• World AeroPress Champion Wendelien van Bunnik launches the Happy Coffee Network online. The 2019 World AeroPress Champion says her new project is “a space for people to learn and connect through coffee in a safe, encouraging environment”. The Happy Coffee Network will also host a series of events throughout the year.

Winners of the first-ever Global Coffee Awards announced at PRF El Salvador

On 16 and 17 March, Producer Roaster Forum (PRF) – the world’s largest producer-focused event – returned to El Salvador for the first time since 2016. Alongside a series of engaging lectures, panel discussions, workshops and competitions, PRF El Salvador was also the stage for the first-ever edition of the Global Coffee Awards.

These are innovative new producer-led industry awards, which recognise innovators and leaders from across the sector. The aim is by centring the Global Coffee Awards in Latin America, they can be far more inclusive and accessible.

Four judges evaluated entries over a number of categories and selected a winner for each. Judges included María Pacas, Commercial Director of Café Pacas, Dale Harris, former World Barista Champion and COO of Hasbean and Ozone Coffee, Nicole Battefeld-Montgomery, Head of Education at Rancilio Group DE, and Tony Dreyfuss, co-founder of Metropolis Coffee Company.

The winners of the PRF El Salvador Global Coffee Awards 2023 are:

• PRF El Salvador Product Excellence Award:  ECO-washer 1500 by Penagos

• PRF El Salvador Product Innovation Award: The Link by Nucleus Coffee Tools

• PRF El Salvador Iconic Design Award: The Bullet R1 V2 by Aillio

• PRF El Salvador Best Booth Award: Café L’Étranger

• Best Producer – Central America Award: Los Pirineos Coffee Farm

• Best Roaster – Central America Award: Pirómano Coffee Roasters

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

• Thu, 9 Mar – ofi says 82% of consumers use plant-based products at least once a month. The food and beverage ingredients company found that US consumers see plant-based products as additions to their diets rather than substitutes to dairy. Around 63% of those surveyed expect to use more plant-based products within the next two years.

• Thu, 16 Mar – Sojitz Corporation acquires rights to operate Costa Coffee in Japan. Newly formed company, Sojitz Royal Café, plans to expand Costa Coffee across Japan, primarily in the Kanto region.

• Thu, 16 Mar – Crop losses during 2022/23 Brazilian coffee harvest raised domestic prices higher than export values. Cepea says frosts and excessive rains drastically lowered supply in Brazil and caused prices to fluctuate. Some farmers are unwilling to sell their crop unless prices increase, but some experts believe the industry will recover in the 2023/24 season.

• Thu, 16 Mar – Swiss Water reports 41% increase in 2022 revenue. The Canadian company says its annual volumes increased by 19% last year, while its adjusted EBITDA was up by 58% to US $16.7 million for the full year.

• Fri, 17 Mar – Newly unionised Heine Brothers employees reach new contract agreement with management. After four months of negotiations, employees have received a number of new benefits, including a 10% pay increase for baristas in first year of employment, an additional week of paid time off, and additional paid holiday.

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