Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the previous week. Here are this week’s stories.

Mon, 13 Feb

• MTPak Coffee launches its Circular Economy Grant. Applicants can share how their efforts are making the coffee industry more sustainable by promoting a circular economy. A panel of judges will pick a winner who will receive either US $5,000 in cash or US $15,000 in credit for MTPak Coffee products. Applications are open until 1 July 2023 and the application form is here.

• Industry experts say we need to stop comparing arabica and robusta. Gio Hidalgo, founder of Latitud 0° Green Coffee and co-founder of Giovanna Kaffee Roastery, and Will Frith, founder of Building Coffee, say we need to acknowledge and account for the differences between arabica and robusta in order to diversify the specialty coffee market.

• Nestlé Professional launches Choose Hospitality Pledge in UK. The company launched the initiative to encourage more young people to work in hospitality – including in coffee shops. As part of the programme, hospitality ambassadors will visit secondary schools nationwide to discuss options for those looking to enter the workforce.

• Brazil’s instant coffee exports reached record highs in 2022. The Brazilian Soluble Coffee Industry Association (ABICS) reports that export revenue for instant coffee increased by 24.5% in 2022, despite a decrease in export volumes. The US was the single largest importer of Brazil’s instant coffee products last year.

• Rancilio Group to open new Rancilio Station Showroom in Berlin, Germany on 24 February. Multiple German Barista and Brewers Cup Champion Nicole Battefeld-Montgomery will welcome guests to the new showroom, which is located on Joachimsthaler Straße. The new Berlin Rancilio Station will also host workshops and events.

Tue, 14 Feb

• Tim Hortons reports 14% increase in 2022 revenue despite store closures in Canada. The Canadian coffee chain’s 2022 revenue totalled US $7.16 billion. Along with the closure of 53 stores in the country, Tim Hortons suggests rising inflation could impact the business in 2023.

• Coca-Cola says coffee sales contributed significantly to robust 2022 financial results. Sales of the company’s coffee category grew by 11% for 2022 Q4, as well as 13% for the full year. Coca-Cola attributes the growth to the continuing expansion of Costa Coffee outlets.

• UK chain Black Sheep Coffee plans to open 15 stores across four US states. The company, which specialises in fine robusta, will open its first US store in Texas in the coming months. Black Sheep plans to open more stores in Texas, as well as in Arizona, Florida, and Georgia.

• National Federation of Coffee Growers Colombia’s General Manager warns coffee producers are the “weakest link” in the supply chain but are also the “only one that is indispensable”. Speaking at the World Forum of Coffee Producers – which was held in Kigali, Rwanda – Roberto Vélez Vallejo highlighted the importance of supporting coffee producers. The Kigali Declaration was also signed at the event, which seeks to provide support in developing National Coffee Sustainability Plans.

• Study says drinking three cups of coffee a day may help maintain healthy blood pressure. The study published in Nutrients found that regular coffee drinkers have lower blood pressure readings, especially when drinking three cups per day. The study also claims that while caffeine consumption can increase blood pressure, other coffee compounds such as antioxidants may help to lower it.

Wed, 15 Feb

• World AeroPress Championships opens 2023 host applications. Successful applicants will be able to host a national or regional AeroPress Championship in their respective country.

• Starbucks Korea reports 16% rise in reusable cup uptake in 2022. Regional CEO Son Jeong-hyun says reusable cups were used over 25 million times in more than 1,700 stores last year.

• Specialty Coffee Association calls on global coffee community to support victims of earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. SCA Turkey says it’s “working closely with the local coffee community to provide support to the search and rescue teams and those in the hardest-hit areas” in the country. The SCA has listed several organisations which are receiving donations. The SCA is also asking members of the Syrian and Lebanese coffee communities who are organising support for people affected in the respective countries to reach out to them directly through the website contact form.

• ofi partners with USAID to support coffee farmers in Peru. The food and ingredients company and USAID have jointly invested US $8.1 million to provide better infrastructure and access to training and certifications for 1,000 smallholder farmers for five years.

• Pret A Manger hires 250 Ukrainian refugees as part of employment programme. The company’s Ukraine Employment Programme launched in April 2022 following the war earlier in the year. Ukrainian employees hired through the programme will take on positions across 100 stores in the UK.

• Starbucks interim CEO Howard Schultz declines to attend US Senate hearing on company’s compliance with federal labour law. Last week, 11 US senators formally requested Schultz to speak at the hearing, but he has since declined the invite. Starbucks suggested Executive Vice President and Chief Public Affairs Officer AJ Jones II would be the best person to speak on the issues raised.

Thu, 16 Feb

• Nestlé says it is likely to raise prices after inflation shrinks 2022 profit margins. The company says coffee sales grew at a high single-digit rate last year, but also reported a 45.2% decrease in 2022 net profits – reflecting the impact of rising inflation and food costs.

• SCA Croatia to host 2023 Croatian Barista & Latte Art Championships on 25 & 26 February. Both competitions will take place at the New Town Hall in Prague.

• Bellwether Coffee collaborates with James Hoffmann on solar-powered roaster. Hoffmann partnered with the electric roaster manufacturer to create a custom roast profile, as well as to install a solar panel on its A Series 2 Roaster. The coffee was then roasted in the Californian desert using solar energy.

• Social media influencer Chris Olsen launches Flight Fuel Coffee. The brand sells airport-themed LHR – Original, SFO – Caramel, and DCA – Hazelnut whole bean blends, as well as the LAX – Vanilla and JFK – Caramel coffee concentrates.

• Barista Hustle publishes new Terroir book exploring coffee plant physiology. The book, written by Hem Challender and published by Barista Hustle Education, is an in-depth analysis of how terroir can affect a coffee plant’s shape, size, and other characteristics.

• Hemro Group launches new branding for Anfim grinders. The rebranding includes a new website and logo design. Hemro acquired the Anfim brand in 2013 and opened a new factory in Milan in 2022.

• Krispy Kreme reports 9% revenue growth in 2022. CEO Mike Tattersfield said the coffee and doughnut chain sold a record 1.63 billion doughnuts last year, and plans to sell higher-priced specialty doughnuts and close more unprofitable locations in 2023.

• Alfred Coffee to launch new signature menu for tenth anniversary. The LA coffee company’s exclusive menu will include the World Famous Vanilla Latte, O.G. Chagaccino, the Lavender Latte, and three new functional beverages.

Fri, 17 Feb

• The Barista League Oslo to take place on 18 February. Fuglen Coffee Roasters will host the barista-style competition at Byens Tak, which will include several prominent guest judges.

• Let’s Talk Coffee Honduras 2023 to take place from 20 to 25 February in Copán Ruinas. After a two-year hiatus, the 19th edition of the invitation-only event will return to Honduras. Let’s Talk Coffee features one-on-one meetings with local producers, cupping sessions, and other networking opportunities.

• New podcast and video series Coffee Breath highlights people working in the US coffee sector. The show’s host is Jason “Double J” Johnson, a coffee professional with 25 years of experience. The first episode features coffee professionals from Portland, Oregon.

• Dutch Bros hosts annual fundraiser Dutch Luv Day. Today, the coffee drive-thru chain will donate US $1 from every drink sold to local organisations who provide food to various communities in the US.

• UK coffee brand BEAR closes equity investment round. The company, which currently operates five locations nationwide, says new funding will allow it to expand its presence across the UK.

• Zwilling Enfinigy automatic brewer receives SCA certification. The brewer, which officially meets SCA Golden Cup Standard requirements, features a stainless-steel boiler and an insulated thermal carafe.

• BRITA launches new data-driven PURITY C iQ filter head for espresso machines. The company’s new intelligent filtration system features an integrated filter cartridge, filter head, and access to the cloud-based BRITA iQ Portal – which delivers real-time performance data.

• Royal Coffee relaunches podcast series. Sourced: The Coffee Podcast focuses on coffee production and green coffee trading. The second episode, Colombia’s New Wave of Coffee Culture and Experimental Processing, explores emerging trends in experimental processing techniques, and features Royal’s Junior Trader and Colombia Buying Team member, Amanda Amato, and The Crown’s Director of Education, Chris Kornman.

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

• Fri, 13 Jan – Miami, Florida brand Don Pablo Coffee files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, which employees 41 workers, listed US $5.4 million in secured debt and US $3.4 million in unsecured debt. Don Pablo states rising coffee prices in 2020 as one of the reasons for the bankruptcy filing.

• Thu, 9 Feb – Conab predicts Brazil will produce 55 million 60kg bags in 2023. Brazil’s National Supply Company says early signs point to a 9.2% increase in coffee production this year, with some producers suggesting the total figure could be even higher. The country produced 50.9 million 60kg bags in 2022.

• Thu, 9 Feb – New Jersey’s Hidden Grounds Coffee fined US $2,000 for refusing to accept cash. Co-founder of Hidden Grounds, Anand Patel, said the cashless system was implemented to reduce transaction times, as well as a response to a lack of cash for small businesses in the area. Along with paying the fine, cash will now be accepted at Hidden Grounds.

• Thu, 9 Feb – Sanremo announces Martin Shabaya as new brand ambassador. Shabaya is a three-time Kenyan Barista Champion and placed fifth at the 2021 World Barista Championship. The company says his “commitment, team spirit, enthusiasm, and passion for specialty coffee make him the ideal brand ambassador”.

• Sat, 11 Feb – US introduces new bill to protect Hawaiian coffee supplies. According to World Coffee Research, the Coffee Plant Health Initiative Amendments Act will support research to increase resiliency against certain pests and diseases.

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 how rising avocado exports are affecting Colombian coffee farmers.

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