Coffee News Recap, 15 Aug: US buyers reportedly delaying Brazilian coffee imports, MTPak Coffee is the Diamond Sponsor of GCA US & Canada & other stories

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

Editor’s note

The US and Brazil are at a standstill on tariffs, and there’s still no confirmation of an exemption for coffee.

President Trump’s 50% import levies on Brazilian goods caused the C price to surge earlier this week, peaking at US$3.29/lb. Reports of US buyers requesting to delay Brazilian imports, holding out for a decision on tariffs, could drive up prices even further.

The push to exempt coffee has been persistent. New York roaster Coffee Bros launched a petition in April, which has reached nearly 14,000 signatures, and the Congressional Coffee Caucus has urged the US government to reconsider its stance.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hinted at the possibility that coffee may be exempt from tariffs, but there has yet to be a final confirmation.

Brazil is not the only country affected by US tariffs, however. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s supporters in India, which is also facing 50% duties, are calling for boycotts of US-backed brands, including coffee chains. In such a lucrative, thriving specialty coffee market like India, this underlying tension could spell bad news for US coffee chains looking to expand.

Global coffee trade and international brand expansion are undergoing a transformation, reshaped by tariffs. Given the unpredictability of the situation, what happens next remains to be seen.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 11 Aug – Thermoplan acquires Swiss roaster startup Mikafi. The fully automatic coffee machine manufacturer’s purchase of the countertop roaster brand follows previous collaboration and investment. The acquisition will allow Thermoplan to offer full bean-to-cup service, including roasting. Thermoplan will present the Mikafi roaster at HostMilano from 17 to 21 October. (Weggis, Switzerland).

• Tue, 12 Aug – Calls to boycott US goods in India could impact coffee chains. Political protests over US tariffs are urging consumers to shun American brands, putting brands such as Starbucks and Coca-Cola at risk. Analysts say there has been no immediate hit to sales, but coffee outlets could be under pressure if campaigns expand, despite many consumers citing coffee as good value. (New Delhi, India)

• Wed, 13 Aug – MTPak Coffee is the Diamond Sponsor of GCA US & Canada. The sustainable packaging brand will support the Global Coffee Awards US & Canada regional competition, which will take place on 29 & 30 September 2025 in Houston, Texas, hosted at Copan Trade. The GCA recognises the world’s best roasteries and the producers who grow their coffees. (London, UK)

• Wed, 13 Aug – Functional coffee market grows to US $4.48bn. Ready-to-drink formats now account for about 69% of sales, while adaptogens, nootropics, and probiotics are driving new product launches. North America leads with roughly 69% market share, while the Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, supporting an 11.45% CAGR. (London, UK).

• Thu, 14 Aug – US buyers reportedly delaying Brazilian coffee imports. The Brazilian exporters association Cecafé reported that US green coffee buyers are requesting to postpone Brazilian coffee shipments due to the 50% tariff. Potential shipping delays raise financing costs for exporters and could cost up to US$10 per bag. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Thu, 14 Aug – Brazil consumer coffee prices fall for the first time in 18 months. National retail coffee prices fell by 1.01% in July, ending a year-and-a-half of inflation, driven by increased supply as the 2025 harvest nears completion. This movement precedes the impact of the recent 50% US tariffs, which came into effect in early August. (Brasília, Brazil)

• Fri, 15 Aug – Coffee prices surge in wake of US tariff rollout and Brazil frost concerns. The C price peaked at US$3.29/lb on 14 August as a result of 50% US tariffs on Brazil. ICE robusta futures rose by 4.7% to US$3,799/tonne after reports of light frost in key Brazilian coffee-growing areas, including Cerrado Mineiro, along with reduced Brazil robusta exports and tightening supply in Vietnam. (London, UK)

Industry news

• Mon, 11 Aug – Coffee Watch calls for tariff exemption. The advocacy group urged industry leaders to press Washington to exempt coffee from new tariffs, warning the policy would raise retail prices, curb sustainable sourcing, and harm farmers. Less than 1% of coffee consumed in the US is grown domestically, and the sector supports about 2.2 million jobs. (Washington, DC, US)

• Tue, 12 Aug – Westrock Coffee’s Q2 net sales rise to US$280.9mn as net loss widens. Consolidated net sales rose by 34.8%, while net loss was US$21.6mn, compared to a net loss of US$17.8mn in the prior year period. Westrock Coffee reaffirmed 2025–26 guidance, citing the new single-serve cup plant and the production ramp-up at the extract and RTD) facility. (Little Rock, Arkansas, US)

• Tue, 12 Aug – Tim Hortons sees patriotic marketing lift Q2 sales. Buy-Canada sentiment and targeted domestic campaigns helped Tim Hortons recover after May softness, supporting Restaurant Brands’ Q2 revenue beat as summer menu strength and local positioning boosted comparable sales and morning traffic. (Toronto, Canada)

• Wed, 13 Aug – Texas Coffee School provides launchpad for North Texas café scene. The Arlington training centre, led by Tom Vincent, runs a three-day master class that has trained hundreds and supported launches of independent cafés across the state, including Mother’s House, Oddfellows, Arwa Yemeni Coffee, Civil Pour, and Sayfani Coffee House. (Arlington, Texas, US)

• Thu, 14 Aug – Arctic Juice & Cafe closes Series A round led by BoltRock Holdings. The Swiss brunch and coffee chain, operating 15 outlets across Switzerland and France, secured funding to scale European expansion, expand its loyalty rewards programme, and strengthen its sustainable supply chain operations. (Verbier, Switzerland)

New launch

• Mon, 11 Aug – Terra Kaffe launches Demi compact brewer. The compact bean-to-cup machine can prepare both espresso and filter coffee. The Demi is available to pre-order in four designs and ships in late October. (New York City, New York, US)

• Tue, 12 Aug – Italian engineers create espresso machine from motorcycle engine. The team repurposed a Ducati engine into a lever-operated prototype espresso machine, using pistons for pressure control. The hybrid design offers precise nine-bar extraction, and debuted at a local workshop, aiming to spark innovation in coffee equipment design. (Bologna, Italy)

• Thu, 14 Aug – Simmer Coffee to open first location in North Carolina. The first store will open 17 August, offering locally roasted coffee, matcha, food, pastries, and a branded retail line. Founders Solomon Sinclair and Kyle Ray plan rapid scaling through a modular food model, subscription service, and merchandising. (Cary, North Carolina, US)

• Fri, 15 Aug – Brazil unveils aid package for exporters hit by US tariffs. The government authorised a 30bn real (US$5.55bn) credit line via BNDES’s export guarantee fund, adding 4.5bn real for smaller firms. The executive order takes effect immediately, but needs congressional approval. (Brasília, Brazil)

• Fri, 15 Aug – Jollibee coffee and tea chains report substantial Q2 gains. The group’s coffee and tea segment now represents more than half of its 10,000+ stores and drove robust Q2 sales and outlet growth, led by Compose Coffee, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Highlands Coffee, and Milksha, with patriotic marketing and summer menus boosting same-store sales. (Pasig, Philippines)

Milestone

• Wed, 13 Aug – Olam Group posts 573% H1 profit surge. Operating profit rose by 85.5% to US$551mn, while revenue climbed 23.8% to US$26bn, driven by higher prices for cocoa and coffee. Group CEO Sunny Verghese said this performance was driven by improved operational efficiencies and strategic re-organisation. (Singapore)

• Thu, 14 Aug – Reborn Coffee signs US$1mn license deal for South Korea. The chain agreed on an exclusive partnership with Reborn Korea Co. to develop nationwide outlets. A three-storey flagship store in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, will open this autumn with a café, roasting lab, and training centre, followed by roll-out to Gwangjin, Nami Island, Bundang, and other cities. (Seoul, South Korea)

Trade & production

• Mon, 11 Aug – US tariffs on Brazilian coffee draw criticism. The policy raises costs for US consumers, as Brazil supplies 25% of US coffee imports. Producers face squeezed margins amid rising production costs, while sustainability investments are undermined. Domestic growers see minimal benefit, as less than 1% of coffee consumed in the US is domestically grown. (Brasília, Brazil)

• Wed, 13 Aug – Kona coffee gains from rising specialty demand. Rising demand for single origin, sustainable coffee has increased interest in Kona, where smallholders can command premiums, and direct-to-consumer sales and transparency boost value, but limited supply and higher prices restrict wider availability. (Kona, Hawaii, US)

• Thu, 14 Aug – Brazilian geographical indications to be recognised in four European countries. An agreement between Mercosur and EFTA will protect 63 Brazilian geographical indications, including coffee, cheese, and cachaça, in Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Announced at the 66th Mercosur staff meeting in Buenos Aires, the agreement awaits national approvals. (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

• Fri, 15 Aug – Cerrado Mineiro harvest reaches 81%. Expocacer reports 81% of its coffee area harvested, with 71,400 ha in production across 84,900 ha. Favourable weather should allow harvest through August or early September. Investment in robotics and AI sensors cut maintenance costs by 20% and raised equipment availability by 10%. (Patos de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brazil)

Research

• Wed, 13 Aug – New Yunnan study identifies frost as the top climate threat to arabica. The 30-year study across 29 counties found that yields dropped nearly 19% for each 1°C dip below freezing during cherry maturation – making frost the most damaging climate factor in two-thirds of the region. Drought followed closely, while heat stress was less dominant. Researchers recommend expanding shade-tree systems to buffer temperature extremes and preserve microclimates. (Yunnan, China)

• Thu, 14 Aug – Morning coffee or tea consumption linked to improved mood. The Scientific Reports study found small-to-moderate boosts in alertness, enthusiasm, and motivation when coffee or tea was consumed within 2.5 hours of waking up, with effects influenced by sleep quality and social context. (New Delhi, India)

Events & competitions

• Wed, 13 Aug – MICE expands engagement with origin countries. The Melbourne International Coffee Expo will add a Trip to Origin area to showcase producer countries and boost links between buyers, exporters, and trade agencies, giving smaller Latin American and African producers more direct access to markets. (Melbourne, Australia)

• Fri, 15 Aug – Ljubljana Coffee Festival to return on 20 & 21 September. The event will feature the Roasters Village and Slovenian Roasters Zone, expert speakers at The Lab, workshops hosted by Akademija Stow, the Barista Battle Challenge, the international Latte Art Throwdown, and the Sensory Room. There will also be a Specialty Coffee & Haute Cuisine panel, featuring expert guest speakers Carolyne Lane from the Noma Coffee Project, Colombian coffee producer and chef Liz Escobar, founder of April Coffee Patrik Rolf, and leading coffee scientist and educator Morten Munchow. (Ljubljana, Slovenia)

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

• Thu, 7 Aug – Fairtrade America urges tariff exemptions for coffee. The non-profit said import duties risk higher consumer prices, strain coffee shops, and cut funds for farmers. Fairtrade America called for exemptions for goods not grown at scale in the US. (Northampton, Massachusetts, US

• Sat, 9 Aug – Juan Valdez becomes the official coffee of River Plate in Argentina. The Colombian coffee brand, promoted by the National Federation of Coffee Growers, is now the exclusive coffee partner at Estadio Monumental, River Plate’s training and admin areas, and stadium eateries, reinforcing its Argentine presence alongside expansion plans. (Buenos Aires, Argentina)

Photo credits: Thermoplan, Mikafi

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