Coffee News Recap, 22 Aug: C price reaches highest level since May Black Rock Coffee files for IPO & other stories

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

Editor’s note

It’s a bullish market for coffee at the moment.

Since the beginning of the month, the ICE arabica contract for December delivery has risen by over a quarter. The ICE robusta contract for November delivery has also increased by almost 30% during the same period – the highest levels for both arabica and robusta prices since mid-May 2025.

Incidents of frost in some areas of Minas Gerais and São Paulo have driven up futures. Brazilian associations claim the damage appears to be limited, however, and is unlikely to impact the 2025-26 coffee crop, most of which has already been harvested.

Tariffs also continue to compound the situation. Bloomberg recently reported that US buyers are “shunning fresh deals” with Brazilian sellers after 50% import duties took effect earlier this month. Instead, they are seeking cheaper alternatives from Mexico, Peru, Vietnam, and Honduras, according to sources.

Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro is confident that the Trump administration will exempt coffee from the 50% tariffs, but there is still no confirmation from the US government.

For now, it seems the C price could keep climbing.

Industry news

Mon, 18 Aug – Finlays reports progress on 2024 sustainability goals. The beverage provider reported advances against its 2024 targets, improving emissions and water-use metrics, expanding sustainable sourcing and supplier training, and investing in farmer support and traceability to strengthen supply chain resilience. (London, UK)

Tue, 19 Aug – JDE Peet’s buyback programme surpasses €100mn. The latest periodic update shows over 5.2 million ordinary shares were repurchased for a total of €107.4mn at an average of €26.03 per share, part of a €250 million 2025 buyback intended for cancellation and expected to be completed by year’s end. (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Tue, 19 Aug – SOVDA refreshes website. The roastery equipment manufacturer’s website redesign speeds up access to machines and resources, centralises guides, FAQs, and documentation, and amplifies roaster community stories to improve discovery and customer support. (Bentonville, Arkansas, US)

Tue, 19 Aug – Specialty beverages drive premium and functional category growth. Rising consumer demand for premium, functional, and craft drinks, coffee included, is expanding RTD and single-serve formats, prompting rapid product innovation, wider retail and foodservice listings, and enabling higher price points for new entrants. (Birmingham, Michigan, US)

Wed, 20 Aug – Gregorys Coffee scales up amid uncertainties. The New York roaster has built resilience by diversifying sourcing, adjusting pricing, and embracing efficient tech like digital payments. It expanded beyond urban offices via partnerships with Simon Property and boosted growth through franchising. (New York City, New York, US)

Wed, 20 Aug – Starbucks to give 2% raise to North America staff. The company will provide a 2% pay increase to all salaried employees in North America this year, covering corporate staff, manufacturing, distribution, and store managers. The move supports CEO Brian Niccol’s turnaround while keeping costs under control amid ongoing union negotiations. (Seattle, Washington, US)

Thu, 21 Aug – Bacha Coffee continues global expansion through travel hubs and major cities. The luxury Moroccan-rooted brand, under V3 Gourmet, now has some 27 outlets across East Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and is expanding into Japan with a Ginza store slated for H1 2025. Travel-retail remains a central strategy, with terminals in Singapore’s Changi and plans spanning Jakarta, Seoul, and Europe. (Singapore)

Thu, 21 Aug – Coffee tops the UK’s first-drink survey. A Product of the Year poll of more than 2,000 UK consumers found 37% choose coffee first, versus 34% for tea and 27% for water. Most people report drinking 2 to 3 cups daily, 57% brew at home, and 62% prefer milk-based drinks. (London, UK)

Thu, 21 Aug – Costa Coffee signs deal to supply Holiday Inn Express in the US. The deal will quadruple Costa’s self-serve business and install bean-to-cup machines across 2,300 hotels, advancing an automated convenience strategy. The hospitality chain will also offer complimentary Costa self-serve coffees on select college football game days. (Atlanta, Georgia, US)

Thu, 21 Aug – Riyadh Air partners with Saudi Coffee Company and Milaf. MoUs will see Riyadh Air serve Saudi Coffee Company brews from Jazan, Abha, Al Baha, and Milaf dates and date-based drinks across flights, premium lounges, and airline headquarters, promoting Saudi hospitality and Vision 2030. (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Fri, 22 Aug – Oddlygood Group publishes plant-based glass ceiling report. The report examines reasons why consumers aren’t choosing plant-based drinks, identifying barriers, trends and motivations operators can use to boost sales, engagement, and repeat visits. Findings will be discussed at a panel including Celeste Wong, Dr Heather McKee, Tim Smith, and Nina Gillsvik at a launch event on 16 September. (London, UK)

Fri, 22 Aug – Café Ladro to support Deaf Spotlight. From September through October 2025, US$3 from every bag of the Seattle roaster’s Coffee For Good blend sold will support Deaf Spotlight’s mission to uplift people in the deaf community and expand access to the arts. The roaster will also host an event and post educational content on social channels. (Seattle, Washington, US)

A double shot of espresso being extracted on a backless machine.

Businesses for sale

Wed, 20 Aug – Odeko acquires Atlanta Coffee Supply Group. The purchase expands Odeko’s US service network by adding ACSG’s wholesale distribution and service and parts operations, strengthening field support and spare-parts logistics for commercial coffee equipment. Financial terms were not disclosed. (Atlanta, Georgia, US)

New launch

Mon, 18 Aug – Esther Vargas to launch a book exploring Peru’s specialty coffee. Rituales del Café is a 350-page hardback book combining investigative reporting and photography on Peru’s specialty coffee, featuring original interviews with producers, roasters, and baristas, as well as chapters on sustainability, traceability, women’s participation, and brewing methods. (Lima, Peru)

Wed, 20 Aug – Victoria Arduino unveils redesigned website. New site features include streamlined navigation, detailed product pages with technical specifications and a product comparison tool, a refreshed visual identity that highlights design and sustainability, multilingual support, and planned partner interaction features for professionals. (Belforte del Chienti, Italy)

Thu, 21 Aug – Berlin creative studio launches SUCUX V8 customisable kit for La Marzocco Linea. Sucuk und Bratwurst created a 3D-printed shell resembling a sports car engine, which can be attached to a two-group Linea using magnets. Along with the kit, the brand released an espresso cup, a hat, a coffee-themed racing shirt, and a collab with Isla Coffee, including a washed Peruvian coffee. (Berlin, Germany)

Fri, 22 Aug – Tim Hortons launches Tims for Good platform for farmers. The initiative aims to strengthen farmer livelihoods through long-term sourcing, capacity building, and targeted investments, with partner organisations and pilot programmes to be rolled out. (Toronto, Canada)

Fri, 22 Aug – ZUS Coffee opens first store in Thailand. The Malaysian chain launched its inaugural outlet at Vanit Place Aree in Phaya Thai, following earlier expansion into Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines. The launch is part of its broader plan to add nearly 200 new stores across Southeast Asia this year. (Bangkok, Thailand)

Fri, 22 Aug – Baratza launches Encore ESP Pro grinder. The stepless grind adjustment delivers 2.2 microns of burr movement per degree, improving resolution for espresso and pour over brewing. The Encore ESP Pro also includes auto-stop grinding, LED display, anti-static technology, and single-dosing accessories in a matte black finish. (Seattle, Washington, US)

Fri, 22 Aug – Onyx Coffee Lab collaborates with EDM artist Zedd. To celebrate the one-year anniversary of the artist’s Telos album, Zedd worked with Onyx to develop a limited-edition single origin coffee roasted to be paired with milk, with notes of raisin, black tea, and rose. (Rogers, Arkansas, US)

Milestone

Wed, 20 Aug – Lavazza marks decade as US Open coffee sponsor. The Italian coffee brand celebrates ten years sponsoring the US Open with on-site activations across New York, offering branded cafés, barista demonstrations, and sustainability messaging to enhance fan hospitality and engagement during the tournament. (New York City, New York, US)

Fri, 22 Aug – Reborn Coffee to pilot crypto payments in Southern California. The specialty coffee chain plans to integrate cryptocurrency payment options into its existing POS system. The trial will test operational flow, customer reactions, and transaction processes. Broader rollout will depend on regulatory, technical, and market considerations. (Brea, California, US)

Kenyan farmer empties washed coffee onto raised African beds.

Trade & production

Mon, 18 Aug – Reef Saudi pilot trial for coffee peeling equipment succeeds. The programme completed a pilot of compact coffee-peeling machines, each able to process about 50kg of beans per hour. They will soon be distributed at under SAR $4,000 to support smallholder farmers and boost coffee production in Saudi Arabia. (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Mon, 18 Aug – Environmental factors shape Ethiopian arabica bean quality. Researchers sampled green arabica from 20 agro-ecological zones and found that altitude and temperature most strongly affect bean weight, moisture, crude fat, sucrose, and trigonelline, while chlorogenic acid rose with temperature. Rainfall showed little correlation, guiding variety choice and adaptation. (Jimma, Ethiopia)

Tue, 19 Aug – Kenya coffee prices jump after auction as reforms lift farmer earnings. The 12 August sale generated Ksh556mn from 10,099 bags as the average price rose to Ksh44,243/50kg, up by Ksh3,700 on the prior auction. Premium AA, AB, and C grades made up 75% of volumes, and government reforms and Ksh2bn in support are credited with higher farmer returns. (Nairobi, Kenya)

Tue, 19 Aug – Jamaica harnesses nuclear tech to protect Blue Mountain coffee. A new gamma irradiator at UWI’s ICENS, installed with IAEA support, is being used in a mutation breeding programme to develop coffee strains resistant to leaf rust and pests, alongside applications in other crops, food safety, and medical sterilisation. (Kingston, Jamaica)

Wed, 20 Aug – Indonesian coffee seeks to reclaim the Japanese market. A forum by KAPPI at World Expo Osaka highlighted steps to restore exports after stricter MRL rules, focusing on farmer training, traceability, quality upgrades, and ties with Japanese roasters such as UCC and Key Coffee to rebuild trade channels. (Osaka, Japan)

Wed, 20 Aug – Ugandan coffee prices recover amid renewed demand. Farm gate prices rebounded to US$220.00 per bag for robusta and US$238.00 for Aaabica parchment, matching forecasts. The agriculture ministry urged farmers to continue high-quality harvesting, good agronomic practices, and value addition to sustain momentum. (Kampala, Uganda)

Thu, 21 Aug – Arabica harvesting nears completion in Brazil. Cepea reports that between 85% to 90% of the arabica crop has been harvested across most regions. With activity winding down, the sector’s focus is shifting to the upcoming season. (São Paulo, Brazil)

Research

Mon, 18 Aug – NIR spectroscopy project traces Brazilian canephora origins. A Food Research International study shows near-infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometric models can authenticate specialty Brazilian green canephora coffee, offering a rapid, non-destructive tool to verify origin and strengthen supply chain traceability. (Campinas, Brazil)

Tue, 19 Aug – Coffee intake may interfere with medication absorption and effectiveness. Even a small cup can alter how the body absorbs or metabolises certain drugs. For example, levothyroxine absorption may drop significantly if taken too close to drinking coffee. At the same time, interactions with cold remedies, antidepressants, asthma treatments, and osteoporosis drugs may reduce effectiveness or increase side effects. (London, UK)

Thu, 21 Aug – Farm-level bacteria linked to coffee flavour. A Scientific Reports study from 22 Colombian farms found that soil and cherry bacterial communities vary by sun or shade systems and are linked to different flavours in the cup. Unique taxa like Acidothermus, Chujaibacter, and Pantoea correlated with quality. (Cundinamarca, Colombia)

Events & competitions

Mon, 18 Aug – Coffee Week Berlin to return with workshops and a festival. Scheduled for 22 to 25 September across the city, the event will feature over 50 workshops and cuppings, community meetups, tours, and talks, followed by Coffee Festival Berlin on 26 & 27 September with more than 100 exhibitors and latte art contests. (Berlin, Germany)

Tue, 19 Aug – The Barista League Africa to debut in Johannesburg on 4 October. The event at Katy’s Palace Bar will feature a competition, a Roasters Village, Mystery Judge trials, and coffee cocktails. Guest judges include Stevo Kühn & Retha Van Rhijn from Platō, Leroy Kgopa from Home of The Bean, Obakeng Tschabalala from TriBeCa, and Dario Scilipotti from Bluebird Coffee Roastery. (Johannesburg, South Africa)

Wed, 20 Aug – OutIn to unveil next-generation portable coffee gear at IFA Berlin. The coffee equipment manufacturer will showcase its latest products at the 5 to 9 September event, including its award-winning Nano portable espresso machine, the Fino electric grinder, and an all-new product yet to be announced. (Berlin, Germany)

Thu, 21 Aug – HostMilano 2025 to spotlight specialty coffee at Fiera Milano. From 17 to 21 October, the trade fair will feature SIC (Salone Internazionale del Caffè), the World Barista Championship, and offer Host talks and barista competitions, highlighting innovation, sustainability, smart coffee tech, and global roaster engagement. (Milan, Italy)

Fri, 22 Aug – Multiple 88+ coffees at the 2025 Best of Congo Cooperatives auction. Several green coffees from the Democratic Republic of Congo received 88 points or more in the second Best of Congo Cooperatives competition. An online auction, showcasing high-quality microlots from 20 cooperatives, is running until 22 August. (Goma, DRC)

Fri, 22 Aug – Fourth edition of Porto Coffee Week will run from 29 September to 5 October 2025. Portugal’s biggest coffee event will feature lectures, workshops, coffee tastings, competitions, immersive experiences, and more. From 3 to 5 October, the Porto Coffee Market will also take place at Oporto Customs House, which will host tastings, competitions, and lectures. (Porto, Portugal)

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

Thu, 14 Aug – Café Coffee Day reduces loss as revenue rises. Q1 results showed rising revenue and a narrower net loss as outlet closures continued. Rollout of self-serve kiosks, RTD, and single-serve initiatives helped margins and supported debt reduction efforts. (Bengaluru, India)

Thu, 14 Aug – Hotelex spotlights trends relevant to specialty coffee. Hotelex Shanghai will emphasise espresso and single-serve equipment, water treatment and extraction standards, circular packaging for retail beans and pods, barista training and competitions, specialty menu innovation, and digital tools for ordering, traceability, and loyalty. (Shanghai, China)

Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence News & Opinion piece about whether Brazil’s export aid will usher in a new age of coffee subsidies.

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