Coffee News Recap, 7 Nov: Dubai roaster sells BoP Gesha for US$980 per cup, Starbucks sells 60% stake of China business in US$4bn deal & other stories

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

Editor’s note

Less than a month after Roasters Specialty Coffee House sold a Best of Panama (BoP) Gesha for US$680, another Dubai coffee brand has set a new record.

Julith Coffee, founded by Turkish Barista and Coffee Roasting Champion Serkan Sagsoz, is selling cups of Nido, a 98-point washed coffee that fetched US$30,204/kg at this year’s BoP auction – surpassing the previous world record of US$13,518/kg set at a private auction in 2024 – for AED 3,600, or US$980.

“The Nido 7 Gesha is a remarkable coffee that only a handful of people on the planet will ever taste, and now, for the first time, that’s possible right here in Dubai,” said Sagsoz in a press release. “With so little of it in existence, every cup feels like a piece of history.”

Sagsoz also added that a small portion has been reserved for UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his family, should they wish to try it, underscoring its exclusivity.

Meanwhile, after emerging as a frontrunner for Starbucks’ China division, Boyu Capital has secured a 60% stake in the business. Starbucks entered China in 1999 and the country is now its second-largest market after the US. However, the chain has struggled in recent years with the rise of homegrown, more cost-effective brands like Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee.

As Shanghai is named the world’s most “compelling” coffee city, there is likely to be renewed private equity interest in China’s coffee market.

The Nido Gesha brewed in a V60 at Julith Coffee in Dubai, the UAE.

Industry news

Mon, 3 Nov – Flynn Group joins 7 Brew to scale drive-thru expansion. Flynn Growth, a new Flynn division for emerging brands, will add 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee with a commitment to open 160 locations over seven years, marking the group’s first push into younger, high-growth coffee concepts. (San Francisco, California, US)

Mon, 3 Nov – JAB appoints José Cil as senior partner and global head of consumer. Cil, former CEO of RBI, will oversee JAB’s global consumer goods and services investments, expanding remit beyond the restaurant platform he joined earlier this year. He will work alongside managing partners and co-CEOs to drive growth across brands (Luxembourg)

Tue, 4 Nov – Massimo Zanetti forecasts turnover near €1.3bn as Segafredo consolidates. The group expects EBITDA to exceed €85mn and a reduced net financial position following growth in 2025. Management cited a global strategy and stronger retail and foodservice performance, which improved margins and supported the consolidation of the Segafredo brand. (Treviso, Italy)

Tue, 4 Nov – Insomnia Coffee chain sees profits climb to €2.67mn. The Irish chain reported a 7% rise in pre-tax profits to €2.67mn, as revenues reached €43.09mn, driven by an 8% increase in sales despite a decline in UK turnover. The company continues to explore further growth both domestically and abroad. (Dublin, Ireland)

Wed, 5 Nov – Expocacer expects record US$593mn in revenue driven by regenerative growth. The Cerrado cooperative forecasts a 58% revenue increase in 2025, driven by export expansion and high demand for regenerative coffee, particularly in the UK. It plans to establish a third European hub and a new warehouse in Patrocínio to enhance global supply capacity. (Patrocínio, Brazil)

Wed, 5 Nov – Starbucks reshapes operations in first year under Brian Niccol. Niccol has prioritised cost cuts and a “Back to Starbucks” campaign to attract customers, with store redesigns to improve throughput, menu and pricing tweaks, and a greater focus on mobile and drive-thru formats. (Seattle, Washington, US)

Wed, 5 Nov – JDE Peet’s transfers shares under employee incentive plans. The company transferred 265,951 free shares to four participants and issued 47,262 shares to settle options. The issued capital remains 488,178,642 shares, with 3,228,542 shares held as treasury. A disclosure was made under Dutch offer rules in connection with the Keurig Dr Pepper offer. (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Thu, 6 Nov – Yum China posts strong third quarter on delivery and menus. The KCOFFEE operator saw notable sales gains from expanded delivery partnerships and updated menus, while Yum China also recorded US$3.2bn Q3 revenue, up 4% year-on-year, with delivery channels and menu promotions cited as key contributors to growth. (Shanghai, China)

Thu, 6 Nov – Finlays and Rovema upgrade coffee packaging operations. UK’s Finlays Beverages partnered with ROVEMA UK to install three turnkey film-bag packaging lines, enhancing speed, reducing changeover times, and enabling the use of recyclable film within 12 months. (London, UK)

Fri, 7 Nov – Kaldi’s workers rally to unionise. Workers from eight St Louis stores organised at the roastery to press for unionisation. Kaldi’s said it respects legal rights, cited a Missouri minimum wage of US$17/hr, and listed benefits including health insurance and a 401(k) plan. (St. Louis, Missouri, US)

Fri, 7 Nov – Starbucks union authorises strike amid stalled contract talks. Starbucks Workers United has voted to strike on Red Cup Day, protesting stalled negotiations and alleged anti-union practices. The action could disrupt operations across hundreds of stores nationwide on one of the chain’s busiest days. (Seattle, Washington, US)

Fri, 7 Nov – Dutch Bros posts US$423.6mn third-quarter revenue. System-wide same-store sales rose 5.7%, and company-operated same-store sales increased 7.4%. The chain opened 38 shops in Q3, and net income reached US$27.3mn in the same period. (Tempe, Arizona, US)

Fri, 7 Nov – Cotti Coffee signs MoU to bring Ugandan coffee to China. The memorandum with Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture will channel Ugandan beans into Cotti’s extensive domestic store network, boosting East African exports after Uganda surpassed Ethiopia. The deal aims to scale sourcing, improve traceability, and expand direct trade links. (Beijing, China)

Fri, 7 Nov – UK roaster Pact Coffee recertifies as B Corp with a 24.8% increase on its initial impact score. Pact Coffee scored 106.6 points during recertification, representing a 21.2-point increase from its initial B Corp score. The roaster has recently launched several initiatives, including transitioning to fully recyclable packaging made from 70% recycled materials, reducing emissions and waste in its roastery, and providing further evidence of poverty alleviation throughout its supply chain. (London, UK)

Businesses for sale

Mon, 3 Nov – Leon founder buys back chain from Asda. The deal encompasses 46 restaurants, 20 UK franchises, and four international sites, with approximately 1,120 staff members set to transfer. Media reports suggest a price of £30-50mn, a steep drop from the roughly £100mn paid in 2021. (London, UK)

Tue, 4 Nov – Probat acquires Lilla assets to secure South American service. Transfer of Lilla patents and technology enables Leogap to become the recommended service partner in South America, providing technical support, spare parts, and maintenance continuity. Probat will utilise the assets to pursue new roasting solutions. (Emmerich am Rhein, Germany)

Wed, 5 Nov – Odeko acquires Dairy Distributing to expand Pacific Northwest reach. The operations and technology partner acquired Bellingham’s Dairy Distributing, gaining access to local dairy and non-dairy product lines, and extending its online ordering platform, 24/7 support, and financing services to hundreds of independent cafés. (New York City, New York, US)

Thu, 6 Nov – TricorBraun acquires Craft Beverage Warehouse to boost can printing capacity. Acquisition adds Craft Beverage Warehouse’s digital printing capabilities and Midwest/Mountain West sites, including Milwaukee HQ. Staff will remain, and the business will integrate into CanSource in early 2026 to expand can packaging and fulfilment for RTD coffee and other beverages (St. Louis, Missouri, US)

A bag of Intelligentsia roasted coffee beans next to a glass carafe.

New launch

Mon, 3 Nov – Chick-fil-A launches Daybright coffee concept. The prototype store, developed by Red Wagon Ventures, pairs dual drive-thru and all-day hours with a specialty-coffee-style menu featuring cold brews, flavoured lattes, protein coffees, plant milks, cold foam, baked doughnuts, and breakfast sandwiches. (Hiram, Georgia, US)

Tue, 4 Nov – Löfbergs launches Regenerative Organic Certified coffee line. The Swedish roaster rolled out 1kg and 250g packages across Nordic markets featuring ROC-labelled Brazilian Bourbon and Catuai micro lots, supported by farmer-level payments, carbon storage verification, and Fair for Life audited premiums. (Karlstad, Sweden)

Thu, 6 Nov – Robusta – Canephora: A Brief Guide to Loving It invites wider appreciation and awareness. Written and compiled by Polish roaster Mikołaj Pociecha, the 280-page book assembles global voices on Coffea canephora, covering roasting, extraction, sensory language, colonial history, and economic roles. Contributing authors include Isabelle Mani, Bhavi Patel, Judith Konsten, Reza Nurullah, and Rohan Kuriyan, framing robusta as climate-resilient and worthy of distinct appreciation. (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

Thu, 6 Nov – Heylo debuts Milky standalone induction frother. The compact induction-heated unit offers over 25 different foam textures, supports dairy and plant milks, uses milk-return to cut waste below 1%, and features automatic cleaning and waste reduction integrations. (London, UK)

Thu, 6 Nov – Weaver’s launches HAL 8122 AI-assistant in coffee innovation. Weaver’s Coffee & Tea and Wild Card Roasters partnered with Bizztech.io to introduce HAL 8122, a voice-enabled AI assistant designed for café operations and roasting support. The rollout aims to enhance workflow, boost customer engagement, and streamline training across operations. (San Rafael, California, US)

Thu, 6 Nov – Intelligentsia Coffee unveils new packaging to celebrate its 30th anniversary. The Chicago specialty roaster introduced a refreshed visual identity featuring vibrant designs across four categories: Black Cat Espresso, Signature Blends, Single Origins, and Special Selections. The company says its new identity emphasises storytelling, transparency, and its three-decade evolution. (Chicago, Illinois, US)

Fri, 7 Nov – Mahlkönig introduces E64 WS espresso home grinder. The new high-performance grinder designed for home baristas features 64mm steel burrs, stepless adjustment, automatic portafilter detection, quiet DC motor, and precision dosing. (Hamburg, Germany)

Fri, 7 Nov – Grumpy Mule launches smallholder-sourced fresh-crop coffee range. The UK roaster’s new offering features Colombian and Honduran lots sourced directly from smallholders, roasted within 30 days of arrival, and marketed under the Fresh Crop label to offer complete origin transparency and freshness to buyers. (London, UK)

Trade & production

Mon, 3 Nov – Nestlé backs Ivorian coffee and community development. Under its Nescafé Plan, Nestlé is supporting over 21,000 coffee-producing families in Côte d’Ivoire with high-yield robusta seedlings, agronomy training, cooperative sourcing, and an urban vendor programme for young entrepreneurs. (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire)

Mon, 3 Nov – Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung leads climate-smart coffee project in western Honduras. A four-year scheme in Ocotepeque, Copán, and Lempira will support 4,000 smallholder families, cover 6,000 hectares, and engage 20 farmer organisations, scaling up agroforestry, soil and water conservation, erosion control, and monitoring to boost resilience and incomes. (Vienna, Austria)

Tue, 4 Nov – Uganda Coffee Company secures major Saudi supply deal. The Uganda Coffee Company signed a major supply agreement to ship green and roasted beans to Saudi buyers, expanding its Middle East footprint, boosting export volumes, and creating more substantial returns for farmers. (Kampala, Uganda)

Thu, 6 Nov – Fairtrade launches EU-backed green transition project in Indonesia. A four-year programme, running from November 2025 to October 2029, will train 1,600 smallholder farmers in Java and Sulawesi, with a minimum of 30% female participants. It will focus on strengthening cooperatives, enhancing climate resilience, and promoting gender equity, as well as increasing access to sustainable markets. (Bonn, Germany)

Fri, 7 Nov – Coffee futures drop as Vietnam exports rise. Markets dipped as the Brazilian real weakened, encouraging exports. Vietnam’s Jan to Oct exports rose 13.5% to 1.3mn tonnes, and increased 61.8% in value to US$7.41bn. (New York City, New York, US)

Fri, 7 Nov – Ethiopia launches nationwide crackdown on coffee hoarding ahead of export push. The Ministry of Agriculture has ordered inspections of traders and exporters for speculative stockpiling, following a coffee export volume that reached only 75% of the target, despite a 47% increase in revenue. It will enforce penalties and stricter oversight to ensure a full flow to markets. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Coffee flight featuring three different drinks in a café.

Research

Mon, 3 Nov – Coffee temperature linked to gut and mental health. A study by San Diego State University found that beverage temperature may affect anxiety, sleep, and digestive symptoms in a multi-ethnic sample. Cold drinks were associated with more sleep disruption and gut complaints for some groups, while warm drinks were linked to fewer symptoms. (San Diego, California, US)

Tue, 4 Nov – Capsule coffee and tea show robust bioactive profiles. A 2025 study analysed espresso machine extractions from 10 coffee and 14 tea capsules, finding that coffees were richer in chlorogenic acids and teas were more varied in phenolics. Simulated digestion revealed high bioaccessibility of caffeine (around 80%) and select polyphenols, highlighting nutritional considerations. (São Cristóvão, Brazil)

Wed, 5 Nov – Excessive caffeine may increase driving risk. Review and campaign warnings note that very high caffeine intake can cause tremors, anxiety, and rebound fatigue, impairing fine motor control and judgment, and potentially raising crash risk. Experts recommend moderating intake before driving. (Portland, Oregon, US)

Thu, 6 Nov – Climate intervention may fall short for coffee, chocolate, and wine. A study in Environmental Research Letters found that stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) reduced surface temperature but failed to reliably stabilise rainfall and humidity in 18 major growing regions. Only six showed meaningful improvements, leaving key crops and farmer livelihoods at risk. (Bristol, UK)

Thu, 6 Nov – Study links coffee roast and timing to blood sugar changes. The research found that the roast level and timing of coffee intake affect how the body reacts to sugar. A medium roast, consumed with food, helped keep sugar levels steadier, while a dark roast consumed before meals led to higher spikes. (Raleigh, North Carolina, US)

Events & competitions

Mon, 3 Nov – Finalists revealed for European Coffee & Hospitality Awards 2025. More than 10,000 industry peers voted to narrow the Allegra Top 150 to three nominees across 15 categories, with five new Innovation Awards added. Winners will be announced at a gala on 25 November at the JW Marriott Berlin. (Berlin, Germany)

Tue, 4 Nov – Manchester Coffee Festival returns from 14 to 16 November. The weekend event at Bowlers Exhibition Centre will feature a trade show, talks, tastings, a Maker’s Market, the MCF Latte Art Championship, and the new UK Filter Championships, as well as a Friday industry session and exhibitors from across the UK coffee sector. (Manchester, UK)

Wed, 5 Nov – World AeroPress Championship heads to Seoul on 5 & 6 December. National and regional winners from over 60 countries will compete. Finalists have five minutes to brew an AeroPress coffee, which will be judged blind by three industry experts. The event features a Roasters Village and Bakers Lane at Studio Layer 41. (Seoul, South Korea)

Wed, 5 Nov – DXB Live to stage the first-ever Bahrain Coffee Festival 2025. The event will run over several days in late 2025 with barista competitions, trade booths, cuppings, and training programmes designed to boost the local sector and attract regional roasters, equipment suppliers, and international visitors. (Manama, Bahrain)

Wed, 5 Nov – NCA Convention 2026 expands networking opportunities. The event, to be held from 12 to 14 March, will feature breakfasts with exhibitors, the Java Lounge, receptions, extended coffee breaks, an awards luncheon, and a farewell lunch. (Tampa, Florida, US)

Fri, 7 Nov – Perú Mucho Gusto highlights Peruvian coffee across 25 regions. A dedicated area in the event hosted producers, cuppings, and exporters among 187 exhibitors and 270,000 visitors, promoting regional origins, traceability, and Marca Perú licensing to raise export prospects and producer visibility. (Lima, Peru)

Fri, 7 Nov – Maïzly wins GAMA innovation award for SMEs. Maïzly, the first corn milk brand, was chosen from entries across over 50 countries for its creamy, gut-healthy soluble non-GMO corn fibre formula. Founded in 2019, the allergen-friendly drink is now stocked in major US grocery chains and appearing in coffee shops across the US and UK. (Cary, North Carolina, US)

Fri, 7 Nov – Host Arabia to be held in Riyadh from 15 to 17 December. The event, organised by Fiera Milano and Semark, brings together professionals from the hospitality, bar & coffee, bakery, gelato, and equipment sectors, alongside Saudi HORECA, to serve Saudi Arabia’s booming hospitality industry. (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Fri, 7 Nov – Ukrainian Barista Champions Pavlo Spitsyn and Renat Mamatkazin host pop-up at Naughty Coffee in Miami. They brewed coffees roasted in Ukraine and grown in Colombia and Ethiopia, introducing US guests to Ukraine’s lighter roasting approach. Pavlo focused on pour over, while Renat prepared espresso, including the same Colombian coffee used by the 2025 Ukrainian Barista Champion in the national competition. The event reflects how Ukraine’s specialty coffee scene continues to innovate and connect internationally, even amid challenges. (Miami, Florida, US)

Fri, 7 Nov – The 2025 Trieste Coffee Experts summit will take place on 6 and 7 December. The theme of the seventh edition is “Coffee Megatrends”, offering a deep dive into the latest industry trends, from AI and tech innovation to sustainability and the circular economy. This year’s summit will feature workshops, speeches, and networking opportunities. The event will be livestreamed from Trieste, with live English translation on the website. (Trieste, Italy)

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

Thu, 30 Oct – Clearstone Capital buys Brüst Beverages. Clearstone Capital completed a takeover of Brüst Beverages, acquiring the Canadian RTD protein coffee brand to scale production, expand distribution in Canada and the US, and accelerate product innovation under new ownership. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Fri, 31 Oct – Peter Wright appointed Jollibee vice president of franchising. Wright, a franchising veteran with experience at Starbucks, Panera Bread, McAlister’s Deli, and Nestlé, will lead a push to open 500 Jollibee units across North America by 2030, focusing on multi-unit operators, franchisee support, and marketing to raise brand awareness. (Los Angeles, California, US)

Photo credits: Julith Coffee, Intelligentsia Coffee

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 how Shanghai’s position as a global coffee hub signals where the market is heading.

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