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

Editor’s note

This year’s World of Coffee kicked off in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday, hosting four World Coffee Championships: Latte Art, Coffee in Good Spirits, Cup Tasters, and Cezve/Ibrik. The winners will be announced on Sunday, when four new World Coffee Champions will be crowned.

Earlier this week, Starbucks denied reports that it’s seeking a full sale of its China operations. The coffee chain started a formal sales process for its China division in May 2025, which CEO Brian Niccol claims has attracted strong investor interest. A spokesperson said that Starbucks, however, has not yet decided whether to sell a controlling or minority stake in its China business.

The sale comes off the back of Starbucks’ continued market struggles in China. Homegrown rivals like Luckin and Cotti are outperforming the coffee giant, offering consumers similar quality drinks at a fraction of the price.

In a bid to compete, Starbucks announced its first-ever price drop in China in mid-June, lowering the price of selected drinks by an average of 5 yuan – although it denied a price-war strategy.

Starbucks’ struggles in China and the US, both key global markets, reflect the challenges that many coffee brands, big and small, are currently facing. Price and quality no longer suffice; coffee businesses must increasingly offer value in new, differentiated ways.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 23 Jun – Starbucks denies complete sale of its China division. A spokesperson for the coffee chain clarified that it’s not currently seeking a complete divestment of its China operation, reaffirming its confidence in local management and long-term growth while evaluating strategic partnerships and optimal market positioning. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Tue, 24 Jun – Arabica futures jump on Brazil frost risk. Arabica futures rose to their highest levels in over two weeks as frost risk deepens in Brazil. While the 2025 arabica harvest is advancing in key areas, experts told Reuters that lots of cherries have fallen to the ground in some places. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Tue, 24 Jun – Coffee Board of India reports surge in coffee exports. Exports reached US $1.28 billion in 2023/24, up from US $1.14 billion the previous year and US $800 million in 2014/15, marking a 125% growth over 11 years. Europe remains the leading market, followed by the Middle East, South Korea, and Japan. (Bengaluru, India)

• Wed, 25 Jun – Conflict in the Middle East may disrupt coffee supply chains and raise costs, although ceasefire holds steady. Shipping route risks through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea have led to longer voyages, resulting in additional delays. At the same time, rising fuel prices following US strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites drive transport surcharges, threatening margins and pushing prices higher. (London, UK)

• Thu, 26 Jun – USDA cuts world 2024/25 coffee production to 174.4 million 60kg bags. World output is revised down 0.5 million bags from the December forecast. Ethiopia’s estimates rise to 10.6 million bags, while Brazil and Vietnam fall to 64.7 million and 29 million, respectively. (Washington, DC, US)

• Thu, 26 Jun – WoC Geneva hosts 2025 World Latte Art, Coffee in Good Spirits, Cup Tasters & Cezve/Ibrik Championships. Other key event features include the Roasters Villages, Best New Product competition, Coffee Design Awards, lectures, workshops, CEO roundtable, and sessions about the “evolved” Q grader programme. (Geneva, Switzerland)

• Fri, 27 Jun – Four more US Blue Bottle locations unionise. Workers at four East Bay cafés in Berkeley and Oakland filed for union recognition with the NLRB, aiming to join Workers United. Organisers cite understaffing, inconsistent scheduling, and low pay, calling for fairer working conditions. (Oakland, California, US)

• Fri, 27 Jun – illycaffè acquires full control of Swiss distributor Thalwil. The Swiss brand was founded in 1939 by Francesco Illy to distribute illycaffè products in Switzerland, but was sold in the late 1960s to the Swiss Seitz family, who retained the rights to market the illycaffè brand in the country. Through the acquisition, illycaffè will be able to expand its presence in Switzerland and increase operational efficiency. (Trieste, Italy)

Industry news

• Mon, 23 Jun – Coffee Island takes a new step in India’s expansion plan. The Greek chain launched its second outlet in Gurugram, expanding its presence in India after establishing locations in Hyderabad, Delhi, and Gurugram, under a partnership with Vita Nova. This launch forms part of a master franchise strategy targeting 20 outlets by March 2026. (Gurugram, India)

• Mon, 23 Jun – Califia Farms drives UK flavoured coffee trend. Research from the oat milk brand shows that 63% of UK consumers order flavoured hot coffee and 87% order flavoured iced. The company’s new Oat Barista range is available in pistachio, hazelnut, vanilla, and pumpkin spice flavours. (London, UK)

• Mon, 23 Jun – Black Rifle Coffee names new CFO. Matthew Amigh will join on 7 July, bringing over 25 years of financial and operational leadership experience from roles at Raybern Foods, Bulletproof, and Ethos Pet Nutrition, with expertise in fundraising, debt negotiations, and successful business turnarounds. (Salt Lake City, Utah, US)

• Tue, 24 Jun – Starbucks responds to RFK Jr. claims on MAHA menu alignment. After Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested that Starbucks would adjust its menu to align with the Movement for a Healthy America initiative, the company stated that it has no such plans and is not working with MAHA. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Tue, 24 Jun – Nestlé names Pablo Isla vice chairman. Isla will chair the board’s nomination committee and serve as lead independent director, succeeding Henri de Castries after 12 years. Shareholders re-elected the remaining directors for one-year terms at the Annual General Meeting. (Lausanne, Switzerland)

• Wed, 25 Jun – UK’s 200 Degrees Coffee posts record £20 million sales. The London-based chain experienced 28% year-on-year growth, driven by its 22 stores, wholesale operations, e-commerce, and office coffee supply, with the addition of 60 new corporate contracts. (London, UK)

• Wed, 25 Jun – Tims China boosts sub-franchise footprint. In Q1, the chain closed seven underperforming company-operated stores as its sub-franchise network rose from 33% to 45% of total locations, sharpening focus on profitability and capital-efficient growth. (Shanghai, China)

• Thu, 26 Jun – Rainforest Alliance report highlights support for coffee farmers. The 2024 annual report shows certification reaching 1.8 million coffee farmers across 1.9 million hectares in 29 countries, securing premium prices and advancing regenerative practices within its broader six million-hectare programme. (New York City, New York, US)

• Thu, 26 Jun – Dunkin extends collaboration with Grammy-winning pop star Sabrina Carpenter. The cold foam strawberry-flavoured oatmilk Refresher was launched through the Dunkin’ Daydream Hotline ad campaign, featuring the musician. The collaboration follows Sabrina’s Brown Sugar Shakin’ Espresso. (Canton, Massachusetts, US)

• Thu, 26 Jun – Cafetex Group signs UK distribution agreement with Komerz. The deal grants Komerz exclusive omnichannel rights for Beanies and Coffeeway brands in the UK, projecting £5 million in first-year revenue and over £20 million across four years. (London, UK)

• Fri, 27 Jun – Starbucks opens first greener store in Santiago. The Paseo Los Dominicos outlet uses 50% less water and produces 20% less carbon dioxide under the Greener Store framework, marking the programme’s Latin American debut. (Santiago, Chile)

• Fri, 27 Jun – WatchHouse names former Blue Bottle exec as head of US operations. Aaron Nice joins the London-based group as its first US operations lead, bringing 16 years of experience at Blue Bottle Coffee, where he oversaw real estate and café expansion. His appointment precedes the opening of WatchHouse’s second New York location in the Chrysler Building. (London, UK)

• Fri, 27 Jun – Starbucks elects two new board directors. Economist Dambisa Moyo and AI startup CEO Marissa Mayer joined the board effective 25 June, offering expertise in technology, transformation and global affairs to bolster the Back to Starbucks strategy under CEO Brian Niccol. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Fri, 27 Jun – WMF Professional Coffee Machines wins German Brand Award for its Espresso NEXT campaign. WMF won in the “Excellence in Brand Strategy and Creation” category for its campaign that supported the launch of the semi-automatic portafilter machine WMF espresso NEXT. (Geislingen an der Steige, Germany)

New launch

• Mon, 23 Jun – L’OR and Ferrari partner for new Passione Rossa coffee line. The Maranello Espresso and Imola Ristretto capsules feature Ferrari-inspired packaging and branding, tapping into demand for affordable luxury products. (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

• Tue, 24 Jun – SANA launches mental health programme for women coffee farmers. Founded by Lucia Bawot, SANA offers teletherapy sessions, virtual workshops, and community support to reduce stigma and improve wellbeing among Colombian women coffee farmers. A 2023 pilot saw 100% of participants report feeling heard. The 2025 programme aims to enrol 120 women. (Bogotá, Colombia)

• Tue, 24 Jun – Bellwether unveils ROI calculator to boost roaster margins. The calculator enables roasters to enter volume, cost, and sales parameters, allowing them to project annual cost savings, payback period, and CO₂ reduction. This supports informed in-house roasting investment decisions and margin improvement. (Berkeley, California, US)

• Tue, 24 Jun – CremaLoop launches Slow Feeder Pro. The battery-powered device mounts on top of grinders to regulate bean flow through a rotating disc with holes sized for beans, enabling adjustable feed rates for greater grind consistency. Compatible with a broader range of grinder models, the Pro features a control knob for variable speed. (Zurich, Switzerland)

• Tue, 24 Jun – AeroPress releases Clear XL and travel filter holder in the UK. The Clear XL offers larger brew capacity in the same compact form, while the new travel filter holder stores paper and metal filters separately. (London, UK)

• Wed, 25 Jun – TerraCycle introduces CafeCycle in the UK. Businesses can order Zero Waste Boxes to collect disposable cups, coffee bags, pods, capsules and packaging, then ship via UPS for sorting and processing into raw materials for recycled products. (London, UK)

• Thu, 26 Jun – Victoria Arduino updates Black Eagle Maverick features. New features offer more precise PID temperature control, integrated digital workflow guidance via touchscreen and smartphone app, adjustable shot profiles and real-time pressure monitoring to enhance shot consistency and efficiency. (Montecchio Maggiore, Italy)

• Thu, 26 Jun – Dalla Corte debuts new milk frothing system at WoC Geneva. The new solution automates milk steaming with customisable recipes tailored for both dairy and plant-based milks. Dalla Corte will also exhibit its Zero Barista, Icon, Mina, and Studio espresso machines, with two-time World Latte Art Championship finalist Michalis Karagiannis six-time UK Latte Art Champion and Dhan Tamang performing live demonstrations at booth #1553. (Milan, Italy)

• Fri, 27 Jun – Koppie launches legume-based coffee substitute. Belgian startup Koppie Bean uses fermented local legumes that can be roasted, ground, and brewed like coffee. A pre-seed round led by Nucleus Capital will partially fund scale-up, roaster pilots, and sensory development for hybrid blends. (Ghent, Belgium)

• Fri, 27 Jun – Panther Coffee and Mawby winery partner to create a coffee-infused sparkling wine. Panther Cuvée, a limited-edition Brut aged 24 months, includes an infusion of Panther Coffee’s Wonderland blend. The sparkling wine will be sold online and at Mawby’s Suttons Bay tasting room. (Suttons Bay, Michigan, US)

Trade & production

• Mon, 23 Jun – Rainfall and cold curb Brazil’s harvest. Early June harvests have reached about 20% in southern Minas Gerais, 25% to 30% in northwest Paraná, and 7% to 10% in Alta Mogiana and Cerrado Mineiro. Robusta harvests have advanced to 40% to 45%. (Piracicaba, Brazil)

• Tue, 24 Jun – First shipment under Indonesia’s social forestry programme dispatched. Twenty tonnes of arabica from community forestry cooperatives left Tanjung Priok port bound for the UK, marking the inaugural export for forest farmers and validating the scheme’s market potential. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

• Wed, 25 Jun – Uganda Coffee Development Authority states the country has become Africa’s top coffee exporter. Data from the UCDA shows Uganda exported a record 47,606 tonnes in May 2025, earning US $243 million and surpassing Ethiopia’s export volumes of 43,481 tonnes in the same period, driven by improved quality standards and strong government support. (Kampala, Uganda)

Research

• Wed, 25 Jun – Westrock Coffee publishes convenience store beverage report. A proprietary study found that beverages are the primary reason consumers visit convenience stores, with coffee being the leading choice. The report highlights growth prospects in hot dispensed, chilled RTD, and concentrate categories, offering strategies for operators to drive sales and margins. (Conway, Arkansas, US)

• Wed, 25 Jun – Study links instant coffee to dry macular degeneration. Genetic analysis using UK Biobank data linked instant coffee consumption to an increased risk of dry age-related macular degeneration, with no association found for ground or decaf coffee. Researchers advise high-risk individuals to limit their consumption of instant coffee. (Shiyan, China)

Events & competitions

• Mon, 23 Jun – HRNS Brazil hosts the Coffee Regions in Transition conference. The event brought together smallholder producers, youth, researchers, and industry stakeholders to discuss sustainability, inclusion, and practical tools for climate adaptation and economic resilience in the Campo das Vertentes region. (Santo Antônio do Amparo, Brazil)

• Tue, 24 Jun – La Marzocco hosts Roadshow in Turin. The event featured a panel talk by Mezzatazza, a latte art throwdown, music, and food, bringing together the local coffee community. (Turin, Italy)

• Wed, 25 Jun – SIGEP Asia returns to Singapore from 16 to 18 July. The event, held at Sands Expo, will host the 2025 Singapore Barista, Brewers Cup, Latte Art, and Cup Tasters Championships. (Singapore)

• Wed, 25 Jun – Beantropy to host second edition on 1 July. The event will feature producer-led masterclasses on terroir and tasting, expert conferences on industry challenges, a session on consumer awareness tools, and barista workshops on mineral-driven flavour and espresso innovations. (Paris, France)

• Thu, 26 Jun – UK Coffee Week 2025 set for October. Running from 13 to 19 October, UK Coffee Week invites coffee businesses to join nationwide activities supporting Project Waterfall, which funds access to clean water in coffee-growing communities. Registration is now open for the 2025 edition. (London, UK)

• Thu, 26 Jun – Mexico Cup of Excellence winners announced. The top traditional washed lot from Finca Santa Cruz fetched US $73/lb, while the honey and natural lots from Finca Santa Cruz reached US $70.10/lb. In the experimental processing category, a lot from Finca la Palma achieved a price of US $40.60/lb. (Oaxaca, Mexico)

• Thu, 26 Jun – Nominations open for the European Coffee & Hospitality Awards. Entries are open for 20 award categories, including ten new innovation awards for matcha, plant-based beverages, office coffee, technology, and rising star brands. The shortlist will be announced in September, the finalists in October, and the winners will be celebrated at the European Coffee Symposium in Berlin from 24 to 26 November. (Berlin, Germany)

• Fri, 27 Jun – Manchester Coffee Festival to run from 14 to 16 November. The festival will feature local and national exhibitors, competitions, talks and panels, and tasting sessions. Tickets are available now. (Manchester, UK)

• Fri, 27 Jun – Terres de Café hosts cuppings across all three days at WoC Geneva. The company is hosting several producer-led cuppings and bar takeovers at the event, featuring producers such as Pepe Jijon, Felipe Sardi, Angelika Garido, and Jamison Savage. (Paris, France)

• Fri, 27 Jun – Husky Events launches Filter Championships across Manchester, Dublin, and Brighton Coffee Festivals. All competitors are required to use the same coffee, but will be able to choose their preferred brewing method. The first edition will be held at Brighton Coffee Festival on 9 & 10 August. (Brighton, UK)

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

• Mon, 16 Jun – EG Benelux rolls out Lavazza self-serve across 267 Esso stations. Partnership with Premium Coffee Group AG delivers Lavazza coffee via bean-to-cup machines supplied by Franke and serviced by Hillewaert, utilising Bluespresso beans across Esso forecourts in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg under a six-year agreement. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Tue, 17 Jun – Starbucks pilots AI chatbot and next-gen POS. The programme at select US cafés introduces a conversational AI assistant for baristas to retrieve recipes and guidance via in-store devices, alongside a cloud-based point-of-sale system designed to streamline order processing and shift management. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Wed, 18 Jun – FairWave Coffee contests unanimous Anodyne union vote. Following a 37‑0 NLRB ballot on 4 June , FairWave alleged ineligible voters and intimidation, filed objections to nullify results, and delayed certification ahead of a pending hearing. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US)

• Fri, 20 Jun – Kerchanshe adds export warehouse in Kality. The new facility in Addis Ababa increases total storage capacity by 2,880 tonnes across arrival and export units, enhancing logistics and traceability for Ethiopian coffee exports. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

Photo credits: Specialty Coffee Association, Koppie

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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 predictions from major roasters can shape price trends.