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

Editor’s note

US President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva have tentatively agreed to an in-person meeting to discuss trade relations and deals. 

As tariffs upend long-standing relationships between US roasters and importers and Brazilian producers and exporters, the promise of a friendly discussion could provide much-needed relief.

Cecafé recently reported a R$5.9mn loss in August due to a lack of coffee shipments, as new arabica harvests arrive and tariffs continue to cause disruptions.

Still, both the Brazilian and US coffee sectors show resilience in the wake of unprecedented challenges. 

At the inaugural edition of the Global Coffee Awards, which recognised excellence among roasters in the US and Canada, there was significant diversity among the origins of the entries submitted. This showcases how the region’s roasters are adapting to changing trade dynamics.

Ultimately, Utopian Coffee in Fort Wayne, Indiana, US, was announced the US & Canada GCA winner. Stamp Act Coffee in Seattle, Washington, US, and Sweet Bloom in Denver, Colorado, US, also received top honours at the event.

In March 2026, these roasters will go head-to-head with the European and Origin GCA winners to vie for the title of world’s best roaster, helping to level the playing field for coffee competitions.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 6 Oct – Coca-Cola reportedly moves closer to selling Costa Coffee. Bain Capital’s Special Situations unit is said to have submitted a first-round bid for Costa, with TDR Capital also among interested parties. The sale follows years of underperformance and a strategic rethink of Coca-Cola’s coffee division. (London, UK)

• Tue, 7 Oct – Lula and Trump agree to meet as Brazil seeks tariff relief for coffee exporters. Lula urged the removal of recent US tariffs that have sharply reduced shipments to the US. Industry groups reported steep falls in both commercial and specialty volumes, and hope that an in-person meeting could decide near-term access for Brazilian coffee exporters. (Brasília, Brazil)

• Wed, 8 Oct – Colombia reports best harvest in decades, but warns of lower 2025/26 crop. Output rose 17% year-on-year to 14.87 million 60kg bags for Oct 2024 to Sep 2025. Exports climbed 6% in September to 1.06 million bags, and export value jumped 79.7% from Jan to Aug 2025 to US$3.67bn. The FNC anticipates that significant rainfall in the first half of 2025 will result in lower volumes for the 2025/26 harvest. (Bogotá, Colombia)

• Wed, 8 Oct – Coffee Collective appoints Mette Maix as new Chair to lead growth strategy. Mette Maix, former Flying Tiger and Berlingske Media CEO, moves from Vice Chair to lead strategy as the Danish roaster seeks recovery after a profit decline. Maix succeeds Cees Kuypers and will focus on growth and operational resilience. (Copenhagen, Denmark)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Global Coffee Awards crowns the US & Canada’s best roasters. Utopian Coffee of Fort Wayne took overall honours at the US & Canada event in Houston. Other category winners included Stamp Act (filter) and Sweet Bloom (flat white dairy). Gold winners progress to the global finals at PRF El Salvador on 26 & 27 March 2026. (Houston, Texas, US)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Longboard’s Into the Mist sets world record for the highest average price in a coffee auction. The company’s debut private auction, organised by M-Cultivo, sold 12 Panama Gesha lots for an average price of US$4,668/kg. The top-selling lot received a bid of US$10,701/kg. The auction was held shortly after the recent passing of Longboard founder, Justin Boudeman. (Boquete, Panama)

• Fri, 10 Oct – New study finds 77% of US consumers say tipping culture has become “ridiculous”. Popmenu’s annual survey finds that US consumers blame mandatory prompts and unclear expectations. Changing attitudes could complicate service pay models and alter customer behaviour at restaurants, coffee shops, and other hospitality businesses. (Columbus, Ohio, US)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Woman charged with fraud after earning millions from selling fake Kona coffee. Patricia “Trish” Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury after she allegedly made more than US$5.2mn selling “100 % Kona coffee ”, found to be coffees sourced from South America. (Kona, Hawaii, US)

Industry news

• Mon, 6 Oct – Dutch Bros. Foundation donates over US$1.2mn to youth initiatives. Funds will back mental health, education, and community programmes through grants to local non-profits and scholarship initiatives, aiming to expand access to services for young people and strengthen regional outreach. (Grants Pass, Oregon, US)

• Tue, 7 Oct – SSP Group names George Mboya CEO of SSP America. Mboya will lead the airport and rail food & beverage operations for North America, overseeing brands, operations, and growth strategy across the US and Canada. (New York City, New York, US)

• Tue, 7 Oct – Groupe SEB lowers fiscal year outlook. The homeware group cited emerging pressure in the professional appliance market and weakening consumer demand, which led to cutting revenue and margin guidance. It plans to slow industrial investment and prioritise cash flow while sustaining innovation efforts. (Écully, France)

• Wed, 8 Oct – Cimbali Group UK named the best workplaces in manufacturing. A staff survey found that 72% rate the group highly, compared to a 54% sector average. 95% reported fair treatment based on race, 93% based on gender and orientation, and 88% cited physical safety. The firm noted staff progression from barista to engineer. (London, UK)

• Wed, 8 Oct – PTT OR dissolves Café Amazon joint venture in Vietnam. After five years, the Thai petrol group has ended its Vietnam partnership, citing intense local competition that stymied growth. The exit halts further Café Amazon expansion plans and highlights barriers for foreign branded chains in Vietnam’s crowded market. (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

• Wed, 8 Oct – UK government urged to remove VAT on home coffee machines. An industry coalition argues that the 20% VAT in the UK deters people from buying better home brewing equipment, slowing the uptake of efficient machines and reducing long-term savings and waste reduction. The coalition wants the tax removed to support at-home consumption during high café prices. (London, UK)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Cooks Coffee signs supply deal with Tesco Ireland. The deal secures shelf listings for Cooks retail blends across Tesco Ireland stores, widening the New Zealand roaster’s European retail footprint and supporting planned growth. Terms and rollout schedule were not disclosed. (Dublin, Ireland)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Chobani asks judge to dismiss Danone cold brew trademark suit. Chobani contends Danone’s claim lacks merit, arguing that Bright & Mellow is a generic flavour description and that La Colombe’s yellow-and-black packaging will not confuse consumers. The case proceeds in Manhattan federal court after earlier disputes between the rivals. (New York City, New York, US)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Knoops hires two marketing executives. Miguel Martin and Alex Lindblom-Smith join from Joe & The Juice and Starbucks to boost loyalty membership and grow at-home category sales as the specialty drinking chocolate and coffee chain prepares to launch in the US and China. (London, UK)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Equator Coffees boosts US RTD retail reach by 66%. Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Kroger will stock Equator’s cold brew range, expanding distribution to over 2,500 US supermarkets and adding Regenerative Organic Certified multi-serve SKUs, along with decaf, espresso roast, velvet mocha, and oat milk latte variants. (San Rafael, California, US)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Starbucks registers new trademarks in Russia. Registers filed with Rospatent cover food & beverage services, restaurants, cafés and loyalty programmes, extending legal protection of its brand under the logo until May 2034. The move comes after Starbucks’ exit from Russia in 2022 and amid ongoing brand and IP disputes. (Moscow, Russia)

• Fri, 10 Oct – ofi outlines progress towards 2030 climate and social goals. The company shared impact data for 2024, including livelihood support delivered to 98,000 coffee farmers to boost yields and incomes through 50+ partnership programmes with customers, doubling the land area brought under regenerative agriculture compared to the previous year, and generating greenhouse gas (GHG) digital footprints for nearly half of its direct coffee volumes. (Singapore)

• Fri, 10 Oct – VEA Group names new commercial and marketing director. Francesco Rovera will lead brand strategy, market development, and customer experience as the company expands its machine and system offerings globally and reinforces service support. (Bergamo, Italy)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Second Cup, Labatt, and Station Agro-Biotech partner for a new RTD latte line. The joint project combines Labatt’s flavour expertise, Station Agro-Biotech’s dairy innovation, and Second Cup’s branding to create a line of ready-to-drink lattes made with microfiltered milk for a cleaner taste and longer shelf life. Target markets include Canada, East Asia, and the Middle East. (Toronto, Canada)

Businesses for sale

• Thu, 9 Oct – Finlays acquires Leahy-IFP, expands natural beverages platform. Finlays will integrate Leahy-IFP and Finlays Solutions to serve brand owners, retailers, and foodservice globally. The deal doubles Finlays’ North American footprint to seven US sites and will be integrated by January 2026. (Glenview, Illinois, US)

New launch

• Mon, 6 Oct – Comeback launches coffee soda range. Memphis offers coffee sodas in four-pack and case formats, centred around citrus flavour profiles.(Memphis, Tennessee, US)

• Tue, 7 Oct – Tom Holland and Robert Downey Jr. launch BERO coffee draught and happy Eternal Hoptimist. BERO Coffee Draught pairs a stout-style beer with a silky, nitrogen-infused mouthfeel. Companion Happy Eternal Hoptimist is a Brazil-Colombia arabica blend with citrus and pine notes, available online and exclusively at Target. (New York City, New York, US)

• Tue, 7 Oct – Tenacta launches Imetec Pro espresso machines. The new sub-brand offers machines with PID temperature control, pre-infusion, espresso group heads, and milk steamer wands. It targets small cafés, B&Bs, and offices, providing trade warranties and access to parts. (Milan, Italy)

• Tue, 7 Oct – The Digital Blend debuts as precision espresso timer watch. Designed by baristas for baristas, the watch counts and displays various variables, including pre-infusion timings and customisable curves for shot profiles. (Portland, Oregon, US)

• Wed, 8 Oct – Rude Health launches luxury barista alternative milk range in UK Waitrose stores from 12 Oct. The new pistachio and hazelnut plant-based milks offer barista-grade texture and pourability for latte art. The launch follows Oddlygood Group’s acquisition of Rude Health and is backed by insights from its recent Plant-based Glass Ceiling Report, which highlights strong potential for category growth, with flavour innovation and quality perceptions emerging as key drivers. (London, UK)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity launches Brewing for Equity fellowship. The ten-month leadership programme features monthly sessions, a capstone project, and an optional trip to Ethiopia. The first cohort met in Atlanta and includes coffee business owners and roasters such as Alberto Maturino, Emary Greene, and Martell Mason. (Atlanta, Georgia, US)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Steel Oak Coffee launches interactive Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel for consumers. Users can choose tasting categories such as floral, fruity, or chocolate, explore sub-flavours, and view matched coffees. The online tool aims to demystify coffee flavour vocabulary and guides shoppers to specialty options. (Ormond Beach, Florida, US)

• Fri, 10 Oct – NCA issues updated coffee product labelling guide. The 24-page guide clarifies country-of-origin labelling, rules on labelling coffee as healthy, and class-action risks. It is hosted in the NCA Coffee Labelling Resource Centre, where members can access the guide and related country-specific tools. (Washington DC, US)

Milestone

• Mon, 6 Oct – Dunkin’ hits 10,000-store milestone in the US. A national footprint underscores the scale of quick-service coffee and breakfast, driven by franchising, drive-thru growth, and a broader menu. The company cites more substantial marketing leverage, supply chain efficiencies, and a renewed focus on convenience as competition intensifies. (Canton, Massachusetts, US)

• Tue, 7 Oct – Lavazza celebrates 130 years with new global campaign featuring John Krasinski, Steve Carell, and Luigi. Behind-the-scenes clips feature Carell, Krasinski, and Lavazza’s Luigi in short films that blend scripted comedy with origin footage. Global spots and social drops will roll out to mark the anniversary and deepen brand storytelling. (Milan, Italy)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Innovea Global Breeding Network named a TIME Best Invention of 2025. The coffee research consortium was recognised for accelerating the development of heat-tolerant and disease-resistant varieties. WCR combined field trials in over 30 countries with data tools to share results rapidly, offering potential climate-resilience gains. (Portland, Oregon, US)

Trade & production

• Tue, 7 Oct – Vietnam targets larger slice of Canadian coffee market. Vietnamese xports to Canada have increased from US$10mn to nearly US$40mn since the accession to the CPTPP, yet the market share remains below 2%. Producers are promoting robusta blends and single origin lots through trade missions and roaster partnerships to secure retail and specialty listings. (Hanoi, Vietnam)

• Wed, 8 Oct – JICA and ECOM agree on US$75mn loan to support Asian coffee farmers. Funds will strengthen farmer cooperatives, improve nurseries and processing, build resilience to climate and price risk, and focus support in Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, and Bangladesh to enhance global supply reliability. (Tokyo, Japan)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Brazilian exporters halt shipment of 625,000 60kg bags in August amid logistics bottleneck. Port congestion and container shortages delayed exports, forcing producers to defer sales and straining cash flow. Traders expect rerouted cargoes, longer lead times, and price volatility as contracts are renegotiated. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Indonesia opens new arabica route to Saudi Arabia. Direct shipping lanes, streamlined customs, and local distributor deals cut delivery times and costs, helping Indonesian growers win roast-to-order contracts, expand specialty listings, and offer traceable microlots to Gulf roasters seeking diversified arabica sources. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Ethiopia advances national strategy for EU coffee market compliance. Programme maps plots, builds traceability, trains cooperatives, and adds certification and monitoring tools to help growers meet EU deforestation and due diligence rules, protect specialty premiums, and preserve market access for exporters. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Asian investments in African agriculture increase. China, Qatar, and the UAE have boosted agricultural investments across Africa in 2025, focusing on crops including coffee, cocoa, and grains. The move aims to strengthen food security and reduce reliance on Western supply chains, with East Africa among the key beneficiaries. (Bloomberg)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Rahul Gandhi promotes India’s specialty coffee potential. The Indian politician posted a video of a Pergamino shop visit in Medellín, praised Colombian farmers’ craft, and urged growers in Wayanad, Coorg, Araku, and the Nilgiris to adopt artisanal processing, sustainable practices, and stronger export promotion to raise global demand. (New Delhi, India)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Mintel issues 2026 food & drink predictions, spotlighting sensory and diversity trends. The three forecasts include Retro Rejuvenation, which focuses on heritage-driven formats, Maxxing Out Diversity In, where consumers seek more varied diets over singular nutrients, and Intentionally Sensory, where brands use colour, texture, and aroma to shape inclusive experiences. (Chicago, Illinois, US)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Coffeesai and Chiapas Coffee Institute launch cell-based coffee collaboration. The Pluri subsidiary and Mexican research institute will co-develop a pilot facility in Chiapas using cell culture to produce neural, cultured coffee products. The project aims to scale domestically and reduce land use and climate impacts. (Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Mexico)

Research

• Tue, 7 Oct – Daily water, coffee, and tea consumption linked to longer life expectancy. Study finds that adults consuming at least 500ml of a mix of water, coffee, and tea daily showed a 17% lower risk of death from all causes over time. Favourable effects emerged even at modest intake levels. (London, UK)

• Wed, 8 Oct – Study links high elevation to more pungent aroma and phenolic content in coffee. Researchers tested four Typica arabica lots from Ethiopia, Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala and found the highest-elevation sample (Ethiopia, 2,065m) had the most phenolic compounds and strongest aroma signals. The study notes a small sample and that processing and ripeness also play a role. (Warsaw, Poland)

• Wed, 8 Oct – The use of coffee and sweeteners differently affects body fat and inflammation. A study showed that high coffee intake without sugar was linked to a lower body fat percentage and reduced inflammation markers, while sweetened coffee diminished those benefits. Researchers called for controlled trials to confirm causality. (Boston, Massachusetts, US)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Spent coffee grounds repurposed for carbon capture material. A team at the University of Sharjah has patented technology that converts used coffee grounds and PET plastic waste into activated carbon via co-pyrolysis with potassium hydroxide at ~600°C. The product can adsorb CO₂ and help reduce plastic and coffee waste. (Sharjah, UAE)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Oatly identifies five beverage trends to watch in 2026. Oatly’s Future of Taste report, drawing on interviews with baristas across 23 countries and CultureLab data, highlights surging interest in decaf and low-sugar options, a global flavour exchange of Asian ingredients, fibre-led gut-health drinks, cafe-exclusive destination drinks, and matcha’s staying power. (London, UK)

Events & competitions

• Mon, 6 Oct – The Barista League Pacific 2025 competition announced. The event will take place on 28 November at the New Zealand International Convention Centre in Auckland. Teams will compete in espresso, milk, and signature drink challenges, with opportunities for brand exposure and networking among coffee professionals. (Auckland, New Zealand)

• Mon, 6 Oct – Simonelli Group to celebrate 120 years at HostMilano. With its three brands, Victoria
• Arduino, Nuova Simonelli and 3TEMP, Simonelli will showcase the Black Eagle Maverick espresso machine range, the renewed Eagle One user experience, and the new Mythos MY6 grinder. The brand will also co-host the official Bloom book launch. (Belforte del Chienti, Italy)

• Tue, 7 Oct – Spanish AeroPress Championship 2025 scheduled for 11 October. The national qualifier takes place during the Madrid Café Festival (CAFÉFÍ), featuring classes, demonstrations, and a showcase of specialty coffees. (Madrid, Spain)

• Tue, 7 Oct – AD Jetinno to premiere flagship brewers at HostMilano. New machines include integrated grinders, advanced flow control, and touchscreen interfaces. The company says these systems suit both café and shop-in-shop formats and will be fully demonstrated at the fair. (Guangzhou, China)

• Wed, 8 Oct – Equal Origins to mark tenth anniversary with International Day of Rural Women webinar. A virtual session on 15 October at 10:30 AM EDT/3:30 PM GMT/4:30 PM CET will feature Kelly Amoroso, Brooke Cantrell, Pam Schreier, Pablo Ruiz, Trung Pham, and Billy Tchakam, who will discuss lessons learned from a decade of gender equity work and priorities for 2026. (Washington, DC, US)

• Wed, 8 Oct – SIGEP 2026 to showcase latest trends and innovations in coffee, gelato, and more from 16 to 20 January. Now in its 47th edition, the event is one of the most important international showcases for gelato, pastry, chocolate, coffee, bread, and pizza supply chains. Organisers anticipate a record-breaking edition, with 1,300 exhibiting brands from over 30 countries and an estimated 150,000 visiting professional operators from over 150 countries. (Rimini, Italy)

• Thu, 9 Oct – World Coffee Innovation Summit 2025 scheduled for 9 to 11 December. The event will bring together coffee technology providers, roasters, and industry leaders to explore sustainability, intelligent machines, new brewing formats, and scalable innovations at the intersection of coffee and technology. (London, UK)

• Thu, 9 Oct – VEA Group unveils six new machines for HostMilano. Carimali Lumina and Lumina Compact offer CARImilk and Smart Brewing features. The brand will also showcase the SilverAce syrup station, Glow, Nimble, Elektra Jolie, Eklipto, and the Heylo Milky induction milk module, with live demonstrations taking place. (Bergamo, Italy)

• Thu, 9 Oct – illycaffè reveals 27 finalists for Ernesto Illy International Coffee Award 2025. Finalists come from Brazil, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, India, Nicaragua, and Rwanda and were selected based on quality and regenerative farming criteria. Winners will be announced in Rome on 6 November, with special recognition for Best of the Best and Coffee Lovers’ Choice categories. (Trieste, Italy)

• Thu, 9 Oct – Wega to premiere new Polar espresso machine at HostMilano. The new model includes an adjustable drip tray, an integrated 3.5” touchscreen display, boiler pressure adjustment, lighting and cup warmer intensity, the Autosteamer Plus with four customisable recipes for temperature and milk texture, and SmartGrind and Beans2Cloud features. (Treviso, Italy)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Macap to unveil Supra G series at HostMilano. The new professional grinder range emphasises modular workflow, improved throughput, quieter motors, and simple serviceability, with live demonstrations and technical briefings on the company stand. (Sarezzo, Italy)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Rules and regulations released for the 2026 World Latte Art Championship in San Diego. The new rules introduce flexible round formats to broaden entry, clarify penalties for incorrect beverage orders, permit cooling tools while prohibiting changes in milk composition, and transform the Art Bar into an audience-judged side contest with mandatory participation. (San Diego, California, US)

• Fri, 10 Oct – Iberital to celebrate 50th anniversary at HostMilano. The company will present the new Refrent espresso machine collection and the VISTA SCA Spain, the official espresso machine of Spain’s Barista and Latte Art Championships. (Barcelona, Spain)

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

• Mon, 29 Sep – Bentley partners with Joe & The Juice on coffee-themed activations. A joint programme paired Bentley’s design heritage with Joe & The Juice retail, featuring pop-ups and showroom activations. The activations showcased curated menus, barista demonstrations, and interior collaborations that blended automotive details with contemporary café design. (Copenhagen, Denmark)

• Thu, 2 Oct – Eurest introduces Sum>One Coffee Roasters to workplace marketplaces. The programme pairs café-quality blends with Project DIRECT funding, directs a portion of sales to farmer support, and introduces direct-trade and fair trade origins to Eurest coffee bars, as well as retail, catering, and seasonal menus. (Charlotte, North Carolina, US)

• Fri, 3 Oct – Crimson Cup supports new cafés through the 7 Steps to Success programme. Five independent shops opened in six months across three states after receiving site selection, operations, and barista training from Crimson Cup’s 7 Steps to Success. All locations serve the roaster’s Friend2Farmer coffees, part of a programme that has supported 300+ entrepreneurs in 37 states. (Columbus, Ohio, US)

Photo credits: Marett Media

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