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

Editor’s note

Dubai’s Roasters Specialty Coffee House has set a new Guinness World Record for the most expensive cup of coffee.

At its flagship downtown store, Roasters’ is serving a Gesha for AED 2,500 (approximately US$680) per cup. Brewed using the V60 method and served in a bespoke Edo Kiriko crystal glass, the Gesha is a strategic differentiator in the highly competitive and exclusive UAE market. The coffee’s extraordinary price tag signals how prestige and scarcity can drive brand appeal and exposure – but we should expect to see even higher prices over the next few years.

Looking more broadly, the European Commission has proposed another one-year delay to the EUDR. The complexity of the legislation means that setting up digital systems to handle transaction-related data is taking longer than expected, according to the Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience, and a Competitive Circular Economy.

If approved, this would be the second postponement of the EUDR, initially scheduled for December 2024. Since its announcement in June 2023, producers, traders, and roasters have been preparing for the landmark regulation, which, even with delays, is already reshaping global trade dynamics.

However, as US tariffs continue to drive market volatility, news of another reprieve could provide necessary relief. Conversely, those who have already invested heavily in compliance procedures could feel frustrated.

Ultimately, the extra time is only valuable if the coffee sector uses it to build robust, resilient, and sustainable systems.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 22 Sep – Dubai’s Roasters Specialty Coffee House sells Gesha for US$680 per cup. The coffee is prepared using a V60 and served in an Edo Kiriko crystal glass. Roasters’ received a Guinness World Record for the “World’s Most Exclusive Cup of Coffee”. (Dubai, UAE)

• Tue, 23 Sep – Bids for Costa Coffee fall short of Coca-Cola’s expectations. Several suitors submitted offers below Coca-Cola’s target, sources say, prompting a fresh round of outreach as advisers seek improved proposals. Interest spans both private equity and strategic bidders, but initial offers were widely regarded as “disappointing”. (Atlanta, Georgia, US)

• Tue, 23 Sep – New Bloom book chronicles the life and career of World Barista Champion Mikael Jasin. Coffee journalist Tigger Chaturabul’s Bloom tells the story of 2024 World Barista Champion Mikael Jasin, blending biography, competition insights, and self-discovery guidance, with release set for October 2025 during HostMilano. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

• Wed, 24 Sep – European Commission proposes additional one-year delay to EUDR. The Commission cites a lack of IT readiness, which would delay due diligence and traceability checks for forest-risk commodities, including coffee. Exporters gain breathing space while NGOs warn of reputational and environmental risks. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Wed, 24 Sep – Joe Coffee adds a 1.5% surcharge to offset tariff costs. The New York specialty coffee chain has increased its retail prices to cover higher import tariffs on green and roasted beans, stating that it aims to protect staff pay and menu stability while passing a modest portion of the elevated supply costs onto customers. (New York City, New York, US)

• Thu, 25 Sep – Arabica futures fall as Brazilian rains ease crop fears. Improved rainfall in Brazil has raised hopes for flowering and a stronger 2026 crop, prompting traders to trim their long positions and pushing New York arabica futures lower after a recent spike, as visible stocks and export flows are reassessed. (New York City, New York, US)

• Fri, 26 Sep – Japan to host 2027 World Barista Championship and World of Coffee Asia. WoC Tokyo will take place from 28 April to 1 May 2027 at Tokyo Big Sight, hosting the 27th World Barista Championship alongside exhibitions, seminars, cuppings, and more. (Tokyo, Japan)

• Fri, 26 Sep – Nestlé’s Board of Directors appoints Alfonso Gonzalez Loeschen as Nespresso CEO. Loeschen, currently the CEO of Nespresso North America, will assume his new role on 1 November 2025. He replaces Philipp Navratil, who was promoted to Nestlé CEO following Laurent Freixe’s recent dismissal. (Vevey, Switzerland)

Industry news

• Mon, 22 Sep – Louis Dreyfus Company’s coffee division reports higher operating profit. The increase in operating profit in H1 was driven by higher volumes and increased coffee prices. In contrast, the group’s core EBITDA and net profit declined, while capital expenditure rose. (Paris, France)

• Tue, 23 Sep – Blue Tokai to lower prices following Indian government tax reduction. The Indian specialty roaster will lower prices on selected packaged coffees and café menu items to reflect a recent GST reduction, passing tax savings to consumers across retail, online, and café channels while citing affordability and market access. (New Delhi, India)

• Tue, 23 Sep – ICO calls for collaboration on International Coffee Day. This year’s campaign theme, “Embracing Collaboration More Than Ever,” asks governments, industry, and civil society to register events, use #ICD2025, and share the ICO’s multilingual toolkit, aiming for practical, supply chain-wide measures to improve farmer incomes, resilience, and sustainability. (London, UK)

• Wed, 24 Sep – Bangladeshi roasters push specialty coffee growth. Specialty roasters and cafés in Dhaka and Chittagong are introducing single origin blends, in-house roasting, and barista training to enhance cup quality and appeal to consumers, with a focus on local sourcing, education, and premium experiences. (Dhaka, Bangladesh)

• Wed, 24 Sep – Lavazza doubles UK profits after price rises. Premium ranges and retail growth drove sales despite elevated input and energy costs. Margin recovery was achieved through pricing, efficiency measures, and a favourable channel mix, enabling the UK business to restore profitability and fund further market investment. (London, UK)

• Wed, 24 Sep – Mokas appoints Christian Coleman to lead Midwest expansion. Coleman signed a six-unit agreement covering Johnson, Douglas, and Shawnee counties, plans an Olathe opening in March 2026, and will oversee franchise recruitment, site development, and operations across the Kansas City metro. (Salina, Kansas, US)

• Wed, 24 Sep – Paulig’s venture capital arm invests €4mn in Scindo. Scindo, a Finnish producer of alternative ingredients derived from mycelium, has secured funding to scale sustainable protein and lipid solutions. The investment from PINC supports product development, pilot-scale manufacturing, and broader commercial partnerships. (Helsinki, Finland)

• Thu, 25 Sep – SCA and SCAJ sign MoU to expand CVA education in Japan. The agreement will broaden access to the Coffee Value Assessment and “evolved” Q programme, establish a national pool of CVA instructors, align Japanese practices with international standards, and promote joint training across the value chain to enhance quality assessment and market transparency. (Tokyo, Japan)

• Thu, 25 Sep – Klatch Coffee expands in California in partnership with Sprouts Farmers Market. The specialty coffee roaster confirmed three new in-store cafés in Eastvale, Fullerton, and Rancho Cucamonga, following the successful completion of a pilot in Fontana. Sprouts has outlined plans for a 20-café programme across Southern California, offering Klatch espresso, cold brew, and a limited food menu inside grocery stores. (Rancho Cucamonga, California, US)

• Thu, 25 Sep – UK’s Butterwick bakery to close 12 of 14 stores amid cost pressures. Owners blamed unsustainable operating costs and shifts in customer spending. The business will focus on its Rushden Lakes and St Giles’ Street sites, pursuing menu upgrades, handcrafted beverages, and an improved coffeehouse experience following recent refurbishments. (Kettering, UK)

• Thu, 25 Sep – Nespresso claims first Rainforest Alliance regenerative-certified coffee. Certification covers a coffee lot verified under the Rainforest Alliance’s new regenerative agriculture standard, aiming to reward on-farm practices that restore soil, enhance biodiversity, and improve farmer livelihoods. The company plans scaled rollouts and farmer training to meet demand. (Lausanne, Switzerland)

• Fri, 26 Sep – Starbucks to close hundreds of underperforming North America stores, including Seattle roastery. Restructuring will cost US$1bn and is expected to reduce company-operated US and Canadian locations by approximately 1% by the end of the fiscal year. Support team job losses and hiring freezes are anticipated, while investment will shift to staffing, technology, and in-store experience. Some stores in the UK, Switzerland, and Austria will also close. (Seattle, Washington, US)

Businesses for Sale

• Thu, 25 Sep – Odeko acquires Six Degrees Coffee to expand Northern California footprint. Six Degrees’ customers, including independent cafés, drive-thrus, bakeries, and campuses, will gain access to Odeko Supply mobile ordering, a national product catalogue, 24/7 support, and financing and insurance services, bringing digital tools to local operators. (Chico, California, US)

• Fri, 26 Sep – Maestroast acquires Whiteheads. Plans include scaling Whiteheads’ roasting capacity for private label clients, protecting existing cafés from closure, and using Maestroast’s supply chain and farmer network to help the 167-year-old business manage rising costs and market volatility. (Bristol, UK)

New launch

• Mon, 22 Sep – Oddlygood Group publishes the Plant-Based Glass Ceiling Report, finds cafés are critical drivers of plant milk consumption. Based on a survey of 2,000 UK low, lapsed, and non plant-based users, the report highlights how nearly one in five lapsed users (19%) and over one in five low users (21%) say that trying plant-based in cafés would encourage them to drink more. The report also includes commentary from coffee expert and World Barista Champion, Dale Harris, and offers practical tips for operators. (London, UK)

• Tue, 23 Sep – illy opens experiential pop-up cafe in New York. An interactive installation explores the company’s sourcing and roasting philosophy, featuring guided cuppings, chef collaborations, limited-edition blends, and retail pop-ups, with events and educational talks scheduled to run through late September. (New York City, New York, US)

• Tue, 23 Sep – Starbucks brings back its limited-edition Apple Crisp fall menu. Seasonal offerings return with apple-flavoured lattes and bakery items, available in-store and via the app. The rollout pairs menu favourites with loyalty offers to drive traffic during the autumn peak. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Wed, 24 Sep – NCA releases Spanish and Portuguese NCDT highlights. The National Coffee Association has launched translated Fall 2025 NCDT Highlights reports in Spanish and Portuguese, priced at US$499 each, with broader access available through its US$550 annual membership package. (New York, US)

• Wed, 24 Sep – El Mayor debuts a coffee-infused tequila. The Café Reposado tequila, aged in oak, features notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and toasted oak. The launch includes a limited retail release, tasting events, and direct online sales across the US. (Los Angeles, California, US)

• Wed, 24 Sep – Ciarra launches Bloombox portable espresso machine. The compact 20-bar, self-heating unit delivers quick heat-up time with a snap-on brewing workflow, available from 23 September via Ciarra online stores, targeting travel and urban kitchens. (Hamburg, Germany)

• Wed, 24 Sep – Melitta opens new testing lab in North America. The company established a roast and quality lab in Cherry Hill, with a capacity for flavour profiling, ingredient trials, and prototype roasting. The lab acts as support for regional R&D and new product innovation. (Cherry Hill, New Jersey, US)

• Thu, 25 Sep – Bootlegger makes international debut with two Namibian sites. A Cape Town-based group aims to target 200 stores by 2028, positioning international openings as the first phase of expansion. The group prioritises grab-and-go formats, quick-service operations, and local partnerships to support a rapid regional roll-out. (Windhoek, Namibia)

• Thu, 25 Sep – Chick-fil-A to open Daybright beverage concept in Hiram. Red Wagon Ventures will operate a standalone brand offering specialty coffees, smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and a limited food menu. It will not serve core Chick-fil-A items; further details and an opening date will be announced soon. (Atlanta, Georgia, US)

• Thu, 25 Sep – Flavia unveils its new Aroma brewer. The compact Aroma system offers over 20 café-style drinks, utilising Freshpack technology to prevent flavour crossover. Two finishes and a 12-oz Lavazza Momento range have been launched for larger pours, and the system is now available online. (West Chester, Pennsylvania, US)

• Thu, 25 Sep – Black Rock Coffee Bar opens new Texas store. The outlet in Katy is the chain’s 23rd Greater Houston site and 45th in Texas. Launch promotions include free 16-oz drinks, buy-one-get-one offers, and half-price food. Guests can earn bolts via the Black Rock Rewards app across 160+ locations. (Katy, Texas, US)

• Fri, 26 Sep – illycaffè takes CoffeeB system to Italy. The patented brewing technology utilises fully compostable coffee balls to deliver single-serve quality without capsule waste, available in select illy stores and online. A partnership with Migros and Delica extends CoffeeB beyond Germany and France. (Trieste, Italy)

• Fri, 26 Sep – Prima Coffee Equipment launches Second Shot marketplace for used coffee equipment. The platform offers a trusted marketplace for baristas, roasters, café owners, and home brewers to buy and sell quality gear while promoting sustainability by keeping equipment in use and out of landfills. (Louisville, Kentucky, US)

Milestone

• Mon, 22 Sep – Starbucks reaches 1,800 stores in Latin America and the Caribbean. The latest opening at Jorge Chávez International Airport in Lima extends the brand’s travel-retail presence. It marks an expansion into 26 markets, reinforcing the brand’s regional footprint and airport-led growth strategy. (Lima, Peru)

• Tue, 23 Sep – Equal Origins celebrates ten years with a webinar. On 15 October, Equal Origins will host a webinar marking a decade of work on gender equity in agriculture, sharing key lessons and exploring how empowering women’s participation is crucial for achieving future sustainability goals. (Washington, DC, US)

• Thu, 25 Sep – AeroPress celebrates 20 years with Premium black and white editions. The double-waled glass and metal brewers come with laser-etched branding, and are available in the US and Canada from 28 September. (Palo Alto, California, US)

Trade & production

• Mon, 22 Sep – EUDR shapes Africa’s traceability push. At ACS2 in Addis Ababa, African governments, the private sector, and Team Europe framed the EUDR as a tool to secure markets and improve governance. Uganda geo-mapped 1.5m farmers and Côte d’Ivoire uses payments for ecosystem services. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

• Wed, 24 Sep – Mexico launches wellness coffee programme. The product is sold as instant, labelled 100% Mexican, and sourced from 6,600 smallholders across Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz, and Guerrero. The government paid approximately 59.4 million pesos to acquire 913.6 tonnes and stated that 60% of producers are women; however, some Veracruz growers have criticised the quality and pricing. (Mexico City, Mexico)

• Thu, 25 Sep – Expocacer celebrates first shipment of ECO-protocol coffee to UK. The ECO programme is a self-verification system for sustainable ESG practices, recognised by the Global Coffee Platform. After shipping two containers to the UK in 2024, Expocacer has secured four pre-sold containers for 2025, and aims to reach up to six, effectively doubling volumes year-on-year. (Cerrado Mineiro, Brazil)

• Fri, 26 Sep – Kenya seeks US trade deal to boost coffee exports. President William Ruto will press the US to extend AGOA for five years, seeking tariff-free access that could stabilise export routes for Kenyan coffee and tea, curb recent tariff shocks, and attract buyer investment. The outcome remains uncertain amid recent US tariff measures. (Nairobi, Kenya)

Events & competitions

• Mon, 22 Sep – Ethiopian Embassy to host event on International Coffee Day in London. The event, starting at 18:00 local time, will feature a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, engaging discussions on coffee’s cultural and economic significance, and an opportunity to network with fellow coffee enthusiasts and stakeholders in the coffee industry. (London, UK)

• Mon, 22 Sep – Accademia to host Longboard Gesha tasting in Florence. Accademia del Caffè Espresso will present Europe’s only sample box of 12 Longboard Panama Gesha lots, curated with Untold Coffee Lab and BWT, to preview a private auction on 1 October. The event includes a tribute to Justin Boudeman and a Spirit of Longboard toast. (Florence, Italy)

• Mon, 22 Sep – Neuhaus Neotec to showcase NEOROAST 60 at HostMilano. The equipment handles batches between 20 and 60 kg and can process up to 480 kg/h, running on gas, hydrogen, or electricity, with a focus on lower emissions and efficient mid-scale production. (Milan, Italy)

• Tue, 23 Sep – Porto Coffee Week explores culture and innovation. Porto Coffee Week 2025 will take place from 6 to 12 October across the city, featuring a blend of tastings, lectures, art shows, concerts, and business networking events to spotlight Portugal’s growing coffee scene and connect professionals with consumers. (Porto, Portugal)

• Tue, 23 Sep – La Marzocco to revive Out of the Box concept on 18 October. Returning to Milan during HostMilano, the biennial show will host over 90 brand activations; La Marzocco’s theme focuses on experimental roast profiles, live extraction labs, and customer touchpoints designed to spotlight craftsmanship and product education. (Milan, Italy)

• Tue, 23 Sep – The 11th annual Pittsburgh Coffee Week will run from 28 September to 4 October 2025. This year’s theme, “Pittsburgh Pours”, celebrates the city’s unique coffee scene, honouring local coffee brands and the specialty coffee community. A full event schedule has been announced, including a latte art competition hosted by Ghost Coffee Collab, Commonplace Coffee Farmer’s Market and Bloom Battles, KLVN Coffee pour over tasting, and many more activations. (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US)

• Wed, 24 Sep – SCAJ Conference 2025 runs at Tokyo Big Sight until 27 September. The event includes 650 booths, 450 companies, and more than 75,000 visitors, featuring producer delegations, equipment showcases, competitions, seminars, and public cuppings across the four-day schedule. (Tokyo, Japan)

• Wed, 24 Sep – Slow Coffee Festival focuses on mindful brewing. The 2025 edition, running on 4 & 5 October, will highlight sustainable practices and slower brewing methods, combining workshops, panels, tastings, and music to promote a relaxed and mindful coffee experience. (Bucharest, Romania)

• Thu, 25 Sep – Spanish AeroPress Championship to be held in Barcelona on 11 October. The eighth national contest brings 62 finalists from 14 regions together at Manhattan Studio on 11 October. Competitors will brew using coffee from Familia Osorio, Spain’s 2025 Roasters Champion, and the winner advances to the world finals in December. (Barcelona, Spain)

• Thu, 25 Sep – The Barista League heads to Africa in October. The first African edition, scheduled for 18 October in Nairobi, will feature an inclusive team-based barista challenge that combines coffee skills with creativity and fun, aiming to connect local professionals with the global coffee community. (Nairobi, Kenya)

• Fri, 26 Sep – Spotlight on innovation at World Coffee Summit. Scheduled for 6 & 7 November in London, the event will bring together industry leaders to discuss technology, sustainability, and business trends, highlighting solutions that are shaping the next decade of global coffee production and consumption. (London, UK)

• Fri, 26 Sep – Uganda delegation exhibits at SCAJ as the country’s global exports hit over US$2.2bn. Latest figures from the Coffee Development Department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries show that the country exported 7.93 million 60kg bags in the twelve months to August 2025, valued at US$2.24bn – a 58.7% increase in value compared to the previous year. (Kampala, Uganda)

• Fri, 26 Sep – World Coffee Innovation Awards 2025 shortlist announced. Categories include best product, best innovation, and best business. Shortlisted products include Hardtap by Hardtank, Lost Sheep Espresso Coffee Concentrate, and Series 1 Espresso Machine by Fellow. The winners will be announced at Caffe Culture on 30 September 2025. (London, UK)

• Fri, 26 Sep – Iberital to exhibit at HostMilano. The coffee equipment manufacturer and supplier will showcase its products at stand B24 C23 at the event. (Milan, Italy)

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

• Mon, 15 Sep – ofi’s climate targets validated by Science Based Target initiative. SBTi validated ofi’s science-based targets, which are aligned with a 1.5°C pathway, including a net-zero target by 2050, a 50% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions, and a 30% reduction in scope 3 and land-use emissions by 2030. The company cites 24 decarbonisation projects, a 7% reduction in processing emissions in 2024, and farmer programmes. (Singapore)

• Wed, 17 Sep – Tariffs push up seasonal latte prices. Import tariffs on green and roasted beans have increased wholesale costs for cafés, leading to higher prices for seasonal lattes. Some shops are passing the costs on to customers, while others are trimming sizes or absorbing the margins, and operators warn that higher bills may persist through autumn. (Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, US)

• Thu, 18 Sep – Slate Milk raises US$23mn led by Yasso Founders Fund. The plant-based milk company will use the funding for new facilities, expanded flavour lineups, and enhanced R&D, addressing the growing demand among latte drinkers and specialty coffee retailers. (New York City, New York, US)

• Fri, 19 Sep – Gail’s opens airport outlet at Gatwick. The chain launched its first airport bakery in Gatwick North Terminal, offering fresh breads, pastries, and coffee with a grab-and-go service designed for travellers, expanding the brand’s UK travel-retail footprint. (Gatwick, UK)

• Fri, 19 Sep – Blue Bottle reintroduces studio tasting in Hong Kong. The reservation-only course runs from 1 to 26 October at Blue Bottle Wan Chai, featuring a 90-minute, six-drink tasting with two sweets curated by James Freeman and Benjamin Brewer. This experience highlights the liberica and excelsa species, as well as a house-made instant coffee. (Hong Kong, China)

Photo credits: AeroPress

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest stories in the sector, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.

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 why US supermarket coffee prices keep increasing.