Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the previous week. Here are this week’s stories.

Mon, 12 Jun

• PRF Colombia announces first line up of speakers. PRF Colombia will once again take place at the Plaza Mayor venue in Medellín on 14 & 15 September 2023. The first speakers include Martin Mayorga of Mayorga Coffee, Adriana Quiceno of RTS International, Ángela Barrero of Bodega De La Finca, and Matt Swenson of Nestlé Coffee Partners.

• Diana Johnston Ledezma wins 2023 UK Coffee Roasting Championship. The professional Q grader will represent the UK at the 2023 World Coffee Roasting Championships in Taipei in November.

• Hanns R. Neumann Stiftung and TeamUp Uganda to premiere joint webinar on YouTube. The pre-recorded webinar explores how cross-sectoral collaboration can improve efficiency in the agricultural sector, including in coffee.

• ONA Coffee’s Sasa Sestic and Hugh Kelly to launch new Sanremo X-One in UK. Sestic (also founder of Project Origin and the 2015 World Barista Champion) and Kelly (2021 WBC finalist) will co-host the Chasing the perfect cup event on 26 & 27 June. Alongside the launch of Sanremo’s X-One espresso machine, Sestic and Kelly will also host a series of workshops, including one on extract chilling.

• Colectivo Coffee employees ratify first union contract. The contract covers employees across 15 locations in Wisconsin and Illinois, and includes provisions for pay raises, paid leave policies, and joint labour management systems.

• Bluestone Lane launches Coconut Water Cold Brew. The new drink includes Bluestone Lane’s Flagstaff blend and Vita Coco Original Coconut Water, and has notes of toasted almond, vanilla, and milk chocolate.

• Germany’s sales of roasted coffee reached record high in 2022. The German Coffee Association reports that domestic coffee sales totalled 479,700 tonnes last year. The out-of-home market grew by 45%, and it’s estimated that annual per capita consumption was 167l in 2022.

Tue, 13 Jun

• Neumann Kaffee Gruppe acquires majority share in specialty coffee trader Nordic Approach. The acquisition also includes Tropiq, Nordic Approach’s green coffee sourcing department. Nordic Approach and Tropiq founders Morten Wennersgaard and Andreas Hertzberg remain minority stakeholders and will continue as Managing Directors.

• Coffee futures drop following news of good weather conditions in Brazil. The most active arabica contract for September delivery fell by 515 points, while the corresponding robusta contact fell by US $21. Meanwhile, Brazil has already harvested 26% of its 2023/24 coffee crop.

• Intercontinental Coffee Exchange to help coffee companies comply with new EU anti-deforestation regulations. Reuters reports that ICE plans to introduce a Commodity Traceability (ICoT) service in 2024 to assist with compliance.

• Mozambique joins the International Coffee Organisation. The organisation says Mozambique produces some of the world’s most environmentally and socially sustainable coffee, including shade-grown coffees in Gorongosa National Park. By joining the ICO, the country aims to contribute to developing sustainability policies for global coffee production, as well as within its own sector.

• SCA opens nominations for 2024-25 Board of Directors. The SCA is now accepting nominations for its Board of Directors, with interviews set to take place in July. Nominations close on 26 June.

Wed, 14 Jun

• Buyer of Starbucks assets in Russia reportedly paid US $6 million. Anton Pinskiy, who now operates former Starbucks Russia locations under the Stars Coffee brand, told TASS news agency that he paid around RUB 500 million (US $6 million) for assets formerly licensed by the company. Starbucks has declined to comment.

• New US roaster Talitha Coffee strives to combat sex trafficking through job opportunities and access to support networks. Founded by Jenny and Robert Barber, the San Diego roaster partners with the Talitha Survivor Support Network to provide job opportunities and training to survivors of sex trafficking, as well as providing access to support networks.

• Blank Street launches new cold brew menu. The New York coffee chain’s new menu items include the Cold Brew Shot, Cortado Cold Brew, and Grapefruit Spritz Cold Brew.

• Eversys S.A. fully acquires UK subsidiary. The coffee machine manufacturer acquired the remaining 49% stake in Eversys UK Limited, which was previously held by a local managing group. The UK subsidiary employs around 50 people.

• FairWave Coffee Collective acquires Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. Anodyne’s leadership team will oversee the US coffee company collective’s operations in Milwaukee.

• Regional Indian Bengaluru AeroPress Championship 2023 to take place on 28 September in Bangalore. Benki Brewing Tools will co-host the event at the Bangalore Palace Ground. Dates and locations for the regional Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi competitions will be announced in the coming weeks.

Thu, 15 Jun

• Next year’s World of Coffee Europe event to take place in Copenhagen, Denmark from 27 to 29 June. The 2024 trade show will be held at the Bella Centre, and will host the 2024 World Latte Art, Coffee in Good Spirits, and Coffee Roasting Championships. BWT water+more will be the Official Host Sponsor. WoC Copenhagen will run in addition to WoC Dubai from 21 to 23 January 2024, as well as the inaugural World of Coffee Busan from 1 to 4 May 2024.

• University of Santo Tomás publishes results of robusta project in Colombia. Researcher Diego Alejandro Salinas reported that as part of the project, 17 robusta genotypes have been introduced to Meta, Colombia. The project aims to determine the potential for robusta production across the country.

• Starbucks appoints Roberto Alonso Vega Alfaro as vice president of Global Coffee Agronomy, R&D, and Sustainability. Vega will oversee the company’s global agronomy research, development, and sustainability operations, as well as its global network of farmer support centres.

• Certification body 4C hosts Regional Stakeholder Conference in Campinas, Brazil. Some 170 coffee and sustainability professionals attended the New Requirements for Coffee Exports and Latest Developments in Sustainability Certification event, along with government officials. Key themes covered at the conference included the new EU anti-deforestation regulations, with a specific focus on the German market.

• The Barista League Toronto to take place on 17 June at The Redwood Theatre. Guest judges include Caitlin Campbell of Street Brew, Venice Vallega of Sanremo Canada, and Tiff Bhagwandin of Pilot Coffee Roasters.

Fri, 16 Jun

• Chilean AeroPress Championship 2023 to take place on 21 October in Santiago. CaféStore will co-host the event at Ubuntu Café Coffeeshop in Ñuñoa. Spectator tickets are free.

• Faema raises funds for World Bicycle Relief at 2023 Giro d’Italia. At the event, over 29,000 cyclists pedalled more than 7,000,000km, beating Faema’s target of 120,000km. Funds raised will help distribute bicycles to disadvantaged communities in the Global South.

• SouthmaTea to host maté blending & tasting workshop in NYC on 12 July. Attendees will have the opportunity to create their own yerba maté blend. The event will take place on 62 Bedford St. in Manhattan.

• European Specialty Tea Association to launch barista skills programme at WoC Athens. The Tea Barista Foundation course mainly focuses on practical skills, including brewing and tasting tea, as well as providing basic information about tea.

• Caffè Culture Show announces new talks programme Total Coffee. Curated by United Baristas founder Tim Ridley, and co-sponsored by Sanremo, Total Coffee explores key themes and trends in the coffee industry. Speakers at this year’s event, which will take place on 3 & 4 October, will include Vanúsia Nogueira, Executive Director of the ICO, and UK Barista Champion Paul Ross.

• Attendees from over ten countries took part in The Barista League’s Brno event. More than 24 different coffee companies were also present. Tomas Laca and Jan House of Team Sidra placed first at the competition.

• Applications extended for Australia’s Richest Barista competition at MICE 2023. Competitors will take part in a fast-paced, knock out-style contest to gain access to a collective prize pool of AU $40,000 (US $27,080) – the largest cash prize ever for a barista competition. Applications close on 16 June.

What not to miss at World of Coffee Athens

Next week, World of Coffee Athens will take place at the Athens Metropolitan Expo from 22 to 24 June.

The event will host four 2023 World Coffee Championships: World Barista Championship, World Brewers Cup, World Cup Tasters Championship, and World Cezve/Ibrik Championship.

The SCA’s flagship European World of Coffee trade show will also host the Best New Product and Coffee Design Awards – as well as lectures, workshops and cupping sessions.

A large number of exhibitors are expected to attend the event, including:

• Gruppo Cimbali – commercial espresso machine and grinder manufacturer
• Pentair – water filtration systems company
• Ecotact – green coffee packaging solutions company
• Dalla Corte – professional espresso machine and grinder manufacturer
• Sancoffee – specialty green coffee trader in Brazil
• Ally Coffee – specialty green coffee importer
• MTPak Coffee – coffee packaging and takeaway cup manufacturer
• AeroPress – coffee brewer manufacturer
• Cropster – coffee software company
• Rancilio – commercial and prosumer coffee machine and grinder manufacturer
• Covoya Coffee – specialty green coffee trader (formerly Olam Specialty Coffee)
• Marco Beverage Systems – beverage dispensing solutions manufacturer
• Guatemalan Coffees – official specialty green coffee trader for Anacafé
• Stronghold – professional coffee roaster manufacturer
• IMF – commercial coffee roaster manufacturer
• Taf Coffee – Greek specialty coffee roaster
• Roastelier by Buondi Craft – roasting solutions manufacturer
• Fiorenzato – premium coffee equipment manufacturer
• Sanremo – professional espresso machine and grinder manufacturer
• Toddy – cold brew equipment manufacturer
• Latte Art Factory – commercial milk foaming solutions manufacturer
• Sucafina – international specialty green coffee trader
• Pinhalense – coffee processing technology company
• Heylo – modular espresso machine manufacturer
• Elektra – home and professional espresso machine manufacturer
• Fairtrade – global sustainability certification
• Lallemand – yeast and bacteria developer and supplier
• BWT water+more – water filtration solutions company
• !FEST Coffee Mission – specialty green coffee trader
• Aillio – countertop roaster manufacturer

These companies will be joined by many other prominent brands in the industry, including roasters, green coffee traders, coffee producers, and coffee equipment manufacturers. For more information and to register, visit the World of Coffee website.

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

• Wed, 7 Jun – TreeHouse Foods to acquire Farmer Brothers’ Northlake, Texas coffee facility. TreeHouse says the acquisition (for around US $100 million) will add roasting, grinding, flavouring, and blending operations to its existing single-serve and RTD coffee businesses.

• Thu, 8 Jun – Bewley’s Tea & Coffee sells UK business to Cafédirect. Cafédirect is a long-term customer of Bewley’s, and says the acquisition will allow it to grow its out-of-home coffee consumer category. Bewley’s, meanwhile, will focus on sales in Ireland.

• Thu, 8 Jun – Löfbergs sells Percol brand to focus on UK market. Indian brand Continental Coffee acquired Percol, which was first acquired by Löfbergs in 2013. The Swedish coffee company says the acquisition will allow it to focus on strengthening and developing its brand in the UK.

• Thu, 8 Jun – Indonesian minister says new EU deforestation laws constitute “regulatory imperialism”. The country’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs told Reuters that the EU is “building walls” with new regulations, which are negatively affecting the country’s coffee, cocoa, rubber, and timber industries.

• Thu, 8 Jun – Universitas Gadjah Mada and UC Davis collaborate on coffee research. The Indonesian university has partnered with coffee researchers at UC Davis to develop a coffee research field station in the country, which aims to encourage academic cooperation.

• Fri, 9 Jun – Espresso House outlines updated House Habits workplace policies. The Swedish coffee company’s new employment policies include improved onsite training resources, talent acquisition, and diversity, equality, and inclusion practices.

• Fri, 9 Jun – Starbucks considers opening delivery-only stores in the US. Speaking to investors, CFO Rachel Ruggeri said more delivery-only stores could help meet increasing consumer demand for convenience, as well as improving overall efficiency.

Photo credits: Producer Roaster Forum, Specialty Coffee Association

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Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence News & Opinion piece on how Starbucks is taking inspiration from Chinese coffee chains.