Coffee News Recap, 15 Mar: PRF Guatemala announces three competition winners, EU to delay deforestation regulations & other stories

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

Here are this week’s stories – the word of the week is deforestation.

Mon, 11 Mar

PRF Guatemala takes place on 7 & 8 March and hosts three coffee competitions, first-ever PRF Seed initiative, and second Global Coffee Awards. This year, PRF Guatemala hosted the third Global Coffee Roasting Contest, the fourth Cold Brew Coffee Championship, and the first-ever French Press Championship. PRF Guatemala also hosted the second edition of the Global Coffee Awards – an awards programme which recognises and celebrates key innovators and leaders in the international coffee industry, and the inaugural PRF Seed scholarship programme – providing a total capital investment of US $26,000. The next event will take place in Santander, Colombia on 17 & 18 October 2024.

National Coffee Association warns banning European decaf method could harm consumers’ health and would “defy science”. The association opposes potential bans by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and plans to present substantial scientific evidence which supports the safety of the European decaffeination method.

JDE Peet’s announces Luc Vandevelde as new interim CEO. Vandevelde will additionally become Chairman of the Board after 25 May 2024. A search for a permanent CEO will be initiated under his leadership, considering both internal and external candidates. Vandevelde has extensive retail and FMCG experience, and has previously served as Lead Independent Director at JDE Peet’s.

Brazilian farmers reportedly filing for bankruptcy at a “concerning pace”. Brazilian farmers are facing bankruptcy spikes amid rising interest rates and falling crop prices, according to a Bloomberg article. The number of producers at risk of bankruptcy soared sixfold to 127 in 2023. Record harvests coinciding with declining global prices and increased capital costs due to high interest rates are intensifying financial pressures for agriculture workers in Brazil.

The Barista League brings more than 450 coffee professionals together in Gothenburg following first-ever Nordic Coffee Festival. Attendees from more than 16 countries and 50 companies were present at the event – marking continuous growth for the competition, which coincided with the inaugural Nordic Coffee Fest and Nordics Best Roaster contest.

Peru and Honduras join growing list of Latin American countries agreeing to anti-deforestation legislation. The Peruvian and Honduran agricultural departments are partnering with JDE Peet’s and Enveritas to comply with the new European Union Deforestation Regulations. This initiative ensures no coffee exported into Europe is grown on deforested land after 2020.

Accademia del Caffè Espresso teams up with Cisco & PNAT for the ConSenso poject.The initiative, based in Tanzania, focuses on understanding the impact of climate change on arabica plants, and aims to improve yields, sustainable farming practices, and water efficiency, and also provides real-time insight into carbon storage and coffee production amid changing climate conditions.

Google celebrates the flat white with animated doodle. The search domain’s daily doodle – titled “Celebrating the Flat White” – is due to the addition of “flat white” to the Oxford dictionary. The coffee beverage – known for its velvety texture – originated from Australia and New Zealand in the 1980s.

Tue, 12 Mar

Latte Art Factory helps drive 30% revenue increase for coffee chain 5 to Go. Operating some 500 outlets, 5 to Go is among Europe’s fastest-growing coffee chains, and uses commercial milk foamer Latte Art Factory at over 100 locations.

Dubai Multi Commodities Centre closes second most successful year on record. Dubai’s free zone and commodities trade authority has reported its second-best year, with 2,692 new companies joining in 2023 – bringing the total to over 24,000, including international coffee brands.

European Union to delay implementation of deforestation legislation. The EU plans to delay the full implementation of its new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), pushing back the classification of countries into risk categories to provide more time for adaptation. Initially set for December, the classification will now label all countries as standard risk, aiming to address global deforestation and forest degradation impacts in the EU market.

Lavazza receives Gender Equality Certification. Lavazza has received Gender Equality Certification from TÜV Italy, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to improving gender equity. The certification recognizes Lavazza’s efforts in promoting inclusion and gender equity in the workplace, following its earlier achievement of first-level EDGE certification for Gender Equality in Italy in January 2023.

Brazil’s coffee exports reached 3.4 million 60kg bags in February 2024, with robusta shipments at record high. Brazil’s coffee exports experienced a robust 48.9% surge last month, driven by a notable 57.5% increase in green coffee exports. However, processed coffee sales declined by 14.5%.

UK roaster Hasbean to officially rebrand as Ozone Coffee. Hasbean was acquired by Ozone in 2018, and the rebrand will align previous visual identities and maintain coffee sourcing and roasting practices.

New Oxford study shows shade-grown coffee demonstrates the benefits of combining agriculture and conservation. Producing more shade-grown coffee can increase biodiversity, thereby hosting a greater variety of species compared to sun-grown or low-shade coffee, according to a study by Oxford Brookes University. The findings indicate benefits including improved natural pest control and soil quality, with enhanced shade levels also positively influencing coffee quality.

Wed, 13 Mar

World Coffee Research highlights seed quality opportunities in new report. The organisation’s new publication underscores the need for a formal coffee seed sector, and emphasises the importance of investing in infrastructure to ensure accessible and high-quality planting material for producers.

De’Longhi reports €3.1 billion 2023 full-year revenue and 30% growth in turnover for Eversys brand. The company fully acquired Eversys in May 2021, and also purchased a 41.2% stake in La Marzocco in December 2023 – which has undoubtedly contributed to growth.

Minor Figures’ oat milk hits Whole Foods and Sprouts stores across North America. Minor Figures, known for its sustainable oat milk, is now available in 517 Whole Foods Market stores in the US, 14 in Canada, and over 280 Sprouts locations. The brand also formed new cafe partnerships in the North American market, contributing to its 40% year-on-year growth in the segment.

Blue Bottle launches new First Espresso blend in homage to 1950’s coffee culture. The arabica-robusta limited-edition First Espresso blend celebrates 1950s espresso culture. Additionally, the Hayes Valley Espresso blend reflects the rise of modern espresso and its impact on global coffee culture.

Westrock Coffee reports US $34.6 million net loss amid “wholly necessary” expansion costs. The company has invested in a US $70 million distribution facility, a roasting facility upgrade, and other operations. CEO Scott Ford anticipates these investments will contribute to an adjusted EBITDA between US $60 million and US $80 million in 2024 for future growth.

Annual revenue in US convenience services industry hits US $26.6 billion to match pre-pandemic levels. The State of Convenience Services: A 2022-2023 Industry Census by the NAMA Foundation projects a 9% average annual revenue growth rate until 2028, expecting the industry to surpass US $40 billion by then.

Thu, 14 Mar

Filipino foodservice group Jollibee to prioritize coffee chain growth in 2024. The Manila-based group aims to open 750 new stores globally in 2024, with a focus on expanding its coffee businesses. Key growth brands include Highlands Coffee and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, with 54 net new Highlands Coffee stores and 32 net new CBTL outlets opened in 2023 Q4.

Caravan to expand beyond London and open location in Manchester. The new store will include two dining rooms, a bar, a private dining area, outdoor terraces, and a coffee brew bar, along with a roastery to serve businesses in northern regions. Caravan currently operates in London with eight outlets, three coffee brew bars, and a roastery.

Keurig unveils next-generation coffee and brewer innovation to redefine single-serve coffee. K-Rounds plastic-free pods are part of a multi-year innovation plan for Keurig’s single-serve brewing system. The pods are made using coffee wrapped in a protective sustainable plant-based coating, and are compatible with the new Keurig Alta brewer.

Cxffeeblack kickstarts phase two of its Barista Exchange programme. Second round scholarship recipients include Ethiopian Barista Championship runner-up Beamlak Melesse Bekele, head roaster at Jamestown Roaster Ghana Kelvin Addo, and Uganda Barista Championship runner-up and head barista at La Pâtisserie Express Lukonge Charles.

Nguyen Coffee Supply launches on Gopuff. America’s first specialty Vietnamese coffee company announced that its ready-to-drink products are now available nationwide through Gopuff, offering delivery in as little as 15 minutes.

Fri, 15 Mar

Avensi aerating glassware get makes crowdfunding splash. The Kickstarter campaign for Avensi Wave, the glassware designed for enhanced coffee aeration, has already raised over US $175,000. The glasses feature interior protrusions for added turbulence, improving the aeration of both filter coffee and espresso.

World Coffee Research welcomes Dr. Verônica Belchior as research scientist for coffee quality evaluation. The Brazilian scientist brings over ten years of coffee research and 15 years of industry experience. With a Ph.D. in Food Science, Dr. Belchior has led projects on roast profiles and sensory analysis. In her new role, Dr. Belchior will lead coffee quality evaluation in WCR’s R&D programmes.

Café World Summit to take place from 20 to 23 March 2024. The event will be held at the Costa Rica Convention Centre in San José. With over 1,000 attendees expected, the event will highlight Costa Rican coffee culture through forums, exhibitions, and the 2024 Costa Rican Brewers Cup.

Italian researchers find wearable tech can monitor emotional responses to drinking coffee. Published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, the study aims to reduce bias in coffee quality assessment by monitoring judges’ physiological responses. At an international coffee tasting competition in Milan, judges were equipped with sensors to measure heart, brain, and skin activity.

Roastpic collaborates with Probat on digital coffee analysis tool. Roastpic allows users to take photos of green, roasted, and ground coffee to compare colour, size, and defect count. New partner and Probat subsidiary Fabscale is now providing seamless data integration through simple photography.

Washed Gesha receives highest bid at 2023 CoE Ecuador auction. The 91.22-point coffee from Finca La Noria was purchased for US $102.50 by Korea’s Lowkey Coffee and the US’ Sāe Coffee Studio.

Landscape of coffee plantation in a tropical forest, fresh and ripe coffee berries in season. Organic agriculture

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

Thu, 7 Mar – Cotti Coffee celebrates 7,000-store milestone with global campaign launch. The new campaign will run until 31 May. Cotti Coffee began its global expansion in 2023, covering markets in Southeast Asia, East Asia, North America, the Middle East, and Australia.

Fri, 8 Mar – UK’s Dark Woods Coffee recertifies as B Corp with impressive 147.4 score. The higher score reflects the company’s progress with its sustainability efforts, including building relationships with smallholder coffee producers, reducing plastic packaging, and lowering its carbon footprint.

Photo credits: Producer & Roaster Forum