Coffee News Recap, 14 Nov: New US trade deals could exempt some Latin American coffee from tariffs, European countries reportedly seek additional one-year EUDR delay & other stories

2025.11.16

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

Editor’s note

Weeks after the US Senate voted against sweeping global tariffs, the Trump administration says it is working on new trade agreements with four Latin American countries.

On Thursday, the administration outlined deals with Argentina (which grows negligible quantities of coffee), El Salvador, Ecuador, and Guatemala, which will be finalised and entered into force in the coming weeks.

According to the statements, the US will “remove the reciprocal tariffs on exports to the United States for certain qualifying exports that cannot be grown, mined, or naturally produced in the United States in sufficient quantities”.

This could provide tariff relief for coffee; however, given that these four countries account for approximately 7% of US coffee imports by weight, US consumers are unlikely to see significant price drops.

In September, US consumers paid nearly 19% more for roasted coffee and nearly 22% more for instant coffee compared to the same month the previous year, according to the Consumer Price Index report for that month. Staggering tariffs, including a 50% duty on Brazilian imports, have been the main driver of this sharp increase, prompting both consumer and political backlash.

More than half of the US’ coffee imports come from Brazil and Colombia, which are still subject to significant tariffs. As pushback continues, the US administration is likely to announce more trade deals that could exempt coffee – but only time will tell.

Vietnamese producers collect coffee cherries.

Industry news

Mon, 10 Nov – Swiss Water reports strong third quarter on decaf demand. Results showed a rising demand for decaffeinated coffee, accompanied by growth in service contracts. This was supported by higher retail and roaster orders, as well as capacity investments, which contributed to the expansion of decaffeination services. (Burnaby, Canada)

Mon, 10 Nov – Imunika goes viral after Motegi samples mushroom coffee at APEC. Imunika, founded in Korea and the US, blends Korea’s fermentation with roasting into a mushroom-infused, lower-caffeine whole-bean product. Motegi’s APEC tasting clip drew about 4 million views, boosting the brand as Japan-US tariff talks approach. (Seoul, South Korea)

Tue, 11 Nov – Lawmakers urge Starbucks CEO to resume union talks. A group of US lawmakers urged Brian Niccol to reopen negotiations with unionised employees, citing stalled bargaining and warning that failure to meet in good faith could prompt legislative or regulatory steps as organising continues across stores. (Washington, DC, US)

Tue, 11 Nov – Lavazza renews partnership with Jannik Sinner until 2030. Sinner will continue as Lavazza brand ambassador, appearing at Grand Slam events and joint marketing activations. The deal aims to boost global visibility, youth engagement, and premium coffee positioning across key markets. (Turin, Italy)

Tue, 11 Nov – Paris Baguette names Zac Sulma chief operating officer. Sulma will lead US operations, store growth, and supply chain optimisation, bringing multi-brand restaurant leadership to accelerate expansion, improve margins, and support franchise and company-owned channels in North America. (Moonachie, New Jersey, US)

Wed, 12 Nov – UK supermarket promotions pressure retail coffee prices. Worldpanel data shows UK supermarkets ramped promotions to curb grocery inflation. Coffee brands and private label companies saw deeper discounts, squeezing supplier margins while boosting short-term affordability for shoppers. (London, UK)

Thu, 13 Nov – De’Longhi raises outlook as coffee machines drive growth. Coffee now accounts for 65% of the group’s revenue, and professional sales increased by 40%. Following its acquisition of La Marzocco in 2023, De’Longhi’s revenue has continued to rise. (Treviso, Italy)

Thu, 13 Nov – Latvia’s Kalve Coffee to make its French debut. The Riga brand will open two French stores before the end of 2025 and is exploring Portugal for 2026, accelerating Western Europe expansion with roastery-led distribution and local partnerships to export Baltic specialty formats. (Riga, Latvia)

Thu, 13 Nov – Luckin Coffee prepares US relisting and global expansion. The Chinese chain is planning a return to the US primary board after its 2020 delisting for accounting fraud, as it expands globally and competes more directly with major brands. (Xiamen, China)

Fri, 14 Nov – Starbucks union baristas stage walkouts in 40 cities. The action began with 65 stores and involves over 1,000 unionised baristas pressing for stalled bargaining on higher pay, more hours, and better staffing. The impact so far has been limited to under 1% of stores, and the union has filed over 1,000 NLRB charges. (Washington, DC, US)

Fri, 14 Nov – Keurig pod recyclability case advances with US$1.35 million settlement. A Canadian class action over Keurig pod recyclability is set for a US$36 million settlement. The court review is scheduled for 8 Dec. (Ottawa, Canada)

Fri, 14 Nov – Black Rock Coffee Bar reports Q3 revenue up 24% but net loss widens. The chain reported revenue of US$51.5 million, with same-store sales increasing by 10.8%. However, net loss rose to US$16.2 million due to higher operating costs and rapid expansion. (Scottsdale, Arizona, US)

Fri, 14 Nov – Untappd adds coffee categories. The platform expands its taxonomy from 450 to over 900 drink styles, explicitly including pre-packaged coffees and RTD coffee varieties, enabling roasters and packaged coffee brands to be listed, rated, and discovered alongside beers. (Charlotte, North Carolina, US)

Fri, 14 Nov – Café Unido bridges coffee and wine at Raw Wine New York. Award-winning Panama Gesha lots were presented and paired with natural wines to introduce specialty coffee to sommeliers and buyers. (New York City, New York, US)

Businesses for sale

Tue, 11 Nov – TreeHouse Foods to be sold in US$2.9bn deal. Buyer Investindustrial included a contingent value right linked to litigation over TreeHouse’s coffee business. The takeover may affect private-label coffee supply contracts, potential litigation proceeds, and relationships with roasters and supermarket brands. (Oak Brook, Illinois, US)

New launch

Mon, 10 Nov – UPL launches the AFarmerCan global campaign ahead of COP30. The campaign curates 20 farmer stories and proposes a four-pillar incentive framework: pay, protect, procure, promote, to embed farmers in climate policy. (London, UK)

Mon, 10 Nov – South Korea’s A Twosome Place to debut in the US in 2026. At a press briefing in Seoul, the coffee chain outlined a brand reinforcement strategy including premium hotel-style cakes, new digital cake reservations that grew 45% last season, Twosome 2.0 stores, and collaborations with global brands to target the premium dessert market. (Seoul, South Korea)

Mon, 10 Nov – LaCimbali unveils Supera modular fully automatic platform. Targeting QSR, hospitality, and convenience stores, Supera offers a preheated metal brewing group (30g capacity), Dynamic Thermodrive temperature control, up to four grinders, dual milk circuits with HQM/Turbomilk, a 13-inch HD touchscreen, and an interactive configurator. (Milan, Italy)

Mon, 10 Nov – Momentum introduces new dual-burr hand grinder. Designed for home baristas, the device offers interchangeable burr sets with flat steel and conical ceramic options. It features a four-dial grind-setting system, a cranked arm handle, and a zero-backlash mechanism for improved consistency and durability. (Portland, Oregon, US)

Mon, 10 Nov – Spain’s Santagloria opens first store in Mexico. Santagloria Coffee & Bakery was launched at Plaza La Isla Mérida via a master franchise with Marcas INDEF. The rollout targets at least 50 Mexican outlets over five years, and a second Mérida location is already under construction. (Mérida, Mexico)

Tue, 11 Nov – Lavazza and Bellissimo unveil Tablì packaging. Lavazza’s new machine and 100% coffee tab system eliminate wrappings. After its preview at Milan Design Week 2025, Tablì is debuting across markets with a bold packaging. (Turin, Italy)

Tue, 11 Nov –Victoria Arduino unveils the limited-edition Record 120 espresso machine. Designed by Carlo Viglino and hand-made in 120 units, the Record 120 honours the brand’s 120-year legacy with automotive-inspired aesthetics, refined barista ergonomics and collector-grade craftsmanship. (Belforte del Chienti, Italy)

Tue, 11 Nov – Turbo Moka pot reinvents design for energy efficiency. Designed by Matteo Frontini, the Turbo Moka features a helical spiral chamber within the classic aluminium body to accelerate extraction and reduce heat loss, claimed to lower stove time by 30%. (Milan, Italy)

Wed, 12 Nov – ROEST launches new generation of sample roasters. The Norwegian company unveiled the S200, L200 Plus, and L200 Ultra series, featuring redesigned hardware, a high-resolution touchscreen, 5 GHz WiFi, and ROEST Connect software. The L200 Ultra doubles throughput to 3 g/h with Counterflow Mode for faster, more efficient roasting, the brand claims. (Oslo, Norway)

Wed, 12 Nov – Remilk and Gad Dairies launch The New Milk. Precision-fermented milk proteins recreate the taste of cow’s milk without using animals, according to the brands. A barista formula is now being rolled out to cafés and restaurants, with retail variants set to arrive in January 2026. Products are lactose-free, lower in sugar, and fortified with calcium and vitamins. (Tel Aviv, Israel)

Thu, 13 Nov – Shipley Do-Nuts launches AI ordering assistant. Shipley’s website now features an AI assistant that creates personalised orders and catering plans from guest preferences, size and budget, building 50-person catering orders in about 10 seconds. The brand says nearly 25% of online guests use it (Houston, Texas, US)

Thu, 13 Nov – Probat introduces the GT Roll grinder for high-throughput roasting. The GT Roll series features serrated roller discharge, bandwidth-adaptive feed system, simplified cleaning access and optional IoT connectivity. The grinder is ideal for 3-12 tonne per hour production lines where consistent bean flow and reduced downtime are key. (Emmerich am Rhein, Germany)

Thu, 13 Nov – Trücup launches HalfCaff blend for caffeine-sensitive consumers. The new low-acid, half-caffeine whole bean blend targets parents and midday drinkers seeking balanced energy. Available online with a splash of tree-nut-milk recipes and subscription options. (Palm Springs, California, US)

Fri, 14 Nov – Too Good & Co launches lower-sugar coffee creamers. Made with cream and dairy milk, the range contains 40% less sugar (3g per serving versus 5g in leading brands), comes in Sweet Cream, Roasted Vanilla, and seasonal Lavender flavours. (White Plains, New York, US)

Milestone

Wed, 12 Nov – Mokas celebrates 20 years and launches its franchising programme. Founded in Salina, Kansas, in 2005, Mokas marks its 20th anniversary. The brand operates four corporate stores, has three more in development, and has signed its first franchisee as it scales a franchise model across the Midwest, featuring in-house roasting and a 50/50 food-beverage mix. (Salina, Kansas, US)

Fri, 14 Nov – Biggby named the US’ second-best coffee chain by USA Today. The poll placed Biggby Coffee second nationally, highlighting its community focus, menu variety, and guest experience. The company thanked its staff and franchisees for their role in the recognition. (East Lansing, Michigan, US)

Trade & production

Mon, 10 Nov – Cafés do Brasil reposition brand to highlight technology and innovation. Brazil’s national coffee brand now emphasises digital traceability, processing technology, and farmer-facing digital tools, aiming to boost origin transparency, sustainability credential, and global competitiveness for Brazilian specialty coffee. (São Paulo, Brazil)

Mon, 10 Nov – Indonesia eyes North Africa as a market for smallholder coffee after the EUDR takes effect. Jakarta officials stated that they are seeking buyers in North Africa for smallholder coffee, which is at risk of losing access to the EU market under the EUDR. The government’s support aims to divert shipments and secure markets while farmers adapt to new traceability requirements. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Mon, 10 Nov – Coffee helps lift Brazil’s October trade surplus despite US tariffs. The trade surplus rose 70.2% year-over-year to US$7bn as exports climbed 9.1%. Coffee was among the main contributors, supported by firm global demand and high prices that helped offset regional market shifts. (Brasília, Brazil)

Tue, 11 Nov – Colombia secures coffee export deals with China. Trade agreements with Chinese buyers will expand Colombian coffee shipments into both specialty and commercial channels, promising longer contracts, higher incomes for farmers, and greater market diversification amid rising demand from China. (Bogotá, Colombia)

Tue, 11 Nov – Indonesia and South Korea sign coffee marketing pact. Agreement funds joint promotions, trade missions, and retailer partnerships to boost Indonesian green and specialty coffee sales in South Korea, support quality upgrades and farmer training. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Tue, 11 Nov – African coffee sees positive incomes at CIIE. African coffee exporters secured distribution agreements and pilot orders from Chinese importers and café chains, won retail listings, and initiated supply chain talks to scale traceable, single origin beans. Organisers linked these results to the rising Chinese demand for specialty African coffee. (Shanghai, China)

Wed, 12 Nov – Mexico imports of Vietnamese coffee surge nearly 35-fold. In the first ten months of 2025, Mexico paid 34.7 times more for Vietnamese coffee than it did in the same period in 2024. Imports for 2024 to 2025 totalled 37,627 tonnes, worth US$195.2mn, which is 13.5 times the volume of the prior year. Growth is driven by robusta demand for instant coffee and calls for exporters to meet Mexican standards. (Mexico City, Mexico)

Wed, 12 Nov – Laos promotes coffee growing to boost rural livelihoods. Over 800 families in Huaphan province transitioned from opium to coffee farming, planting 800 hectares and exporting more than US$1.37mn, with support for processing facilities, training, and market access to strengthen both income and local sustainability efforts. (Vientiane, Laos)

Thu, 13 Nov – Vietnam seeks tariff carve-outs for coffee in US trade talks. Vietnam is negotiating a deal with the US that could exempt coffee from recent tariffs, aiming to restore shipments, ease pricing pressure for US roasters and protect exporters facing earlier duties. Talks are expected to conclude soon. (Hanoi, Vietnam)

Fri, 14 Nov – Coffee futures tumble after US tariff signals and Brazilian export drop. Coffee contracts fell 4.5% in New York and 5.5% in London when comments surfaced about potential tariff exemptions. Brazilian October exports declined 20% to 4.14 million bags, including a 12.9% drop in arabica and a 51.9% decrease in robusta, according to Cecafé. (Milan, Italy)

Fri, 14 Nov – Gakenke coffee cooperatives gain national recognition and export growth. Cooperatives in Rwanda’s Gakenke District achieved top-20 finishes in national competitions, scaled membership to hundreds and processed over 3 tonnes per hour, with nearly 40% of their organic coffee exported to Europe and the US. (Gakenke, Rwanda)

Research

Mon, 10 Nov – Green Science Alliance turns coffee waste into quantum dot pesticides. Using waste coffee beans, Dr Ryohei Mori produced quantum dot-based antimicrobial and fungicidal agents that repurpose processing residues, offering a circular crop-protection option that could cut reliance on synthetic pesticides and add value to coffee by-products. (Kawanishi, Japan)

Tue, 11 Nov – Coffee linked to lower risk of irregular heartbeat. An extensive observational study found that regular coffee consumption is associated with a reduced incidence of atrial fibrillation. The effects were observed for both caffeinated and decaffeinated brews, although researchers emphasised that the study cannot establish causation and highlighted the need for further clinical trials. (London, UK)

Wed, 12 Nov – Kirin develops fermented coffee cherry ingredient to support farm sustainability. Kirin created an ingredient from fermented coffee cherries to improve beverage aroma and body while reusing coffee by-products, aiming to cut environmental impact and increase farmers’ income. (Tokyo, Japan)

Fri, 14 Nov – Coffee consumption linked to reduced risk of multiple sclerosis in new review. A meta-analysis found that people who drank coffee regularly had a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis compared to non-drinkers. Authors caution that the research doesn’t prove cause-and-effect but suggests a protective association. (London, UK)

Events & competitions

Mon, 10 Nov – The Barista League: Pacific will take place in Sydney. Set for 20 November at Oxford Art Factory, the event features a roasters village, The Barista League Café, judges including Frankie Shi and Hugh Kelly, interactive sensory challenges, prizes, food, and music. (Sydney, Australia)

Tue, 11 Nov – Brussels Coffee Show returns for second edition. The event took place from 7 to 9 November, featuring a roaster’s village, a bean-to-bar chocolate zone, cupping sessions, workshops, Barista, Brewers Cup, and Belgian Roast Masters competition, and the Matcha Latte Art Battle. (Brussels, Belgium)

Wed, 12 Nov – Rwanda’s Ngamba and El Salvador’s Villa Mercedes win Ernesto Illy awards. At Palazzo Colonna, illycaffè awarded Best of the Best to Rwanda’s Ngamba Coffee Washing Station (Sucafina) for exceptional quality and sustainability. The consumer-voted Coffee Lovers Choice went to El Salvador’s Finca Villa Mercedes, boosting both origins’ visibility. (Rome, Italy)

Wed, 12 Nov – IEG roadshow outlines trends shaping Sigep World 2026. Madrid briefing flagged Spain’s 2.4% out-of-home growth, the push to integrate gelato into restaurant and café menus, India as guest country, Innovation Bar focus on robotics and workflow, a luxury hotel food track, and coordinated pizza supply chain projects. (Rimini, Italy)

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

Thu, 6 Nov – WJ Partners backs 7 Brew to fund 100-store southeast expansion. South Carolina private equity firm WJ Partners invested in Arkansas-based drive-thru chain 7 Brew to fund a franchise vehicle targeting 100 stores across North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, accelerating regional scale and franchise growth. (Springdale, Arkansas, US)

Thu, 6 Nov – Scientists urge UK to adopt “polluter pays” principle after woman fined for disposing of coffee dregs. The Royal Society of Chemistry highlighted the case of Burcu Yesilyurt, who was fined £150 for pouring leftover coffee down a drain, as evidence of inconsistent enforcement compared to large polluters of PFAS chemicals, and called for change. (London, UK)

Thu, 6 Nov – Café Amazon posts international sales decline. PTT OR’s Café Amazon expanded in Thailand during Q3 with 66 net new stores, but exited Vietnam and experienced lower sales in Cambodia amid border tensions. (Bangkok, Thailand)