Coffee News Recap, 3 Jul: New World Coffee Champs crowned in Brussels, arabica prices see largest gains in four years & other stories

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

Editor’s note

World of Coffee Brussels named three new champions over the weekend. Nas Jafaar from Malaysia took the 2026 World Brewers Cup title, Andy Philein from China won the 2026 World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship, and Benjamin Brassart from Belgium claimed the 2026 World Coffee Roasting Championship.

Nas’ win stands out for a specific reason: he is the first Malaysian ever to win the Brewers Cup. Asia continues to grow faster than any other coffee market in the world, and his victory will likely bring renewed attention to Southeast Asia’s innovative specialty coffee scene.

Looking more broadly, arabica prices jumped 6.71% on Tuesday, their biggest gains since 2022, as torrential rain hit Brazil’s main growing regions. Minas Gerais, the country’s largest coffee-growing area, received 1,956% of its historical average rainfall for the week, according to Somar Meteorologia, bringing harvesting to a halt and raising quality concerns.

Supply is tighter too. ICE arabica inventories fell to a 2.25-year low of 377,465 bags on Tuesday. Beyond the immediate weather disruption, traders are monitoring an emerging “Godzilla” El Niño, which could delay Brazil’s flowering rains in September and October and pressure next year’s crop.

Despite some signs of relief earlier in the year, price volatility and supply crunches look set to keep shaping the coffee industry through 2026.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 29 Jun – New World Coffee Champs crowned at WoC Brussels. Malaysia’s Nas Jafaar is the 2026 World Brewers Cup Champion. Andy Philein from China is the 2026 World Coffee in Good Spirits Champion. Belgium’s Benjamin Brassart is the 2026 World Coffee Roasting Champion. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Mon, 29 Jun – Ethiopia launches national coffee initiative to double yields and hit US$6bn export revenue. The five‑year plan aims to raise average yield from 9 to 21 quintals per hectare, close the gap with Brazil and Vietnam, and double the US$3bn earned in the last budget year. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

• Tue, 30 Jun – Dave Marson acquires San Franciscan Roaster Company; Matthew Sewell named CEO. The Nevada-based drum roaster manufacturer, founded in 1992, now has eight employees, including former staff who have returned. The company will continue existing product lines while investing in operations and growth. (Reno, Nevada, US)

• Tue, 30 Jun – Arabica prices see biggest gains since 2022 following Brazil supply concerns. Coffee prices jumped to 4.5-month highs on Tuesday, with arabica up 6.71% and robusta up 2.64%, after heavy rains in Minas Gerais delayed Brazil’s harvest and pushed ICE arabica stocks to a 2.25-year low. (New York City, New York, US)

• Wed, 1 Jul – FDA reviews petition on use of methylene chloride in coffee decaffeination. The FDA closed a reopened comment period that invited new information on a 2.5-year-old petition seeking to remove food-additive authorisations for four solvents, including methylene chloride, which is used in some commercial coffee decaffeination processes. (Washington, DC, US)

• Thu, 2 Jul – illycaffè partners with Westrock Coffee to strengthen US presence. The Italian brand signed a multi-year production agreement with Westrock to develop and package products for the US market, using a multi-site platform that will double the share of illy’s US-bound goods packaged on-site, mainly in the ready-to-drink segment. (Trieste, Italy)

• Thu, 2 Jul – Kauai Coffee signs 15‑year lease, securing largest US coffee farm. The deal with landowner Brue Baukol Capital Partners ends two years of negotiations and preserves over 140 jobs. The company plans to invest in technology, machinery, and visitor experiences. (Kauai, Hawaii, US)

• Fri, 3 Jul – Cup texture alters coffee taste perception, Japanese study finds. Ninety-two blindfolded participants drank black coffee served at 68°C in rough, sandpaper-textured sleeves and smooth, kraft-paper sleeves. Participants who touched the rough sleeve first rated the coffee in the smooth sleeve as less acidic, yet those who started with the smooth sleeve didn’t report the same shift when they moved to the rough one. (Tokyo, Japan)

• Fri, 3 Jul – World AeroPress Championship to take place on 6 December in Mexico City. The competition will be held at Frontón Bucareli in Colonia Centro, featuring tastings from 12 curated roasters and the 2026 Best of the Village, local food vendors, and live music. (Mexico City, Mexico)

• Fri, 3 Jul –Global Coffee Awards to host How to Compete in the Global Coffee Awards webinar on 8 July.The webinar will provide an overview of the competition process, including coffee selection, submission strategy, judging, scoring, and category selection. Attendees will also hear from top-performing roasters from the 2025 Global Coffee Awards, including Eric Garcia at Sur Coffee in San Diego, California, the GCA US & Canada Gold Flat White Alternative winner.

Industry news

• Mon, 29 Jun – Bean Voyage launches women-powered coalition for 500 coffee farmers in Chiapas. The programme includes training, seed funding, and direct market access. The Women-Powered Coffee Summit takes place 15‑17 October in San Cristóbal de las Casas. (San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico)

• Mon, 29 Jun – Mayorga Coffee will donate 100% of last weekend’s online sales to relief efforts for victims of the earthquake in Venezuela. The company redirected all proceeds from 26-28 June to World Central Kitchen, which provides fresh meals to displaced families and first responders on the ground. (Rockville, Maryland, US)

• Mon, 29 Jun – SCA opens nominations for 2027-2029 Board of Directors. Three seats are up for election, with terms starting 1 January 2027. Nominations close on 10 July. The final ballot will be announced on 13 October, with voting from 1 to 30 November. (Irvine, California, US)

• Tue, 30 Jun – Krispy Kreme signs Baltic franchise deal with Apollo Group. Up to 25 outlets are planned across Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania through 2030. The first shop is expected to open in Tallinn by the end of 2026. An option for Finland is also included. (Tallinn, Estonia)

• Tue, 30 Jun – Löfbergs invests in a new packaging line for whole bean coffee in Karlstad. The multi-million-SEK investment aims to meet the growing demand for whole bean coffee. CEO Anders Fredriksson said it strengthens competitiveness and cements Karlstad’s position as Sweden’s coffee capital. (Karlstad, Sweden)

• Tue, 30 Jun – The Venti signs a master franchise deal for the Philippine market. The South Korean chain partnered with JJR Brothers Food and plans to open its first store in the country by Q3 2026. The Philippines is the brand’s fifth overseas market. (Manila, Philippines)

• Tue, 30 Jun – Balearic Islands ban aluminium and plastic coffee capsules. Paper pods and other compostable or easily recyclable ones remain legal. Capsules account for about one-fifth of Spanish household coffee consumption, with daily consumption at 65.5m cups. (Palma de Mallorca, Spain)

• Tue, 30 Jun – Sprouts expands Klatch Coffee partnership with 11 new in-store cafés in the San Diego area. The first two open on 2 July in Carlsbad and Laguna Niguel. The Naked Verbena, a lemon verbena and espresso drink that won the 2023 US Barista Championship, will be served exclusively at grand openings. (San Diego, California, US)

• Wed, 1 Jul – HRNS appoints Jens Sorgenfrei and Karen Hadem as Managing Directors. Sorgenfrei and Dr Hadem take over as Michael Opitz steps down after over 20 years. Opitz helped build the coffee-focused foundation before its formal establishment in 2005. HRNS works across seven countries and has an endowment of about €150m. (Berlin, Germany)

• Wed, 1 Jul – Nestlé appoints Antonia Wanner as Chief Communications and Sustainability Officer. The move consolidates two leadership roles into a single board‑level mandate from 1 September, following Lisa Gibby’s return to the US. CEO Philipp Navratil said the integration strengthens credible stakeholder engagement and long‑term value creation. (Vevey, Switzerland)

• Wed, 1 Jul – Rancilio Group releases 2025 Sustainability Report. The voluntary report follows the European VSME standard, highlights ESG progress and UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification, covers governance and environmental metrics, and includes gender equality certification achieved in May 2026. (Parabiago, Italy)

• Thu, 2 Jul – Nestlé could lower prices as coffee costs fall. Axel Touzet, head of Nestlé’s coffee brands, said the company will take the decline into account when setting retail prices. Bean prices have generally trended lower this year after record highs in 2025. (Vevey, Switzerland)

• Thu, 2 Jul – Lagkagehuset posts record revenue but remains in the red as a potential sale looms. Revenue rose 8.2% to US$257m in 2025, with EBITDA up 17% to a record US$36.7m. However, the Danish bakery group reported a net loss of US$11.6m. Its parent company has hired advisors to review options, including a possible sale. (Copenhagen, Denmark)

• Thu, 2 Jul – Coughlan’s Bakery enters liquidation after 89 years; owner blames business rates. Sean Coughlan cited rising national insurance, business rates, and fuel costs, which added £20,000 per week, as reasons for the closure of the 31‑store chain. Comedian Romesh Ranganathan, co‑owner since 2024, said he was “gutted”. (London, UK)

• Fri, 3 Jul – PSG Café hosts La La Land residency in Paris. The Texas-born coffee brand takes over the Champs-Élysées venue from 1-12 July, serving signature and exclusive drinks including the PSG Latte. The collaboration extends to all La La Land US locations through July. (Paris, France)

• Fri, 3 Jul – Scooter’s Coffee signals long-term growth with a 31-store Southeast deal and sights set on the 1,000th location. The chain, which hit 900 stores in February and opened a new distribution centre in Indiana, ranked 13th on Yelp’s fastest-growing brands list for the third year. (Omaha, Nebraska, US)

•  Fri, 3 Jul – Starbucks reassesses 2030 climate goal as emissions rise. Its latest impact report shows a reset of sustainability targets, with the 50% absolute reduction pledge now under review. The company also reports distributing 100 million coffee trees and over US$100m in farmer loans, while delaying its deforestation-free commitment to end-2026. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Fri, 3 Jul – Colombia declares coffee its national beverage. Congress passed the law on the 98th anniversary of the FNC, supporting over 557,000 families. Colombians consume about 2.5kg per person annually, with production reaching 13.9m bags by April 2024. (Bogotá, Colombia)

Businesses for sale

• Thu, 2 Jul – Berjaya Food exits Paris Baguette Malaysia joint venture. The company sold its 50% stake to Paris Baguette Singapore for RM1. Its RM20m investment was fully impaired, with accumulated losses of RM67m. The move allows Berjaya Food to focus on core brands, including its licensed Starbucks business. (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

New launch

• Mon, 29 Jun – Juan Valdez partners with football player James Rodríguez’s Coffee for World Cup blend. The limited‑edition coffee, sourced from Huila, Cauca, and Norte de Santander, will be sold in Colombia and the US. Juan Valdez says the campaign celebrates preparation, passion, and connections around every match. (Bogotá, Colombia)

• Tue, 30 Jun – Coffee Crafters launches Duo 2‑lb fluid‑bed roaster. The all‑electric commercial machine runs on 240‑volt power and roasts up to 10lbs per hour. It marks a return to the company’s roots in home‑based side businesses. (Idaho Falls, Idaho, US)

• Wed, 1 Jul – Luckin Coffee adds self‑ordering kiosks across NYC stores and opens two new Manhattan outlets. The Chinese chain, which previously relied exclusively on its mobile app, now operates about 20 locations in the city. Grand Central Terminal and 48th Street are the latest additions. (New York City, New York, US)

• Wed, 1 Jul – Nuova Simonelli launches refreshed Appia Viva. The updated design gives the machine, originally released in 2005, a more dynamic and refined appearance. In the coming months, Nuova Simonelli will showcase the revamped machine at key industry events in the UK, Belgium, France, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and Taiwan. (Belforte del Chienti, Italy)

• Thu, 2 Jul – Lavazza enters the refrigerated RTD category with a partnership with Müller. The four dairy-based drinks, inspired by Italian recipes, are already available in Germany, Italy, and the UK. The launch will be supported at Wimbledon, where the range will be available. (Turin, Italy)

• Thu, 2 Jul – Muvna launches Mammoth modular grinder with swappable 98mm flat and 83mm conical burrs. The new model allows module swaps in under 10 seconds without tools. Features include stepless RPM adjustment, an LED, plasma static reduction, and a magnetic hopper. (Shanghai, China)

• Fri, 3 Jul – TUNI launches the E2 Gen3 espresso machine. The compact semi‑automatic, designed for home baristas, features a 58mm brew system, a series of dual-boilers for thermal stability, a 20‑bar Italian ULKA pump with a pressure gauge, and a dedicated cold-extraction mode. (Rancho Cucamonga, California, US)

• Fri, 3 Jul – Bamboo Forever launches wooden coffee stirrer. The company behind the Wooden Coffee Stirrer claims it offers a plastic‑free alternative to combat pollution. Made with a starch‑based adhesive and a polylactic acid binder, the product withstands temperatures up to 700°C. (Zhuanghang Town, Shanghai, China)

Milestone

• Mon, 29 Jun – Coffee By Design’s Chilled Cold Brew named top summer product by Food & Beverage Magazine. The canned Bella Oat Latte and Bella Crema Cold Brew use the brand’s popular Espresso Bella Crema blend. Owner Mary Allen Lindemann said the grab‑and‑go format has been a hit. (Portland, Maine, US)

• Mon, 29 Jun – Miko named Fairtrade Frontrunner for fourth year. The Belgian coffee group generated nearly €770,000 in Fairtrade premiums from overseas sales in 2025. Its Puro brand, sold in over 30 countries, has helped protect almost 1,000 km² of natural habitats via the World Land Trust. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Tue, 30 Jun – CAYE raises the largest single funding round in the commercial automatic coffee machine industry. The round that raised US$55m in Series B was led by Meituan Longzhu, with participation from Hillhouse Ventures and others. Founded in 2022, the Suzhou-based company has filed over 300 patents and plans to open a new 38,000 m² smart factory in 2028. (Suzhou, China)

• Wed, 1 Jul – Lavazza and De’Longhi among KPMG’s “Italy’s great champions of tomorrow”. The analysis highlights both companies as approaching the €4bn revenue threshold, with De’Longhi at €3.8bn and Lavazza exceeding €3.3bn. Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group also reached €1.315bn in 2025. (Milan, Italy)

• Thu, 2 Jul – Nothing Before Coffee revenue jumps 53% to US$10.8m. The Jaipur-based chain, which targets Gen Z in Tier II and III cities with its signature ‘Shrappe’ drinks, already operates 109 stores across 45 cities and is aiming for 170 outlets overall. (Jaipur, India)

Trade & production

• Wed, 1 Jul –Kavre emerges as Nepal’s coffee-growing hub. Farmers are shifting from maize and millet to coffee, driven by provincial incentives. Mahabharat municipality’s annual coffee output is valued at about US$900,000, with production set to rise from 70 to 80 tonnes. Farm-gate parchment sells for around US$8.27 per kg, with households earning US$1,130-1,500 per year. (Kathmandu, Nepal)

• Thu, 2 Jul – ‘Godzilla El Niño’ poses a 63% chance of a strong event, influencing coffee prices. Arabica futures rebounded 1.7% on 29 June. A cold front off Brazil’s southeast coast is expected to bring rain, raising labour costs and causing limited crop losses in some regions. (London, UK)

• Fri, 3 Jul – Coffee exports from Espírito Santo reached 2.03 million bags in May. Shipments increased 97% in May 2026 compared to the same period last year, with a 122% increase in robusta and a 91% increase in arabica. The Vitória Coffee Summit 2026 will be held on 20 & 21 August, focusing on themes including consumer trends, sustainability, climate challenges, geopolitics, tariffs, and the growing role of robusta/conilon in meeting global demand. (Espírito Santo, Brazil)

Research

• Thu, 2 Jul – WCR members cup new arabica variety candidates for future release. The 15-company group, with 18 cuppers and 215 combined years of experience, evaluated 65 samples from the Innovea network. The data will be combined with yield and disease resistance data to identify new varieties for release. (San Salvador, El Salvador)

• Thu, 2 Jul – Researchers use Flavoromics and fractionation to decode coffee flavour. The SCA’s Coffee Decoded series highlights gas chromatography‑olfactometry for identifying compounds and Flavoromics for detecting patterns in food chemistry and flavour. (Irvine, California, US)

Events & competitions

• Tue, 30 Jun – GENLIN webinar to focus on women in coffee and cocoa supply chains. The online event on 14 July at 10 AM ET will explore how gender analysis translates into programme design, training, and community engagement. The 60-minute session is free for practitioners. (Online)

• Wed, 1 Jul – MIFB 2026 returns for the 25th edition from 15-17 July. The trade fair expects over 13,000 visitors and 520 exhibitors. Malaysia Café Expo will host the National Barista, Latte Art, Brewers Cup, and Cup Tasters Championships. (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

• Thu, 2 Jul – Food & Drinks Malaysia by SIAL 2026 takes place 21‑23 July. The fourth edition expects 500 exhibitors and 18,000 attendees. It will host the ASEAN Barista Team Championship 2026, co‑located with Chocolate Show 2026. (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

• Thu, 2 Jul – The fourth World Coffee Innovation Summit (WCIS) returns to London on 21 & 22 October 2026 at QEII Centre & UK House of Lords. Under the theme “Moving the Needle: Securing Scalable Coffee & Cocoa Resilience,” the summit will convene producers, traders, brands, financial institutions, policymakers, and solution providers to discuss the opportunities and challenges shaping global coffee and cocoa supply chains. (London, UK)

• Fri, 3 Jul – The Barista League’s new‑era format lands in Atlanta for the North American edition. The 2026 competition debuts a creativity‑first model across concept, service and product pillars. The 3 September event will be live‑streamed globally, with roasters from across the continent taking part. (Atlanta, Georgia, US)

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

• Wed, 24 Jun – SAI Platform launches the Regenerating Together Programme with support from Nestlé and LDC. The voluntary framework helps food businesses scale regenerative agriculture across crops, beef and dairy. It follows four years of work across 23 production systems and 25 countries. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Wed, 24 Jun – ECF and UNIDO sign joint declaration on sustainable African coffee value chains. The agreement establishes a Consultative Group for knowledge exchange among traders, roasters and exporters. It also supports smallholder farmers in building climate resilience, improving traceability and attracting investment. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Thu, 25 Jun – Kei Coffee House launches new seasonal drinks inspired by global flavours. The Glasgow roaster draws on Southeast Asia and South America for a menu featuring the Bali Latte, Kyoto Cold Brew and Yuzu Lemonade. All drinks are made with its new seasonal espresso blend. (Glasgow, UK)

• Thu, 25 Jun – Gurobi launches Gurobean coffee shop optimisation game. The free educational game teaches nonlinearity and decision-making under uncertainty. Players manage pricing, staffing and inventory. It follows the Burrito Optimisation Game, which has been played over 85,000 times. (Beaverton, Oregon, US)

Photo credits: World Coffee Championships, Specialty Coffee Association, Beantropy, Mavick Media, Shane Gallagher

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