Coffee News Recap, 5 Dec: Global Coffee Awards World Championship to take place at PRF El Salvador, Nestlé reportedly considering sale of Blue Bottle & other stories

2025.12.08

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

Editor’s note

The Global Coffee Awards World Championship will begin on 24 March 2026, hosted at PRF El Salvador.

The US & Canada, Europe, and Origin (coffee-producing countries) editions were held throughout September and October, where the region’s best roasters – and the producers behind the winning coffees – were announced.

All Gold, Silver, and Bronze overall category winners of the US & Canada, Origin, and Europe events have been invited to participate in the World Championship, where they will compete for international recognition and the title of the world’s best roaster.

This will culminate in one of the most dynamic competitions in the coffee industry, levelling the playing field and honouring roasting excellence.

Looking more broadly in the coffee industry, Nestlé is exploring the potential sale of Blue Bottle Coffee, according to a recent Reuters report. The news comes shortly after unionised Blue Bottle staff at stores in Boston and California staged a multi-day strike.

The Swiss conglomerate acquired Blue Bottle for some US$700 million in 2017 – one of several deals that reshaped the third wave coffee sector in the 2010s. JAB Holdings purchased majority stakes in Stumptown and Intelligentsia during the same decade when specialty coffee consumption experienced a rapid increase. More recently, in July 2023, Keurig Dr Pepper (which is currently acquiring JDE Peet’s) purchased a minority stake in La Colombe for US$300 million.

The potential Blue Bottle divestment is part of a broader portfolio review under the new Nestlé CEO, Philipp Navratil, who reportedly is considering ways to reduce the number of physical retail locations. Blue Bottle operates roughly 100 locations in the US and Asia.

Ultimately, this reflects broader trends in the coffee industry, as major players reassess their portfolios in response to difficult market conditions and changing consumer preferences. Similarly, Coca-Cola is considering selling Costa Coffee amid profitability struggles.

Industry news

Mon, 1 Dec – Starbucks workers’ union expanded strike on Black Friday. Union expanded the indefinite strike from 65 stores to more than 120. Starbucks said 99% of US locations remained open and 55 were closed. Unionised workers demand higher pay, improved staffing, and action on unfair labour practice charges, but talks remain stalled. (Seattle, Washington, US)

Mon, 1 Dec – South Korea’s GS25 signs major supply deal with Franke. The Swiss manufacturer will deliver thousands of self-serve coffee machines to GS25 convenience stores by the end of 2026, supporting the chain’s nationwide rollout of self-serve coffee and expanding Franke’s presence in the country. (Seoul, South Korea)

Tue, 2 Dec – Nespresso donates compost to aid wildfire recovery in Los Angeles. Grounds to Grow LA redirected recycled coffee grounds from Nespresso capsules into finished compost. City Plants LA will redistribute the material to remediate fire-damaged soil, support tree plantings and community adoptions, equating to about 45.4 tonnes of compost. (Los Angeles, California, US)

Tue, 2 Dec – Gen Z drives protein-packed coffee into billion-dollar market. Gen Z’s appetite for functional, high-protein coffee has spurred a “proffee” boom, prompting chains and startups to add protein cold foams, RTD shakes, and blended milks. Social media and fitness trends accelerated rapid retail expansion. (New York City, New York, US)

Tue, 2 Dec – Edward Tirtanata rises as Indonesia’s leading coffee CEO. Kopi Kenangan’s co-founder scaled the chain from a single kiosk to a tech-driven giant, driving rapid store growth across Southeast Asia and pushing an international expansion that reshaped Indonesia’s coffee retail landscape. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Tue, 2 Dec – Philippines aims to cut coffee imports by 81% under new bill. Proposed Panfilo M. Lacson bill establishes a national coffee industry development programme to rebuild local cultivation and reduce reliance on imports, noting that the country currently sources 81% of its coffee from other countries. (Manila, Philippines)

Tue, 2 Dec – Chinese RTD coffee market soars. China’s RTD coffee market was valued at US$4.18 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow to US$6.06 billion by 2030, driven by urbanisation, convenience demand, and rising coffee consumption among younger consumers. (Beijing, China)

Wed, 3 Dec – Starbucks to pay US$38.9mn to settle New York scheduling probe. The agreement, closing a three-year probe, requires US$35.5mn to be paid to more than 15,000 workers and US$3.4mn in penalties and costs for alleged failures to provide predictable schedules. Affected workers will receive US$50 for each week worked between 4 July 2021 and 7 July 2024. (New York City, New York, US)

Thu, 4 Dec – Magnolia Bakery seeks to double its international footprint by 2030. Plans include franchising, partnerships and stepped-up operations to accelerate store openings and distribution, citing rising global demand for its cupcakes and bakery concept while strengthening supply chains. (New York City, New York, US)

Thu, 4 Dec – Rancilio names new CEO for its coffee division. Massimo Giussani was appointed CEO of Ali Group’s coffee division, succeeding Massimiliano Bizzarri, who became Rancilio Group CEO in January 2024. The move reflects Ali Group’s leadership reshuffle. (Parabiago, Italy)

Thu, 4 Dec – South Korea’s coffee shop boom shows cracks amid oversupply. After years of rapid growth, the number of cafés in South Korea fell in early 2025, marking the first decline since 2018 as rising coffee costs, weakened consumer demand, and fierce competition prompted closures and forced shops to adjust their business models. (Seoul, South Korea)

Fri, 5 Dec – US tariffs over Swiss goods may persist, affecting coffee products. A Swiss official warned tariffs from the US could remain in place, pressuring exporters and manufacturers. Companies exporting capsules and equipment may face higher costs, margin pressure, and logistical disruption. (Bern, Switzerland)

Fri, 5 Dec – Paris Brothers appoints new president amid record growth. The Kansas City manufacturer promoted Scott Presko to president and chief operating officer to steer its specialty coffee and food operations. This leadership change comes as the family-owned business reports significant expansion across its warehousing and distribution services. (Kansas City, Missouri, US)

Fri, 5 Dec – Former Nestlé CEO Brabeck Letmathe to relinquish chairman emeritus title. Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, who served as CEO from 1997 to 2008 and chairman until 2017, will step down from his honorary position on 1 January 2026. He will continue to serve as a board member of the Nestlé Foundation. (Vevey, Switzerland)

Fri, 5 Dec – GoTo Foods names Omar Gajial as its new CEO. He will replace Jim Holthouser, who is stepping down. Gajial was previously a leader at Albertsons, bringing experience from the retail and food service industries to the company. (Atlanta, Georgia, US)

Fri, 5 Dec – Indian coffee chain Nothing Before Coffee reports 70% revenue growth. The QSR chain is accelerating its nationwide expansion after reporting a 52% year-on-year jump in its outlet count. This push includes deepening its footprint across Gujarat and entering Zirakpur, Punjab, targeting Tier-I through Tier-III markets. (Jaipur, India)

Businesses for sale

Mon, 1 Dec – Brazil’s largest conilon cooperative acquires black pepper cooperative. Cooabriel officially incorporated Coopbac, a leading black pepper-producing cooperative, to expand exports, share infrastructure, and broaden its business scope beyond coffee. (São Gabriel da Palha, Brazil)

Holistic Roasters Swiss Water decaf biodynamic coffee.

New launch

Mon, 1 Dec – Morocco launches pan-African coffee hub at Tanger Med. The new hub will export African green coffee directly from Morocco to Europe, the US, and Asia, aiming to cut intermediary costs, improve traceability, and boost value retained in Africa. (Tangier, Morocco)

Tue, 2 Dec – La Marzocco introduces the Jay grinder with blind burr. The company says flat blind 68mm burrs cut retention to under 2g, while a magnetic burr holder and removable hopper allow fast cleaning. Grind-by-weight works via the company app and connected scale. (Florence, Italy)

Wed, 3 Dec – Hibrew launches G64 grinder on Kickstarter. The 64mm flat burrs, a variable-speed motor, stepless grind, and dual anti-static features aim for low retention and fast throughput. A Plus model adds a brushless motor and titanium-coated burrs. (Foshan, China)

Thu, 4 Dec – PROBAT expands Southeast Asia support with new Singapore service hub. The German processing equipment leader aims to boost regional growth by offering localised technical support, maintenance, and the sale of spare parts for the coffee and food industries. (Singapore)

Fri, 5 Dec – New picture book The Little Bean offers kids a fresh look at shade-grown coffee. The book aims to educate young readers on the agricultural process behind the industry, from farm to the final cup. Author Wendra Lynne has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the book. (Clayton, North Carolina, US)

Fri, 5 Dec – International Delight launches limited-edition creamers with Paris Hilton. Danone’s brand has teamed up with the socialite to launch a new line of Raspberry Champagne and Sweet & Spicy creamers, along with a Cotton Candy Cold Foam, aiming to enhance home coffee experiences with bold flavours. (Broomfield, Colorado, US)

Fri, 5 Dec – Diedrich unveils upgraded 280kg industrial roaster. The Idaho equipment maker introduced the four-bag industrial roaster for larger commercial operations. It now features new air-heating units and a pressure-balanced burner box, improving thermal efficiency and control over convective and conductive heat transfer. (Boise, Idaho, US)

Fri, 5 Dec – Mazzer releases technical details of new ZZ burr range. The burrs are made from special steel and undergo a custom plasma treatment for enhanced hardness and durability. New geometries reduce compression. (Venice, Italy)

Fri, 5 Dec – Holistic Roasters and Swiss Water partner to launch world-first Biodynamic Decaf coffee. The green coffee used is regeneratively grown in Honduras by the Demeter-certified producers of the 18 Conejo Farming Collective. Holistic Roasters and Swiss Water’s partnership ensures that every certified Biodynamic and Organic coffee is grown using regenerative, toxin-free practices. (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)

Milestone

Mon, 1 Dec – BeanStar secures Series B investment to fund rapid expansion. The company completed a Series B worth tens of millions of yuan. It will target 1,000 stores by the end of 2026 while prioritising beverage quality over discounting and rolling signature items such as a Corn Milk Latte. (Suzhou, China)

Wed, 3 Dec – Scooter’s Coffee among QSR’s best brands to work for. The recognition highlights benefits, career development, flexible scheduling, and free staff drinks. Scooter’s network exceeds 890 locations, mostly franchised, with corporate support and distribution centres in Omaha. (Omaha, Nebraska, US)

Thu, 4 Dec – Royal Cup secures partnership with Braemont Capital for growth. The private investment firm’s strategic partnership will enable the coffee and tea provider to expand its service lines and accelerate market penetration across the office and foodservice channels. (Birmingham, Alabama, US)

Fri, 5 Dec – Paris Baguette opens 700th global outlet at Westfield London. The new location in Shepherd’s Bush is the bakery chain’s fourth store in the UK and its second franchise in the country. This milestone comes just over a year after the company reached 600 stores worldwide. (London, UK)

Fri, 5 Dec– Romanian chain 5 To Go forms partnership with national gas station network RO concept OSCAR. This marks the brand’s first large-scale expansion into high-traffic, complementary sales channels. The first two stations are already operational, with more set to follow as part of a pilot phase. (Bucharest, Romania)

Trade & production

Tue, 2 Dec – Workers shortage thwarts coffee harvest in Indian region despite high prices. Producers in Wayanad are unable to harvest ripe coffee cherries due to a severe labour shortage, risking significant losses even though coffee prices remain strong. (Wayanad, India)

Wed, 3 Dec – Starbucks and Indonesian Agriculture Ministry expand sustainable coffee efforts. The partnership will scale sustainable farming practices, provide training and support to growers, improve traceability, and drive the use of renewable energy at farm and processing levels in Indonesia. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Thu, 4 Dec – Brazil’s Lula seeks further tariff rollbacks for Brazilian exports. After a phone call with Trump, Lula welcomed the recent removal of some US duties on Brazilian food items, including coffee. He expects additional tariff cuts on items such as soluble coffee, which could ease export barriers and help stabilise prices for growers. (Brasília, Brazil)

Fri, 5 Dec – Lacaph and Bold84 move Vietnamese coffee from commodity to specialty. The partnership funds improved processing, farmer training, and traceability to move Vietnamese beans up the value chain, target specialty export markets, raise grower incomes, and reduce dependence on bulk commodity sales. (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

Fri, 5 Dec – Vietnam’s coffee export value surges 62.3% due to processed products. The shift towards processed coffee is driving growth, with the value-added sector generating US$1.46bn by mid-November, a 58% rise. Total exports reached nearly US$1.35mn tonnes, increasing 14.6% in volume, and the average export price rose 41.6%. (Hanoi, Vietnam)

Research

Fri, 5 Dec – Finlays highlights six key trends shaping the coffee market in its 2026 Global Beverage Trend Report. The report finds that functional ingredients and limited-time offerings are becoming more popular. Digital convenience, such as mix-and-match menus, ready-to-drink options, and seamless service, is reshaping beverage experiences. Data-driven experiences and sustainability continue to drive consumer preferences. (London, UK)

Events & competitions

Mon, 1 Dec – Roast CCx hosts Indo-French culinary exchange. The French Consul-General joined Roast CCx, chefs, and partners in Hyderabad for an Indo-French culinary exchange featuring specialty coffee pairings, live demonstrations, and collaboration plans to boost hospitality ties and gastronomic trade. (Hyderabad, India)

Mon, 1 Dec – South-South event highlights occupational safety in coffee chain. Delegates from six countries exchanged practical measures to improve occupational safety and health across the coffee supply chain, emphasising social dialogue, worker protections, and safer farm and processing practices. (Brasília, Brazil)

Tue, 2 Dec – HostMilano forges US-Gulf alliances. Fiera Milano signed partnerships with NAFEM and Semark to link Host and the NAFEM Show, stage a joint event in Orlando (scheduled for 11 to 13 Feb 2027) and launch Host Arabia to capture Gulf hotel and tourism growth, reinforcing its 2024-27 internationalisation plan. (Orlando, Florida, US)

Tue, 2 Dec – Brazil’s Expocacer to host first coffee auction based on blockchain. The Coffee Chain Auction will take place on 11 & 12 December 2025, featuring specialty lots from Expocacer’s Essências programme. The event will use a blockchain-based platform to auction coffee beans directly from producers, aiming to improve transparency and fair pricing in supply chains. (Patrocínio, Brazil)

Wed, 3 Dec – Applications open for the Barista League 2026. Next year’s season features six events across six continents, a team-of-two format with no entry fees, and judging now prioritises concept, service, and product. Regional application deadlines run through 2026. (Gothenburg, Sweden)

Wed, 3 Dec – MICE2026 promises bigger opportunities for business and consumers. The Melbourne expo will expand exhibition space, add roasters, workshops, and networking to connect suppliers and buyers, aiming to drive trade and broader consumer engagement across coffee supply chains. (Melbourne, Australia)

Wed, 3 Dec – Trieste Coffee Experts 2025 to take place on 6 & 7 December. The annual event will bring together roasters, baristas, exporters and buyers for trade exhibits, tastings and networking, aiming to showcase new trends and expand global coffee connections. (Trieste, Italy)

Thu, 4 Dec – UK Coffee Leader Summit returns in March 2026. The event will convene senior executives, roasters, and policymakers for sessions on sustainability, retail strategy, talent, and product innovation, as well as networking and supplier showcases to shape the UK market. (London, UK)

Fri, 5 Dec – Cimbali Group presents marine coffee solutions at Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Europe. The company showcased compact espresso machines and integrated wastewater systems designed for ship kitchens, aiming to offer premium onboard coffee experiences with minimal footprint and efficient maintenance for cruise operators. (Hamburg, Germany)

Fri, 5 Dec – Origin Coffee Roasters secures double win at major coffee awards. The UK roaster was recognised as the Most Sustainable Brand at the European Coffee & Hospitality Awards and crowned the overall winner at the Global Coffee Awards Europe, making it the best roaster in the region. (Cornwall, UK)

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

Thu, 27 Nov – Study maps Brazil’s specialty coffee production and trade. Analysis of 175 BSCA-associated farms finds that specialty coffee accounts for a small share of national output, concentrated in select regions. Diverse varieties, certifications, and processing methods were observed. Challenges include climate change, market access, and price volatility, with traceability and value addition as growth opportunities. (São Paulo, Brazil)

Photo credits: Producer & Roaster Forum, Pete Currie for Holistic Roasters