Welcome to our recurring online specialty-coffee industry news roundup.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Featured image by Joshua Earle
Roastar debuted the Roastar Design Lab, where customers can customize gusset bags, flat bottom bags, or tin cans at low minimums. Image courtesy of Roastar.Roastar Introduces Updated Design Lab Interface for Custom Packaging Solutions
Roastar, a prominent provider of custom flexible packaging, has launched its latest online service, Roastar Design Lab. Developed in response to customer suggestions and driven by Roastar’s dedication to ongoing innovation, this interface offers a simplified, user-friendly experience that allows for faster, easier, and more intuitive packaging design than ever before. Coffee roasters can use pre-designed patterns, upload their personal designs, or take advantage of an innovative AI tool to customize their packaging products.
Simonelli Group Acquires Stake in Swedish Equipment Manufacturer 3TEMP
Simonelli Group, producer of Nuova Simonelli and Victoria Arduino espresso machines and grinders, announced the acquisition of an undisclosed stake in 3TEMP, a Sweden-based company known for filter-coffee machines. The investment in 3TEMP allows Simonelli Group to access new customers and deepen its presence in key international markets.
From left, Jesus Iñiquez, Huxley Owens, and Peace Sakulclanuwat placed second, first, and third, respectively, at the U.S. Brewers Cup qualifying competition in Kansas City, Mo. Photo courtesy of Pacific Foods Barista Series.More Competitors Advance to the U.S. Coffee Championships After Qualifying Event in Kansas City, Mo.
Hosted by Messenger Coffee and The Roasterie in Kansas City, Mo., three U.S. Coffee Championships (USCC) qualifying competitions took place December 6–8. Here are the top six in each competition who will move on to the national championships.
Brewers Cup
First: Huxley Owens
Second: Jesus Iñiquez
Third: Peace Sakulclanuwat
Fourth: Elika Liftee
Fifth: Kyle Ramage
Sixth: Josh Clements
Coffee in Good Spirits
First: Richelle Taylor
Second: Natti Solowoniuk
Third: Will Johnson
Fourth: Keith Honda
Fifth: Jerry Truong
Sixth: John Chai Ly
Barista
First: Jason Yeo
Second: Dakota Graff
Third: Miranda Huncovsky
Fourth: Rafael Levy
Fifth: Cory Sponsler
Sixth: Jak Michael Ryan
Seventh: Circle Chan
Eighth: Olivia Morris
Ninth: Gray Kauffman
10th: Christian Ortega
11th: Alex Sciarrotta
12th: Christian Gutierrez
Coffee Futures Drop Following a Surge to Decades-High Prices
On December 3, robusta coffee futures saw a notable decline after reaching their highest prices in decades during the last week of November, according to a trading report from XM Group. This decrease was linked to a rise in selling activity in Vietnam, the leading global producer of robusta coffee, as traders sought to unload their stockpiles. Consequently, robusta coffee futures closed at US$4,604 per ton, reflecting a $202 drop (4.2%) after a 10.6% decline on Monday, December 2.
Fiera Milano will debut HOST Arabia in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in 2026. Photo courtesy of Fiera Milano.HOST Milan to Launch HOST Arabia in Riyadh in 2026
The most prominent coffee and hospitality show in the world, HOST Milano, announced it will debut HOST Arabia in Riyadh in 2026. The Fiera Milano group, which produces HOST, signed an agreement with Semark Group, Saudi Arabia’s leading event organizer in the food service sector, to bring the event to the Middle East for the first time.
Roast Summit to Take Place in Melbourne, Australia, in March
The popular roasting conference, Roast Summit, will take place outside of the United States for the first time March 18–19, 2025, hosted by Anne Cooper of Equilibrium Master Roasters. Operated by Roast Magazine, Roast Summit offers discussions and workshops.
NKG and GrainPro Introduce Recycling Initiative for European Roasters
Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG), a green coffee service group, has announced an extension of its partnership with GrainPro to launch a recycling initiative aimed at coffee roasters in Europe. This program allows European roasters to recycle their used GrainPro Hermetic Bags and other coffee liners by either personally delivering them to the NKG Kala Hamburg warehouse or shipping them. NKG’s European import and trading companies will support this initiative.
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