Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the week.
Editor’s note
Green coffee thefts at origin are an unfortunate reality, especially in prominent producing countries like Brazil and Vietnam, but a rare occurrence in majority-consuming markets. As the C price hovers around US $4/lb near record levels, however, reports of organised gangs stealing truckloads of green coffee in the US are rising.
A freight broker recently told Reuters that dozens of thefts had been reported over the last 12 months. Gangs posing as transportation companies are allegedly vying for small contracts from importers by offering better prices or immediate availability for shipment pick-up.
The reports state that these gangs then sell stolen coffee to smaller roasters, many of which are grappling with tight margins and strained cash flow. The problem has become so notable that it was addressed at the recent National Coffee Association convention, which took place in Houston, Texas, from 6 to 8 March.
While coffee prices remain near historic highs, reports of these alleged crimes could well increase, including in majority-consuming markets outside of the US, resulting in unprecedented challenges for roasters and traders who are already under immense financial pressure.
With US President Trump’s trade tariffs steadily coming into effect, including on major producing countries like Mexico, the problem could only get worse. Trump’s decisions to impose taxes on imported goods are becoming increasingly erratic and unpredictable. As the president’s stance on deporting undocumented migrants remains firm, he may choose to target Latin American-producing countries with punitive tariffs more harshly, as seen with Colombia in late January 2025.
Top stories of the week
- Tue, 11 Mar – Brazil’s per capita coffee consumption declines amid high prices. Consumption levels fell 2.22% last year despite a 1% rise in total demand, driven by population growth. Brazilians consumed an average of 5.01kg of roast & ground coffee from Nov 2023 to Oct 2024, down from 5.12kg, with high prices posing further risks to consumption. (São Paulo, Brazil)
- Fri, 14 Mar – Breville to host Melbourne Coffee Festival at MICE2025. The new event feature will offer coffee enthusiasts and professionals opportunities to connect with and learn from industry experts through the Beanz Stage Masterclasses. Breville, along with Lelit and Barazta, will also host demos at their respective booths, where attendees will have the chance to win prizes. The Melbourne Coffee Festival, taking place from 20 to 22 March, will also include daily Latte Art Smackdowns. (Melbourne, Australia)
Industry news
- Mon, 10 Mar – Juan Valdez signs joint venture to accelerate growth in Spain. The partnership with Grupo Trinity will invest €40 million to open 140 new stores by 2032, including both company-operated and franchised outlets, and expand packaging distribution to Horeca businesses, building on Juan Valdez’s existing presence in Madrid. (Bogotá, Colombia)
- Wed, 12 Mar – Yum China appoints new general manager for Lavazza joint venture. Yum China named Maggie Chen the director general of its Lavazza joint venture, replacing Adrian Ding. Lavazza aims to expand in China but has opened only 112 stores since 2020, far from its 1,000-store goal. The partnership will now target 1,000 outlets by 2028 while boosting retail and wholesale sales. (Shanghai, China)
- Thu, 13 Mar – North American coffee industry faces uncertainty amid trade war. Roasters, traders, and coffee shops are assessing the impact of President Trump’s escalating trade war on their operations, with tariffs on Mexico and potentially other producing countries causing the most concern. (New York City, New York, US)
- Fri, 14 Mar – CEE appoints Jeff Juneau as managing director of Americas. Juneau, former Starbucks VP, will lead CEE expansion in the Americas. With 25 years in food and beverage supply chains, Juneau will drive strategic growth and accelerate fossil-free industrial solutions, supporting CEE’s goal of net-zero coffee production. (Hamme, Belgium)
New launch
- Mon, 10 Mar – Grind will open its first store outside London in Manchester. Grind, established in 2011 with 11 London outlets, is set to join a £400 million redevelopment led by Gary Neville in Manchester city centre. The new venue will boost expansion and strengthen the brand’s presence in the broader UK market. (London, UK)
- Tue, 11 Mar – Panther Coffee debuts specialty instant coffee. The roaster’s new launch uses beans from Fazenda Santa Lucia in Brazil. A blind-tasting event will take place on 29 March at the Miami Wynwood district café. (Miami, Florida, US)
- Wed, 12 Mar – Nespresso opens first boutique in India and plans B2B expansion. The first store at Citywalk Mall in New Delhi is part of the company’s plans to expand its presence across the country, partnering with Thakral Innovations for B2B sales. Nespresso will also increase its volumes of coffee sourced from India, with one in five pods already containing Indian coffee. (New Delhi, India)
Milestone
- Thu, 13 Mar – Man Met Bril Koffie opens the world’s first coffee hotel in Rotterdam. Located at Linker Rottekade 12B, the venue features a Kees van der Westen Frank espresso machine, a roastery, training and event areas, a podcast studio, and 15 guest rooms with coffee service, serving as hub for coffee exchange and community. (Rotterdam, the Netherlands)
- Fri, 14 Mar – ROR Coffee Solutions secures US $8.2 million for expansion. The Dubai company raised funds to expand in the Middle East and Europe, starting with Saudi Arabia, with new operational hubs, barista training, and infrastructure upgrades while introducing corporate coffee solutions and event-based experiences to strengthen its market presence. (Dubai, UAE)
Trade & production
- Mon, 10 Mar – Global coffee trade slows amid extreme price pressures. At the NCA Convention, traders discussed how the 70% surge in arabica futures is resulting in cautious buying practices. Low rainfall has left stocks near record lows while retailers resist price hikes, fueling concerns of industry consolidation. (Houston, Texas, US)
- Tue, 11 Mar – Amazonian smallholders boost robusta yields with new varieties. Adoption of Embrapa-recommended technologies and clonal robusta varieties has increased productivity in Acre, Rondônia, Amazonas, and Roraima, with yields rising from 20-30 to 120 bags per hectare. These high-yield, early-maturing plants improve harvesting efficiency and rural incomes. (Porto Velho, Brazil)
- Thu, 13 Mar – Coffee futures decline as supply outlook improves. Coffee futures fell as Marex projected a 1.2 million 60kg bag surplus in 2025/26, with global production rising to 172 million bags, driven by Vietnam’s recovery. Brazilian output is expected to drop by 1.5 million bags. (New York City, New York, US)
Research
Events & competitions
- Wed, 12 Mar – IEG announces new dates for SIGEP World 2026. The event will take place at Rimini Expo Centre, Italy, from 16 to 20 January 2026, rescheduled to avoid clashes with other international shows and maximise opportunities for exhibitors across gelato, pastry, bakery, coffee and pizza sectors. (Rimini, Italy)
- Fri, 14 Mar – The Barista League to host first event of 2025 season in Prague on 29 March. The competition will be held at the historical Gabriel Loci venue. The all-new 2025 competition format will bring together top baristas, leading companies, renowned roasters, and special guests from across six continents. Guest judges include Sonja Björk Grant, Vladyslav Demonenko, Daniele Ricci, and Daniel Gerlach. (Prague, Czech Republic)
Here are a few coffee news stories from previous weeks that you might find interesting. Take a look:
- Sat, 8 Mar – Sri Lanka shifts towards coffee as the tea industry struggles. Facing declining tea yields, labour shortages, and falling prices, Sri Lankan plantations are expanding into coffee cultivation, which requires fewer workers and offers new market opportunities. Companies like Hayleys Plantations plan to convert 1,000 hectares by 2027, balancing tradition with economic shifts. (Colombo, Sri Lanka)
Photo credits: African Fine Coffees Association
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