Coffee News Recap, 7 March:  Arabica futures rebound over US $4.10/lb, Taiwanese café sells Gesha for US $635 per cup & other stories

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

Editor’s note

As predicted, the coffee market’s downward trajectory was short-lived. Two weeks after hitting US $4.41/lb, the highest number in the history of the C market, arabica futures dipped below $3.80. Towards the end of February, they climbed again, now sitting above $4.10/lb.

Below-average rainfall is adding pressure to Brazil’s shrinking inventories, driving prices up. Whether we will see a new record high in the next few weeks remains uncertain; however, US President Trump’s decision to impose, and then quickly suspend, 25% tariffs on Mexico will exacerbate price volatility. The country is the tenth-largest producer in the world and exports most of its coffee to the US. Ultimately, if the tariffs do come into effect on 2 April as indicated, it’s American consumers who will feel the strain on their pockets, while Mexican producers and exporters may look to sell to other markets.

The majority of specialty coffee roasters will pivot their sourcing strategies to incorporate more blends and cost-effective single origins, but some will continue to build their branding around exceptional, auction-winning coffees.

Taiwan’s Simple Kaffa, founded by 2016 World Barista Champion Berg Wu, is selling single cups of Elida Estate Gesha for $635. Wu says he’s selling an average of one cup per week, indicating steady demand for such staggeringly expensive coffee.

While arabica futures rise, the gap between lower-end 80-point coffees and exclusive lots inevitably widens, showcasing the diversity of the market.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 3 Mar – Taiwan’s Simple Kaffa sells cups of Elida Estate Gesha for US $635. Founded by 2016 World Barista Champion Berg Wu, he told Food and Wine that the coffee shop sold two to four cups of the coffee, a BoP-winning Gesha, per week when first launched in October 2024. Today, he said demand has dropped to one cup per week, still indicating steady demand. (Taipei, Taiwan)

• Mon, 3 Mar – Dalla Corte becomes the official UK Barista Championship sponsor. The three-year sponsorship supplies Zero Barista machines and technical support for heats in Bristol, Sheffield, Chichester, and Glasgow, with finals at the Tate Modern. The national winner will represent the UK in the World Barista Championship at HostMilano from 17 to 21 October 2025. (London, UK)

• Tue, 4 Mar – Sur La Table acquires Seattle Coffee Gear. The US kitchenware company says its acquisition of Seattle Coffee Gear, founded in 2005, will allow it to broaden its coffee equipment range while expanding SCG’s distribution networks across the US. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Fri, 7 Mar – UK’s Caravan completes management buyout, founders regain full ownership. The company’s founders have regained full control of the business following a buyout from Active Partners, which had held a minority stake since 2017. HSBC supported the refinancing and will provide additional funding for growth, with plans to expand beyond London into regional UK cities and Dublin. (London, UK)

• Fri, 7 Mar – Second Nordic Coffee Fest attracts over 3,600 attendees. The event, which reduced its food carbon footprint by up to 75%, also hosted the second Nordic Best Roasters competition. Sweden’s da Matteo placed first, while Coffee Collective received the Public Choice Award. The third edition will run from 28 February to 1 March 2026. (Gothenburg, Sweden)

Industry news

• Mon, 3 Mar – Caribou Coffee names Scott Kennedy interim CEO. Kennedy, Caribou’s CFO, succeeds John Butcher as interim CEO effective 14 March 2025, with Butcher advising until May. With extensive experience from Target and KPMG, the chain says Kennedy will support growth in North America and globally. (Minneapolis, Minnesota, US)

• Tue, 4 Mar – Paris Baguette opens a regional manufacturing hub in Malaysia. The company launched a new facility in Johor to support its expansion in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. The hub, equipped with seven production lines, enhances supply chain efficiency and meets global demand for premium bakery products, reinforcing SPC Group’s position in the industry. (Seoul, South Korea)

• Wed, 5 Mar – Black Sheep Coffee names Ben Fenton as COO amid UK expansion. The London roaster and café chain, operating 103 UK outlets and international sites, named Ben Fenton COO, previously Global Ops Director. He will drive expansion and efficiency with founders Eirik Holth and Gabriel Shohet. Kieran Littlewood is now Head of Franchise Operations. (London, UK)

• Thu, 6 Mar – Gail’s to make airport debut with Gatwick store. The coffee and bakery chain will open its first airport outlet this summer at Gatwick South Terminal. This follows recent openings at St Pancras, Liverpool Street, and London Bridge rail stations. (London, UK)

• Thu, 6 Mar – Second Cup drops extra fees for non-dairy milks. All 178 Second Cup outlets now offer non-dairy and lactose-free milk at no extra cost, responding to shifting customer preferences and aligning with the brand’s commitment to premium, sustainable experiences. (Mississauga, Canada)

• Thu, 6 Mar – Origin Coffee launches sail ship coffee with 90% lower carbon emissions. As part of its Net Zero 2025 plan, Origin Coffee has introduced its first sail ship coffee, transported from Brazil via the sailboat Artemis. This initiative, in partnership with Belco and TOWT, significantly reduces emissions and supports sustainable shipping, with plans to expand by 2030. (Porthleven, UK)

• Fri, 7 Mar – Fore Coffee plans IPO amid Indonesia’s growing coffee demand. East Ventures plans an IPO for Fore Coffee, which operates over 200 outlets in 44 Indonesian cities, targeting a valuation of up to 1.8 trillion rupiah. Proceeds will fund expansion as Indonesia’s coffee consumption is projected to grow 11% annually through 2030. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

• Fri, 7 Mar – Expocacer elects first female chair of the board. Mariana Velloso Heitor has been appointed as Expocacer’s first female chair. A third-generation coffee farmer, Heitor has led the “Elas no Café” project to support women in the industry. (Patrocínio, Brazil)

New launch

• Mon, 3 Mar – De’Longhi unveils the new La Specialista Touch machine. The bean-to-cup machine features a touchscreen interface, Bean Adapt Technology for adjustable settings, five milk texture options, and a cold extraction function that produces cold brew in five minutes. (Treviso, Italy)

• Tue, 4 Mar – Well Grounded names Stanford Swinton as the new CEO. London-based coffee social enterprise Well Grounded has appointed Swinton to support its ten-year strategy, aiming to provide 10,000 coffee industry job opportunities. Swinton, CEO of CEO Coaching International, brings leadership and social impact experience. (London, UK)

• Tue, 4 Mar – JDE Peet’s will launch a €250 million share buyback programme. The programme aims to return up to €250 million to shareholders by year-end. Most repurchased shares will be cancelled, with a small portion allocated for remuneration. The programme follows regulatory guidelines and AGM approvals. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

• Thu, 6 Mar – Minor Figures launches two new products in US. The brand debuted ready-to-pour oat lattes and the Hyper Oat functional beverage line (launching in 2026) at Expo West, and will reintroduce its Barista Oat Organic Lite in grocery stores nationwide. (Anaheim, California)

• Fri, 7 Mar – Caffenio enters US market with Arizona drive-thru. The company opened its first US store in Mesa, Arizona, following the launch of its Phoenix headquarters. The chain, which operates 200 locations in Mexico, aims to compete in the growing US drive-thru segment dominated by Dutch Bros and Scooter’s Coffee. (Mesa, Arizona)

Milestone

• Wed, 5 Mar – Reborn Coffee partners with Eachome Shopping for China expansion. The agreement with Eachome Shopping, part of Shenzhen Media Group, will integrate Reborn Coffee into its retail and media platforms. The collaboration aims to expand Reborn’s footprint in China and later Southeast Asia, leveraging Eachome’s distribution network and brand visibility strategies. (Shenzen, China)

• Fri, 7 Mar – Odeko nears US $300 million total funding after US $96 million Series E boost. The café management software company also secured a US $30 million credit facility. With total equity financing of US $273 million since 2019 and over 14,000 US customers, the provider nears US $300 million in funding, supporting its coffee shop solutions expansion. (New York City, New York, US)

Trade & production

• Thu, 6 Mar – Togo plans to double coffee production by 2030. The government plans an US $18.5 million investment to boost robusta production to 50,000 tonnes, building on a 150% output increase since 2013. Rising exports and strengthened reforms are key to the sector’s future growth. (Lomé, Togo)

• Fri, 7 Mar – Atlantica Coffee and Cafebras file for judicial recovery. The companies, subsidiaries of the Montesanto Tavares Group which also owns Companhia Mineira de Investimento em Cafés, filed for bankruptcy on 25 Feb 2025 to restructure R $2.13 billion in liabilities amid defaults amid high coffee prices and a weaker real. Negotiations are underway. (Belo Horizonte, Brazil)

Events & competitions

• Wed, 5 Mar – World of Coffee Geneva 2025 to include over 450 exhibitors. The event will take place from 26 to 28 June at Palexpo, bringing together 13,000 professionals to highlight brands, innovations, and the latest coffee technology. WoC Geneva will feature the Roaster Villages, Best New Product and Coffee Design Awards, cupping sessions, and the 2025 World Coffee Championships. (Geneva, Switzerland)

• Fri, 7 Mar – Inaugural Portland Coffee Festival set for 4 October 2025. The event, following the Roast Summit on 2 & 3 October, will take place at The Redd on Salmon St in Portland, Oregon. The first edition, sponsored by Pacific Foods, offers tastings, roasting demos, workshops, and networking. (Portland, Oregon, US)

• Fri, 7 Mar – Equal Origins to host webinar on gender equity in supply chains. The event will take place on 13 March at 11am EST. Speakers will share insights on the Gender Equity Index and strategies for implementation. The event targets sourcing managers, sustainability leaders, and industry professionals. (Washington, DC, US)

Photo credits: Simple Kaffa

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