Coffee News Recap, 6 Dec: Coffee prices drop after reaching historic highs, EU Council confirms EUDR delay but rejects "no risk" category & other stories

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

Editor’s note

After reaching the highest level since 1977 last week, arabica prices started to fall earlier this week. Initially driven by adverse weather in Brazil and Vietnam, last week’s surge prompted some Brazilian producers to delay deliveries in the hope of securing even higher prices.

The repercussions of these delays on the country’s coffee trade have been severe. Key exporters, including Atlantica and Cafebras, have initiated negotiations with creditors, claiming that around 900,000 60kg bags of coffee are still outstanding. There’s ongoing speculation about which way the market will swing over the next few weeks – and everyone in the supply chain has a stake in it.

One factor compounding market volatility is the EUDR. This week, the European Council signed off on the one-year delay proposal, confirming that roasters, producers, and traders will have an additional year to comply. The controversial “no risk” category, however, has been dropped, meaning companies in all exporting countries will need to prove due diligence. Many were concerned that the proposed category would disadvantage actors in economically developing countries that are deemed high-risk, limiting their access to one of the biggest markets in the world.

Looking ahead, the coffee industry needs to use the delay to its advantage and better prepare for the landmark legislation rather than losing its momentum.

A producer in Vietnam sorts red coffee cherries.

Industry news

Mon, 2 Dec – Allegra announces new members-only Global Coffee Institute programme. Based on member feedback, the Global Coffee Institute has developed a dynamic 2025 programme offering networking, business insights, and knowledge-sharing to help businesses thrive in a competitive market. New individual and corporate memberships are now open for 2025. (London, UK)

Mon, 2 Dec – Löfbergs appoints first Chief International Business Officer. The Swedish roaster announced Trina Törnqvist as its first Chief International Business Officer, effective 13 January 2025. With over 20 years of experience, Törnqvist will lead efforts to expand international contracts and markets. She previously held senior roles at Meira/Segafredo and Paulig. (Karlstad, Sweden)

Tue, 3 Dec – Starbucks Australia strengthens board ahead of planned outlet growth. Starbucks Australia has appointed James Sinclair, a hospitality entrepreneur, to its Board of Directors to support its expansion. The move comes as Starbucks plans to open over 40 new stores and has seen significant growth, with annual revenues increasing 35%. (Melbourne, Australia)

Tue, 3 Dec – Bacha Coffee to launch in Japan in 2025. The Singapore-based luxury coffee chain has signed a franchise agreement with Tokyo’s Tokyu Group to enter Japan in 2025. Bacha plans to open its first Tokyo store in Ginza, followed by expansions in Osaka and Kyoto. CEO Taha Bouqdib aims for 40 stores by 2030. (Singapore)

Tue, 3 Dec – Saudi Arabia’s Barn’s signs franchise deal to expand to Qatar. The franchise agreement follows Barn’s participation in the Doha International Coffee Exhibition 2024. With 800 stores in Saudi Arabia, Barn’s debuted internationally in 2024 with openings in Bahrain and Egypt. The Qatari coffee market, valued at US $9.7 billion in 2024, is expected to grow to 600 outlets by 2029. (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

Tue, 3 Dec – Tim Hortons opens its first Panama store. A franchise deal with Vortex Investment SA includes two more openings by Q1 2025, aiming for 30 stores by 2034, mostly in Panama City. The brand is now present in 20 global markets, with strong sales growth in Canada and the US. (Ontario, Canada)

Tue, 3 Dec – Ukraine’s Aroma Kava launches in Poland with Warsaw store. The brand plans to expand through franchised to-go kiosks and flagship locations in major cities. Founded in 2013, Aroma Kava operates over 350 stores in Ukraine and has already expanded into Bulgaria. Poland’s coffee market, with 1,770 outlets, is set to grow significantly by 2029. (Kyiv, Ukraine)

Wed, 4 Dec – SCA Ireland chapter introduces new committee. The team includes Mark Ashbridge as national coordinator, Pa Cotter as events coordinator, Maja Rozwadowska as judges coordinator, Darren Murphy as marketing and community coordinator, and Vlad Novrantidis as education coordinator. (Dublin, Ireland)

Wed, 4 Dec – IWCA launches donation drive for women on Giving Tuesday. Funds will support 26 projects globally, addressing challenges including underrepresentation and resource access. The International Women’s Coffee Alliance chapters work to empower women through leadership, training, and market access initiatives. (Springfield, Illinois, US)

Thu, 5 Dec – Labour violations reported in Starbucks and Nestlé supply chains in China. The alleged abuses include low wages, excessive hours, and unsafe conditions. Allegations involve “ghost farms” and “coffee laundering,” bypassing sustainability standards. Both companies pledged to investigate while maintaining their audit and certification protocols. (Beijing, China)

Thu, 5 Dec – San Francisco Bay Coffee launches animated series for ad campaign. The “One Small Sip for a Better Tomorrow” campaign, developed in partnership with agency Cutwater, spotlights SFBC’s compostable OneCUP. It also highlights the environmental impact of plastic pods and promotes sustainable consumer choices. (San Francisco, California, US)

Thu, 5 Dec – Oatly loses trademark dispute with Dairy UK. The Court of Appeal ruled that the oat milk brand cannot use the term “Post Milk Generation” on its packaging, as “milk” is associated with dairy, creating the potential to confuse customers. Oatly claims the ruling is in favour of “Big Dairy”, while Dairy UK says the company’s use of the term was “deceptive”. (London, UK)

Thu, 5 Dec – Costa Coffee expands partnership with major UK event venues. The chain will expand branded kiosks to major UK event venues in 2025, including Twickenham Stadium and Cheltenham Racecourse, through its partnership with Freemans Event Partners. Costa aims to grow its presence in live events and drive-thrus, targeting 500 sites by 2025. (London, UK)

Thu, 5 Dec – The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf signs franchise deal for India expansion. The Jollibee Food Corp-owned coffee chain plans to expand rapidly in India, targeting 250 outlets within five years. After awarding master franchise rights to Kolkata-based Ekaagra Ostalaritza, CBTL aims to tap into India’s growing premium coffee and tea market. (Los Angeles, California, US)

Thu, 5 Dec – Brian Niccol vows Starbucks customers will receive coffee in under 30 seconds. In an interview with Good Morning America, the chain’s CEO said faster service and an improved third-place experience are top priorities. Niccol mentioned the company is investing in a new tech solution for more accurate mobile order wait times, and added that prices will remain unchanged in 2025. (Seattle, Washington, US)

Fri, 6 Dec – ofi releases 2023 impact report Coffee LENS. The report highlights key sustainability efforts, including a living income project in Honduras generating US $8 in social value for one dollar invested. The report also covers a sustainable forest management initiative in Côte d’Ivoire, the addition of 115,000 farmers to its traceability system, and advances in regenerative agriculture. (Singapore)

Fri, 6 Dec – Dupuy expands into Canada with Eland Logistics acquisition. The acquisition strengthens Dupuy’s, a US-based logistics provider, presence in Canada’s coffee market and expands its global transportation network. Eland Logistics specialises in green coffee and tea logistics, food safety, and customs brokerage services. (New Orleans, Louisiana, US)

New launch

Mon, 2 Dec – Klatch Coffee launches Ready-To-Go Espresso. The drink is a bottled espresso concentrate designed for quick café-style beverages. The 8 fl oz bottle, priced at US $24.95, offers 16 servings and can be used for both hot and cold drinks. It’s available online and at Klatch’s Southern California locations, with recipes for various espresso-based drinks included. (Rancho Cucamonga, California, US

Tue, 3 Dec – ENEA, Accademia del Caffè Espresso, and Pnat introduce premium coffee identification cards. The companies, together with regulatory bodies from eight Latin American countries, have developed an identification card to ensure quality and traceability for specialty coffee. Using advanced biochemical analysis, the project highlights terroir’s role in coffee’s molecular and sensory profile, aiming to enhance traceability, sustainability, and producer livelihoods. (Rome, Italy)

Wed, 4 Dec – STōK launches new decaf cold brew coffee. The new options are available in Unsweet and Not Too Sweet flavours. The new white-labelled decaf options expand STōK’s core lineup, crafted with its signature “low and slow” brewing method. (Louisville, Colorado, US)

Fri, 6 Dec – McDonald’s promotes dulce de leche frappé as espresso machines remain down. McDonald’s launched a limited-time Dulce de Leche Frappé, celebrating how Latinos refer to the popular flavour. The campaign, featuring actor Iñaki Godoy, includes pop-up carts in Southern California and Miami, offering free samples. The frappé features a caramel base, dulce de leche syrup, whipped cream, and caramel pieces.

Milestone

Mon, 2 Dec – Infusion Coffee & Tea celebrates its tenth anniversary. Infusion Coffee & Tea celebrates 10 years as a community hub in Arizona alongside partner Espresso Italia’s 25th anniversary. Founded by Patrick O’Malley, an SCA Diploma holder, the café and its partner have grown from local roots to support over 500 businesses. (Tempe, Arizona)

Port workers lift green coffee bags from a cargo ship.

Trade & production

Wed, 4 Dec – Coffee hoarding and heavy rain disrupt Vietnam’s supply. Farmers are holding out for higher domestic prices, and the harvest, delayed by about 15 days due to storms in October, is expected to pick up from late December. Vietnam’s coffee production for 2024-25 is now projected at 28 million 60kg bags, up from 26.7 million bags in 2023-24. (Hanoi, Vietnam)

Thu, 5 Dec – Courts rule against Brazilian exporters seeking to renegotiate debt after C price surges. A Brazilian judge rejected a debt grace period request from Montesanto Tavares Group subsidiaries Atlântica and Cafebras, increasing financial strain on the coffee exporter amid surging arabica prices. The companies owe US $190 million to banks and US $87.8 million in margin calls, with creditors including Cargill, Banco do Brasil and Marex. Appeals are being considered. (Belo Horizonte, Brazil)

Research

Wed, 4 Dec – Research finds coffee linked to a healthier, happier life. A review published in Ageing Research Reviews highlights coffee’s role in promoting healthy ageing. Supported by ISIC, the study found that moderate coffee consumption (three to five cups daily) can extend healthy life expectancy by 1.8 years, reducing risks of chronic diseases and aiding cellular stability. (Braga, Portugal)

Thu, 5 Dec – Report analyses Europe’s key players in the vending machine market. The Europe vending machine market is expected to reach over US $40 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.96%. Key drivers include busy lifestyles, demand for convenience, and IoT innovations. Italy leads in revenue, with a growing focus on premium coffee and fresh food vending. (Dublin, Ireland)

Events

Mon, 2 Dec – Entries open for the 2025 London Coffee Festival Awards. Judged by experts and public votes, the awards feature categories such as best independent coffee shop, sustainability, café design, and influencer of the year, with the main prize being Independent Coffee Shop of the Year. (London, UK)

Wed, 4 Dec – TAF Coffee hosts omakase-style tasting experience in Greece. Inspired by Japanese cuisine, the omakase event included four coffees – Colombia Ombligon and eugenioides, Panama Elida Washed Geisha, and Honduras Laurina – and five distinctive tasting steps to fully explore the depth of flavour and aroma. (Athens, Greece)

Thu, 5 Dec – Fiera Milano announces new trade fair in the Middle East. Fiera Milano will launch Host Arabia in Riyadh in 2026, in partnership with Saudi event organiser Semark. The trade fair will introduce Saudi Arabia to the HostMilano format, aligning with Vision 2030 goals. (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

Competitions

Mon, 2 Dec – Bruno Megda wins the 2025 Brazilian Cup Tasters Championship. Megda, a Q grader based in the south of Minas Gerais state, won the Brazilian Cup Tasters Championship, identifying seven samples in four minutes 32 seconds. He will represent Brazil at the World Cup Tasters Championship at World of Coffee Geneva in June 2025. (Varginha, Brazil)

Thu, 5 Dec – The Barista League Dubai to be held on 11 December. This will be the second time that the competition will take place in the UAE. Guest judges include Amna Almaansori, Daria Vorsolova from Ally Coffee, Hootan Salemi from the QC, Jane Espantee from Behind the Cup, Pratama Winarto from Encounter Coffee Roasters and Waleed Hannoun from 85+ Artisan Coffee Roasters. (Dubai, UAE)

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

Fri, 29 Nov – Costa Coffee India’s CEO resigns. Sreejit Madhavan Nair will step down as CEO on 8 January 2025, citing personal reasons. Kamaljit Singh Bedi, currently leading DIL’s Institutional Business and New Business Ventures, will succeed him on 9 January. Bedi brings over 25 years of experience and has held his current role since May 2024. (New Delhi, India)

Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence News & Opinion piece about why Starbucks’ hedging shift is a strategic gamble.

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