Coffee News Recap, 16 Feb: PRF Guatemala to host three competitions on 7 & 8 March 2024, South Korean imports surpass US $1 billion for second consecutive year & other stories

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

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

The word of the week is: sustainability.

Mon, 12 Feb

Fairtrade updates Coffee Standard to expand deforestation prevention. The organisation has updated its Coffee Standard to require certified producers and traders to “strengthen deforestation prevention, monitoring, and mitigation”. It adds that the update meets and in some areas exceeds the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation that went into effect in June 2023.

Study finds lack of acidity and heat in cold brew allows for growth of potential pathogens. Researchers at the University of Georgia found that bacteria like E. coli, salmonella, Bacillus cereus and Listeria monocytogenes can all grow in cold brew, even when freshly brewed. However, the bacteria don’t emerge on their own, meaning proper food safety measures can mitigate the risk.

Coffee Board of India proposes establishment of Centre of Excellence for Coffee in Bengaluru. According to The New Indian Express, the board aims to expand its educational efforts by introducing short-term courses for aspiring coffee professionals. The proposal has been sent to the Indian government for approval.

South Korean coffee imports surpass US $1 billion for the second year running. The Korea Customs Service says coffee imports totalled US $1.11 billion in value last year, amounting to 193,000 tonnes. This represents a 15% drop in value and a 6% drop in volumes. More than a quarter of imported coffee was sourced from Brazil.

Caravela Coffee begins 2024 by welcoming new EU Deforestation Regulation. The company has reassured its roaster partners that it will share all relevant due diligence information with EU customers to ensure they align with the new standards. It plans to achieve full supply chain compliance in the first half of 2024.

Officials urge African coffee traders to boost value-added coffee exports. According to Xinhua News, officials of the African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) have urged African coffee traders to boost value-added coffee exports and cease exports of unprocessed coffee to the international market.

Oatly launches Barista Organic Oat Drink. The company says the drink contains organic oats, water, rapeseed oil, unsaturated fat, sea salt, and potassium carbonate and is completely foamable. It can also be used for cooking and baking.

Tue, 13 Feb

PRF Guatemala to host three competitions on 7 & 8 March 2024. The two-day forum will host the Global Coffee Roasting Contest, the Cold Brew Coffee Championship, and the all-new French Press Championship at the Anacafé venue in Guatemala City.

JDE Peet’s partners with Enveritas to fight coffee-related deforestation in Ethiopia, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, and Uganda. The company says its new programme will use satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, and on-the-ground verification to measure the extent of coffee-related deforestation. It hopes that this will help stakeholders “to better mitigate their deforestation risks”.

Sweet Coffee Italia partners with Ferrari & Carena to launch GEMMA induction coffee roasters. The line includes 2kg, 8kg, 30kg, 60kg, and 120kg roasters that use electromagnetic induction heating to create “high specific power without the geometric limitations imposed by conventional electric heaters”.

Cxffeeblack hits first crowdfunding goal as it seeks more investment. The company is calling on potential investors to secure equity through WeFunder, aiming to expand its mission of reinstating “the origin, purpose, and integrity of coffee through the knowledge of its black history and being a part of its black future”.

Ukrainian team launches crowdfunding campaign for PURE POUR-OVER brewing set. The set includes the SPECIALTY DRIPPER and the MAGIC DRIP TRAY, both manufactured from food grade, BPA-free polycarbonate (PC). The designers promise optimal heat retention, no mess, and an “effortless coffee experience”.

Wed, 14 Feb

La Marzocco launches the reinvented Linea Mini espresso machine. The Linea Mini draws on the heritage of the Linea Classic, adding features like Brew-by-Weight, pre-infusion, and easy pump pressure adjustment. It also features dual boilers, PID temperature control, a built-in shot timer, and La Marzocco Home app integration.

Carimali launches technical assistance centre in Paris, France. The espresso machine manufacturer says its expanded presence in France emphasises its commitment to “providing outstanding technical support”. The facility will provide maintenance, repair, and installation services for both fully automatic and traditional machines.

UK consumers vote Costa Coffee the country’s favourite branded coffee shop chain for 14th year running. World Coffee Portal ran a survey of over 5,000 UK consumers, with more than half citing Costa Coffee as their favourite branded coffee shop chain. The company currently operates 2,677 stores in the UK alone.

Sāe Coffee Studio launches crowdfunding campaign to win a lot at Cup of Excellence Ecuador 2023 auction. The specialty coffee company is calling on consumers to secure their orders with a deposit of US $125. If the company successfully purchases a lot, customers will be entitled to 150g each, complementary experiences at the San Francisco café, and early bird access to future releases.

Saudi Arabia says its coffee industry has grown on a global scale. Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Mansour Al-Mushaiti, says that the country now has more than 2,000 coffee farms in its Jazan province. He adds that “the Kingdom’s coffee industry has undergone a qualitative shift over the past decade”.

Sustainability standard 4C Services joins ISEAL as an official Community Member. ISEAL says 4C is its first member with a certification scheme developed exclusively for the coffee sector. It adds that 4C’s insight will be a valuable addition to its learning community, reinforcing its position “as a reliable and effective certification system”.

Velo Coffee Roasters becomes the first Irish roastery to receive B Corp certification. The company says the certification marks a significant milestone in its commitment to social and environmental responsibility. It adds that going forward, it wants to “adhere to comparable standards that will drive tangible change”.

Black Rifle Coffee Company is the official coffee of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. The company has signed a deal with UFC CEO Dana White to become the competition’s official coffee supplier.

Thu, 15 Feb

Oatly says it recorded four consecutive quarterly losses in 2023 after decision to halt production expansion. Despite posting increased sales throughout 2023, the company has reported a total loss of US $405 million for the year. It cites “increased other operating expenses” and “discontinued construction of certain production facilities” as key factors.

Lavazza unveils new Flagship Store in London, England. The new space is located on Great Marlborough Street. It features a menu created by Michelin-starred Chef Federico Zanasi and a signature pastry offering by Chef Marco Pedron.

SCA calls for sponsors for 2024 World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship. The competition will take place at Copenhagen World Coffee Championships in June. A number of sponsorship opportunities are available, including Official Espresso Machine, Espresso/Filter Grinder, Signature Cocktail, and Liquor Sponsors.

Dalla Corte announces first DC Campus educational event since 2015. The company will host the week-long adventure in Costa Rica from 18 to 24 February, featuring opportunities to engage directly with local coffee farmers and gain insight into their traditions, challenges, and innovations.

Westrock Coffee expands capabilities at new extract and RTD facility and partners with Select Milk Producers to build bottling facility. The company says it’s nearing completion of its Extract and RTD facility in Conway, Arkansas, USA and has decided to expand its extract and concentration capabilities. Meanwhile, the joint venture with Select Milk will construct and operate multi-serve bottle lines inside a new facility Select Milk intends to build in Littlefield, Texas.

Costa Coffee announces on average 9% pay increase for UK baristas. The coffee chain says the increase will apply to “team members” at over 1,500 company-owned stores in the UK, including an increased starting rate of £12 (US $15.10) per hour. Hourly-paid employees will receive a pay rise from 1 April 2024.

Fri, 16 Feb

Amsterdam Coffee Festival partners with WeCup to become first Benelux festival that’s completely single-use cup free. Festival attendees will be invited to make a €1 (US $1.07) deposit online or at the event. In return, they’ll receive a limited edition ACF x WeCup reusable coffee cup, which can be used at an WeCup partner café across the Netherlands. The festival will take place from 4 to 6 April.

Applications for Australia’s Richest Barista 2024 close on 23 February. The second edition of the competition will take place at MICE2024 in Melbourne, Australia from 12 to 14 May, featuring three rounds of multidisciplinary challenges. Prospective competitors are encouraged to apply before 23 February.

Team Encounter wins The Barista League Dubai 2024. Rupesh Tamang and Pratama Rakhmutallah came out on top at the multi-disciplinary competition, securing their spots at the next Mystery Vacation. Guest judges included Estella Zuleta Carmona of RoR Roastery and Sulaiman Alalawi of Things Café.

Nescafé UK & Ireland is giving away six tickets to “Discussions with Deborah” event with Deborah Meaden. The company says it has partnered with Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden to “help businesses navigate the challenges they might be facing”. The closing date for applications is 31 March.

Over 600 delegates have already registered for the 2024 NCA Convention. Organisers say they expect close to 800 delegates in total, including roasters, traders, nonprofits, wholesalers, and producers. The event will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, USA from 7 to 9 March 2024.

Peruvian Cafesazo Festival Summer Edition 2024 takes place on 17 & 18 February in Lima. The event will feature live entertainment, workshops, coffee tastings, giveaways, and two coffee competitions. Entry to the event is free for all and it will be hosted at Parque Candamo in Lima.

Spot on Coffees to host workshop and cupping with Brazilian Brewers Cup Champion Garam Um on 7 March. The event will take place at Spot on Coffees in Chicago, USA and will focus on “unveiling Brazilian coffees” and “hidden gems” with the help of the 2023 WBrC second runner-up. Registration is open now.

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

Thu, 8 Feb – AlShaya Group reportedly in talks to sell minority stake in its Starbucks franchise. Reuters reports that US private equity firm Apollo Global Management is in talks to buy a stake in the franchise business, which currently operates Starbucks stores in the Middle East, North Africa, and central Asia.

Thu, 8 Feb – Starbucks India launches Whiskey Barrel-Aged Guatemala Cold Brew at Mumbai Reserve store. The company says the Guatemalan coffee is aged and roasted in Seattle, USA and will be exclusively available at Starbucks Reserve, Mumbai for a limited time.

Fri, 9 Feb – Krispy Kreme partners with AmPm to expand into Brazil. The doughnut and coffee chain aims to distribute its products through its own standalone stores and AmPm convenience stores. It adds that Brazil “represents a priority growth market”.

Fri, 9 Feb – New short documentary explores whether “liberica’s potential comeback is coffee’s best bet to survive climate change”. The video, produced by Context, investigates how climate change is affecting arabica production and how producers are attempting to adjust, including through the cultivation of Coffea liberica.

Fri, 9 Feb – Ethiopia partners with Enveritas and JDE Peet’s to comply with EU Deforestation Regulation. The agreement will see the implementation of a scheme that “will enable Enveritas to verify that the coffee industry in Ethiopia does not export coffee grown on land deforested after 2020”. Furthermore, JDE Peet’s will support the rehabilitation of land deforested and converted to coffee after 2020.

Sat, 10 Feb – Três Marias announces deal to supply plant-based milk to 150 UAE Costa Coffee stores. The UAE company was established in 2019 and has continued expanding since. It’s also the exclusive partner of Ally Coffee in the MENA region. The new deal will see its products used at 150 Costa Coffee stores.

Sun, 11 Feb – Costa Rica guarantees fair compensation and benefits for coffee harvest workers. According to El País, thousands of migrant coffee harvesters will now have access to work accident insurance, adding to the health insurance plan for illness and maternity launched in 2021. It adds that migrant workers make up over 75% of the seasonal harvest workers in Costa Rica.

Coffee news photo credits: Producer & Roaster Forum