Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the previous week. Here are this week’s stories.

Mon, 19 Dec

• Weber Workshops launches Unibasket portafilter basket. The basket is made from a single 1.2mm-thick piece of stainless steel, which Weber claims helps to reduce puck cracking and channelling.

• Milan Coffee Festival 2023 to take place from 2 to 4 December. The event will return to Superstudio in Milan, and will include competitions such as Latte Art Live and Roast Masters.

• New Ground predicts coffee shop sales and reliance on automation will increase in 2023. The publication’s guide to prominent coffee sector trends in 2023 also includes a rise in fine robusta blends and an increase in the use of modular espresso machines.

• SIGEP 2023 to be held from 21 to 25 January in Rimini, Italy. The 44th edition of the International Trade Show of Artisan Gelato, Pastry, Bakery, and Coffee is expected to attract more than 130,000 visitors across the five days.

• Root Capital and Keurig Dr Pepper launch USAID-funded Indonesia Resilient Coffee Initiative. The three-year project will help to boost the country’s economic growth and support some 14,000 smallholder coffee farmers. The programme will seek to increase farmers’ access to finance, improve gender equity, implement more digital farming solutions, and improve climate resilience.

• Dalla Corte launches PlaNet social responsibility and environmental sustainability programme. The Italian coffee equipment manufacturer received carbon neutral certifications for the Dalla Corte XT and Zero espresso machines, with emissions offset through the Ntakata Mountains project. The PlaNet programme is part of Dalla Corte’s commitment to improve its sustainability practices.

• Starbucks union workers call for gift card boycott as coffee chain forecasts US $3 billion in gift card sales this year. Starbucks Workers United says money loaded onto unused gift cards and the Starbucks app boosts the company’s profitability.

Tue, 20 Dec

• PRF El Salvador announces BWT water+more as Official Water & Cupping Sponsor. This is the first sponsorship of its kind for any coffee event in Latin America. The international water treatment company will supply water for the Brew Bar, Espresso Bar, and cupping rooms at the two-day forum, which will take place on 16 and 17 March 2023 in San Salvador.

• Researchers discover bacteria which may be able to inhibit coffee leaf rust. A new study published in BMC Microbiology found that a species of bacteria from the Pseudomonas genus (which grows naturally in coffee leaves) excretes antibacterial and antifungal compounds which can inhibit the growth of CLR.

• The Coffee Science Foundation launches Sweetness in Coffee research project with Ohio State University. The Sweetness in Coffee: Sensory Analysis and Identification of Key Compounds research project will assess what causes natural sweetness in coffee, after recent findings concluded that it “does not come from sugars in the bean”. Results from the study are expected in 2023.

• Middleby Corporation acquires Marco Beverage Systems. Marco says the acquisition will help to facilitate rapid growth and global brand expansion, with all management, activities, and contracts at the company to remain unchanged.

• Aldi becomes first UK supermarket to join Podback coffee capsule recycling scheme. The recycling initiative was launched by Nestlé and Douwe Egberts in the UK in 2021. Customers can deposit used capsules at some 6,500 drop-off points around the country – including selected Aldi supermarkets.

• COFE App and Saudi Coffee Company sign agreement to drive ecommerce sales in Saudi Arabia. The Kuwaiti online coffee platform will become the official online partner for the Saudi Coffee Company, thereby allowing them to extend their market reach across the Middle East.

• World Coffee Research praises US Congress for new bill that “supports the economic empowerment and sustainability of smallholder farmers”. According to WCR, the US’ Global Food Security Reauthorisation Act of 2022 will support the most vulnerable coffee growers in low-income countries. US Congress also approved a 2023 budget to support agricultural research and development, which WCR states is of value to the coffee industry.

• Catalyst Trade trials Small Bag programme. The soft trial of the green coffee trader’s new initiative will allow roasters to purchase 10lb (4.5kg), 20lb (9kg), or 30lb (13.5kg) bags on its website. All orders include a QR code which provides more information about the purchased coffee.

Wed, 21 Dec

• Third edition of World Coffee Producers Forum to take place in Kigali, Rwanda on 13 and 14 February 2023. The event will be held at the Kigali Convention Centre, and will focus on improving sustainability in the coffee industry – including developing the National Coffee Sustainability Plans.

• Ten coffees win gold at 2022 AVPA Coffees Roasted at Origin competition. The event included around 200 coffees from 25 countries, with ten receiving “Gourmet Gold” awards. The 2023 awards ceremony will be held in June, with samples and registration required before 20 May 2023.

• The Brazilian Coffee Industry Association announces restructuring of its certification programmes. ABIC says the restructuring will allow it to adapt to the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply’s Ordinance 570 directive, which will implement an Official Classification Standard for Roasted Coffee as of 1 January 2023. Other certification programme restructuring changes include the unification of its Purity Seal (SPA) and the Coffee Quality Programme (PQC).

• Natural Ateng-P-88 blend scores 90.59 points at 2022 Cup of Excellence Indonesia competition. The coffee was produced by Bahagia Ginting at Koperasi Ribang Gayo Musara farm. A total of 22 coffees received more than 87.05 points. The auction will take place on 28 February 2023.

• Royal Coffee announces online discounts for Crown Jewel and Royal Gem collections. The green coffee importer says customers who buy three or more 22lb (10kg) Crown Jewel lots can save US $10 per box using the code “CJ10”. Those who buy five or more 50lb (23kg) Royal Gem collections can save US $5 per box with code “GEM25”, while buying ten or more provides customers with a discount of US $10 per box using code “GEM100”.

• Oatly becomes official supplier to more than 20 Graduate Hotels. The Swedish brand’s Barista Edition oat milk will be served across the hotel chain’s locations in the US.

• USDA predicts rebound in global coffee production and increased consumption for 2022/2023. The USDA’s latest Coffee: World Markets and Trade report estimates global coffee production will increase to 172.8 million 60kg bags in 2022/23, which is largely a result of Brazil entering its on-year for arabica production. Global consumption is expected to grow by 800,000 bags to 167.9 million 60kg bags, however, global exports are predicted to drop by 3 million bags following production losses in Brazil, Vietnam, and India.

Thu, 22 Dec

• SCA approves plant-based and other animal milks for WBC as part of new rules for 2023 World Coffee Championships in Athens. The updated rules and regulations are for the 2023 World Barista Championship, World Brewers Cup, World Cup Tasters Championship, and World Cezve/Ibrik Championship – with changes to the WBC and WBrC “the largest competition changes since before the pandemic”. As well as approving the use of plant-based and other animal milks in the milk beverage course, new WBC rules include two new types of scoring scales and the option of using different grouphead temperatures.

• Onyx Coffee Lab and NBA star Jimmy Butler’s BIGFACE collaborate on limited-edition coffee. The washed and natural processed Gesha was produced at La Palma y El Tucan in Colombia, and is available until stocks last. The two companies have also released a limited-edition BIGFACE | Onyx Carter Move Mug.

• Costa Coffee opens first drive-thru location in China. The Shanghai Pudong district store is set to be the first of many drive-thru locations in the country.

• Tim Hortons opens 250th store in the Middle East. The Canadian coffee chain reported a 26% increase in international outlet growth in 2022. Tim Hortons aims to open 500 stores in the Middle East by 2025 in partnership with franchisee AG Café.

Fri, 23 Dec

• Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters opens central washing station in Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu, India. India’s largest specialty coffee brand says the new facility will help to increase coffee quality for the country’s smallholder farmers, as well as allowing producers to carry out more experimental processing.

• Luckin Coffee begins construction of new US $120 million roasting facility in Jiangsu. The new factory is currently under construction in Kunshan and will be able to process 30,000 tonnes of green coffee per year.

• Consórcio Cerrado das Águas and the Federal University of Goiás partner on environmental mapping project in Cerrado Mineiro. The consortium, which aims to implement climate-smart agricultural practices and efficient management of water resources, says the deal will include access to the Laboratory of Image Processing and Geoprocessing’s mapping data, which will allow it to “improve environmental assessment protocols for monitored rural properties” – including coffee farms.

• Long Miles Coffee Auction receives over US $ 51,509 in bids. The highest bid at the auction was US $14.60 for the fully washed Bourbon Gishubi lot, of which Volcanica Coffee purchased more than 661lbs for a total of US $9,656.44.

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

• Mon, 12 Dec – Coffee shop franchise operator Americana Restaurants finalises dual listing on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange after raising US $1.8 billion in IPO. Americana is the exclusive franchise partner for Costa Coffee in Egypt, Kazakhstan, and Jordan, and plans to open the first Peet’s Coffee location in the UAE next year.

• Mon, 12 Dec – Scooter’s Coffee opens 500th store in US. The coffee chain plans to open 1,000 locations in the country by the end of 2024.

• Thu, 15 Dec – Bartholomew Jones and Renata Henderson release Cxffee Black to Africa documentary. Cxffee Black works to establish an “all-black coffee supply chain” to reclaim Africa’s ancestral history of coffee production. The documentary explores Cxffee Black’s trip Ethiopia to connect with coffee farmer Tamiru.

• Thu, 15 Dec – Starbucks opens first drive-thru store in Colombia. The new location in Cali is the company’s 56th store in the country.

• Thu, 15 Dec – Absa Cape Epic mountain bike race announces vida e caffè as Official Coffee Partner. The competition will take place in Cape Town, South Africa from 19 to 26 March 2023. vida e caffé will supply more than 25,000 cups of coffee to competitors and spectators.

• Fri, 16 Dec – Coffee equipment manufacturer Sovda launches new Precision Fill Mini. The new countertop coffee weigh-and-fill bagging machine includes a built-in scale which is accurate to 2g, according to Sovda.

• Fri, 16 Dec – Australian Specialty Coffee Association announces cancellation of several 2023 regional and national championships. The organisation says it will be unable to host competitions “to the very high standards that we now hold ourselves to”, and will therefore not announce winners of the 2023 Australian Barista Championships and Brewers Cup. The ASCA cites “unrealistic WCE timelines for the Brewers Cup and Barista Championship”, which will both be held at World of Coffee Athens from 22 to 24 June 2023.

• Fri, 16 Dec – CoreBev’s Moonlight Barista nitro espresso martini wins Best New RTD at BevNET Live 2022. The RTD beverage was developed by Cylinder Vodka and RISE Brewing Co.

• Fri, 16 Dec – Starbucks workers stage three-day strikes across 60 US locations. Bloomberg reports that more than 1,000 workers took part in the strike, which represents the biggest multi-day strike ever led by Starbucks Workers United. Workers say the walkout is because of a lack of a successful collective-bargaining agreement.

• Fri, 16 Dec – Workers at five Chicago Intelligentsia Coffee stores ratify union contract. As part of a two-year collective bargaining agreement (a first in the region), workers at five locations will receive wage increases, paid mandated 30-minute breaks, and double holiday pay. Intelligentsia reportedly “took issues to heart”, with union representative Brett Lyons calling it “a company that cares about [its] employees”.

• Sat, 17 Dec – Costa Coffee opens first store in Pakistan. In partnership with franchise operator Gerry’s Group, the first store opened in Lahore. A second location is set to open in Karachi in 2023.

• Sat, 17 Dec – Chinese government reportedly directs regional authorities to rapidly develop coffee farming in suitable areas. According to Coffee Geography, the increasing consumption of Chinese coffee is leading the government to increase local production – particularly in the Yunnan and Hainan provinces.

From all of us at Perfect Daily Grind, we wish you a happy holiday season!

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Photo credits: World Coffee Events