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)

• Wed, 5 Mar – Arabica futures rebound to over US $4.10/lb following supply concerns. Low rainfall in Minas Gerais, Brazil’s largest coffee-growing region, and dwindling global stockpiles are bullish for prices. Sumatran exports surged this month, while Colombian production reached a 29-year high. (New York City, New York, US)

• Wed, 5 Mar – Starbucks appoints Nordstrom‘s Cathy Smith as new Finance Chief to support Back to Starbucks plan. Smith replaces Rachel Ruggeri to support Brian Niccol’s efforts to recover from ongoing sales slumps. Starbucks says Smith’s retail expertise at Target and Walmart will help streamline US operations. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Thu, 6 Mar – US President Trump imposes and quickly suspends 25% tariffs on Mexico, impacting coffee exports. The tariffs, now planned for 2 April 2025, will raise production costs for Mexican producers and retail prices for US consumers. The US is Mexico’s largest coffee export market, causing concern for industry professionals in both countries. (Washington, DC, US)

• Thu, 6 Mar – Prestigious restaurant noma launches monthly coffee subscription service. The Michelin star restaurant, scheduled to close this year, worked with Tim Wendelboe to curate its new subscription service, which includes two 250g bags for US $65 per month. (Copenhagen, Denmark)

• 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 – Olam Group profit falls 52.8% amid higher finance costs and commodity prices. Operational profits dropped to S $216.3 million from S $458.1 million due to S $1.58 billion in finance costs and rising cocoa & coffee prices. Olam Agri sales grew 5.9% to S $33.17 billion; a 44.58% stake was sold to SALIC, valuing Olam Agri at S $4 billion. (Singapore)

• 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 – Starbucks Coffee Japan appoints first woman as CEO. Hisae Morii will succeed Takafumi Minaguchi. She has been with the company since 2018 and will be in charge of over 2,000 stores starting on 1 April 2025. (Tokyo, Japan)

• 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)

• Wed, 5 Mar – Death Wish Coffee Co. launches new RTD canned lattes in the US. The roaster’s Vanilla, Mocha, and Original flavours are available at select retailers and online. (Saratoga Springs, New York, US)

• 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 – KDP Canada opens largest coffee distribution centre in Québec. Spanning 602,000 sq ft, the centre has created 130 jobs and supports growth and sustainability, complementing facilities in Balzac and Saint-Michel. (Beauharnois, Canada)

• 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

• Mon, 3 Mar – JM Smucker raises annual profit outlook amid coffee price boost. The company raised its profit forecast due to higher coffee prices, lifting Q3 profit to US $2.61/share. The domestic coffee segment grew 2% despite supply issues, with net sales now forecast to rise 7.25%. (Orrville, Ohio, US)

• Mon, 3 Mar – Latvia’s Kalve Coffee achieved record revenues and profits in 2024. The brand grew revenue 37% YoY to €3.4 million and net profit by 248% to €186,000. The B Corp-certified roaster, founded in 2017, plans international expansion and a capacity boost at its Jaunmārupe roastery. (Riga, Latvia)

• Wed, 5 Mar – Nestlé invests €15 million in Spanish facility for sustainable coffee packaging. Nestlé is upgrading its Girona factory with investments in two recyclable packaging lines for Nescafé and Dolce Gusto. The new lines will produce refill bags and a sachet line, cutting virgin plastic use by 60 tonnes annually. (Girona, Spain)

• 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)

• Thu, 6 Mar – PTT OR invests US $220 million to expand Café Amazon network in Thailand. With 4,430 outlets (53% in company-owned petrol stations) and expansion plans in Cambodia and Bangladesh, PTT OR aims to boost its global footprint. (Bangkok, Thailand)

• 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)

• Fri, 7 Mar – Sproud receives the Environmental & Sustainable Development of the Year award at Malmö Näringslivsgala 2025. The business awards highlight and celebrate companies and people in the Swedish city who have impacted industries positively. Sproud was recognised for being the world’s first food company to be ISO 26000 verified. (Malmö, Sweden)

Trade & production

• Mon, 3 Mar – Brazil’s coffee inventory plummets as prices rise again. Brazilian farmers sold nearly 90% of the 2024 crop amid drought, leaving minimal stock. New harvest shipments are due from May, which may further intensify market pressures. (Brasília, Brazil)

• Tue, 4 Mar – Jamaica to launch climate-resilient Blue Mountain Coffee by 2026. Jamaica will introduce new varieties by 2026 to mitigate climate impacts. Minister Floyd Green announced plans to boost RADA extension services and work with JACRA to support farmers and maintain quality. (Kingston, Jamaica)

• Tue, 4 Mar – Kona coffee farmers face rising pests, climate risks, and funding uncertainty. At the annual symposium, local farmers detailed severe losses from invasive pests, climate-induced yield declines, and uncertainty over frozen USDA funds, warning that these challenges threaten the future of Kona coffee production. (Honolulu, Hawaii, US)

• 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)

• Thu, 6 Mar – Internorga 2025 returns to Hamburg hosting the German Barista Championship. Internorga 2025 will run from 14 to 18 March at Hamburg Messe und Congress, featuring over 1,200 exhibitors. (Hamburg, Germany)

• Thu, 6 Mar – National Coffee Association Convention 2025 takes place in Houston. The event, running until 8 March, brings together over 700 coffee professionals for trade shows, seminars, networking, and awards, supporting NCA’s mission to advance coffee research and community. (Houston, Texas, US)

• 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

Sign up to our weekly coffee news recap to get a summary of all the biggest stories in the sector, delivered straight to your inbox every Monday.

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 is eyeing a strategic stake sale.