Coffee News Recap, 18 Apr: NCA report confirms coffee remains the US’ favourite drink, Colombia’s production volumes surge 36% amid tariff concerns & other stories

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

Editor’s note

The NCA’s latest National Coffee Data Trends report shows that 66% of US adults drink coffee each day. This figure is higher than past-day consumption of tea, juice, soda, and bottled water and up nearly 7% since 2020 – reaffirming coffee’s position as America’s favourite beverage. North Americans typically drink an average of three cups per day, according to the new data.

Between 2020 and 2025, the research also shows that the consumption of specialty coffee in the US increased by nearly 18%. Consumption of traditional coffee, meanwhile, held steady during the same period. This now means that for every 100 cups of coffee consumed in the country, 59 are specialty and 41 are traditional, signalling a shift in consumer behaviour in favour of higher-quality coffee.

Within the specialty category, past-day consumption of espresso-based drinks increased by 17%, while past-day consumption of non-espresso-based beverages (including frozen blended coffees, cold brew, and nitro coffees) spiked by nearly 42%. In a country that historically favoured drip and filter coffee, the trend towards espresso and non-traditional coffee drinks is significant, primarily driven by the growing popularity of beverage customisation.

The NCA’s report comes at a pivotal moment, as the Trump administration’s tariffs are set to send US retail coffee prices soaring. How consumers will respond to their favourite beverage becoming increasingly more expensive remains to be seen. However, the data is undeniable: coffee plays an integral role in daily American life, and tariffs only serve to threaten this.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 14 Apr – Colombian coffee production surges 36% amid tariff concerns. Data from Fedecafé shows Q1 output hit 3.78 million 60kg bags – a 36% increase on the same period in 2024 – with exports rising 21% to 3.6 million bags. However, a new 10% US tariff on Colombian exports may challenge price competitiveness. (Bogotá, Colombia)

• Mon, 14 Apr – Indonesia’s Fore Coffee raises US $21m in oversubscribed IPO. Shares in the chain rose 34% as it debuted on the stock market. Three-quarters of the funds raised will be used to open 140 new stores across Indonesia by 2026. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

• Tue, 15 Apr – Saudi chain Barn’s explores Riyadh IPO for Middle East expansion. Despite a turbulent market, the homegrown Saudi coffee brand is planning an IPO on the Tadawul stock exchange, with plans to expand across the Middle East. Barn’s launched in 1992 and operates 850 coffee shops in the Middle East, with 600 in the kingdom. (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Coffee remains the US’ favourite drink as specialty consumption rises 18%. According to the Spring 2025 National Coffee Data Trends report, coffee is consumed daily by two-thirds of Americans – more than bottled water, tea, and soda. Specialty coffee consumption has risen 18% since 2020. Cold brew demand has also surged 42% since 2020, and espresso-based drinks consumption grew 17%. (New York City, New York, US)

• Thu, 17 Apr – European Union reduces administrative burden for importers ahead of EUDR deadline. Companies can now submit annual due diligence statements instead of per shipment, reducing administrative costs by 30% for commodities like coffee and cocoa. The delayed law will come into effect on 30 December 2025 for medium and large-sized businesses, and 30 June 2026 for micro and smaller-sized companies. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Bialetti will be sold to Hong Kong’s NUO Capital. The Italian company, which manufactures the iconic moka pot, has struggled in recent years with poor investment decisions and competition from capsule brands. NUO Capital, registered in Luxembourg, is controlled by one of Hong Kong’s wealthiest families. (Milan, Italy)

• Fri, 18 Apr – MTPak Coffee and PureLock announce Ana Recinos from Finca Nueva Armenia as the winner of the Producer of the Year competition. The Guatemalan producer won for her farm’s circular economy practices, including manufacturing coffee husk briquettes and implementing a fertigation system. Finca Nueva Armenia has received US $5,000 in sustainable packaging and media features. (Shanghai, China)

Industry news

• Mon, 14 Apr – illycaffè says it will raise global prices by 4% as US tariffs continue. CEO Cristina Scocchia announced that the company is also evaluating a US roasting plant to mitigate future trade risks. (Trieste, Italy)

• Tue, 15 Apr – Starbucks updates barista dress code for “consistency”. Starting 12 May, North American baristas will have to wear solid black tops with any khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms. This “streamlined” look, designed to highlight the iconic green apron, is part of CEO Brian Niccol’s broader effort to revive sales and enhance the café atmosphere. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Tue, 15 Apr – Bluewater USA taps industry veteran to drive water tech adoption in coffee sector. Michael Fleischman, ex-BWT sales manager, will promote the new Café Station purification system at Specialty Coffee Expo Houston from 25 to 27 April at booth #958. (Kansas City, Missouri, US)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii announces expansion with NFL family partnership. The Hawaiian chain signed a three-unit deal backed by NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s parents and franchise veteran Ted Davenport, with the first café opening on Waialae Avenue in spring 2025. The expansion emphasises local coffee sourcing and community-focused cafés. (Honolulu, Hawaii, US)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Caribou Coffee to expand in Georgia. Caribou Coffee announced up to eight new locations across the Atlanta metropolitan area with openings beginning spring 2025 and all operational by summer, following four 2024 Georgia launches as part of its broader Southeastern expansion and community‑focused, sustainable build strategy. (Minneapolis, Minnesota, US)

• Thu, 17 Apr – PulyCAFF renews as World Coffee Championships’ cleaning sponsor. The Italian brand will supply customised cleaning kits for competitors and judges across the seven competitions, including this year’s events in Jakarta and Geneva. (Vescovato, Italy)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Cimbali Group wins China lawsuit over Slayer espresso machine design. The Italian manufacturer secured a rare legal victory against four firms in Shanghai, which Cimbali stated copied its Slayer Espresso machine’s distinctive design, deemed “influential” under local unfair competition laws. The court ordered production halts and damages, marking a milestone in IP protection for foreign coffee equipment brands. (Shanghai, China)

Businesses for sale

• Mon, 14 Apr – The Green Coffee Company appoints Ivonne Windmüller as CFO ahead of planned IPO. The Colombian coffee farm operator, backed by US investors, taps Windmüller for her dual-listing experience with Grupo Éxito as it prepares for a potential 2026 public offering. (Medellín, Colombia)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Olam pivots to food ingredients amid divestments. Olam Group will invest US $500m in its Food Ingredients unit and allocate US $2bn to repay debts while selling non-core assets. CEO Sunny Verghese says tariff impacts remain minimal due to diversified global production. (Singapore)

New launch

• Mon, 14 Apr – Cometeer partners with Proud Mary for flash-frozen coffee capsules. Cometeer will offer Proud Mary’s Humbler, Ethiopia Deri Kidame, and Brazil Mantiqueira coffees as single-serve frozen capsules. (Gloucester, Massachusetts, US)

• Tue, 15 Apr – AeroPress launches Clear XL brewer. The new 600ml Clear brewer is currently available in the US, with international rollout in the coming weeks. (Palo Alto, California, US)

• Tue, 15 Apr – São Paulo launches coffee tourism routes to boost regional economy. The initiative features five routes across 25 municipalities, including historic farms and research centres, aiming to strengthen the state’s R $5bn coffee sector. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Tue, 15 Apr – PrimeVent launches laser coffee degassing tech to replace traditional valves. The Minnesota firm says its sustainable packaging solution reduces plastic waste by 94%, expanding to the US after Australasian success under Clive Jacobs’ leadership. (St. Paul, Minnesota, US)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Marimekko and Blue Bottle Coffee collaborate on Finnish coffee culture collection. The limited-edition range, launching on 25 April, features Nordic Green Unikko-printed accessories and a korvapuusti-inspired latte, with installations in cafés across New York, Tokyo, Seoul, and five other cities. (Oakland, California, US)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Ampersand launches robotic coffee kiosk at Dallas Fort Worth Airport. The “Gizmo” machine in Terminal C offers 27 drinks via touchscreen and QR pickup, with automated delivery to gates planned by 2026 through RobotLAB and Hestia Robotics. (Dallas, Texas, US)

• Wed, 16 Apr – BKON will showcase Coldstretto cold coffee tech at Specialty Coffee Expo. The New Jersey firm will demo its shelf-stable espresso extraction at booth 1921, featuring trend-driven drinks like dirty sodas and functional brews, plus events with Caffe Vita and Café Bustelo. (Houston, Texas, US)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Blue Diamond will relaunch its Barista Blend Almondmilk at Specialty Coffee Expo Houston. The company used feedback from baristas and coffee shops to inform the redesign and create packaging that acknowledges the journey from farm to cup between almond farmers and baristas. (Sacramento, California)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Nescafé launches espresso concentrate range in UK targeting young consumers. The Nestlé brand’s iced coffee product, available in vanilla, caramel, and classic flavours, allows customisable drinks at home. The concentrate aims to generate over 100m Swiss francs annually after expanding to Asia and Europe. (Gatwick, UK)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Coffeejack launches second-gen portable espresso maker on Kickstarter. The updated device features a hand crank to achieve 10-bar pressure, which the company says offers more precision and control compared to competitor brands. The Kickstarter campaign has so far raised over £280,000. (London, UK)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Expocacer will debut new ecommerce platform and coffee labels at Specialty Coffee Expo Houston. The Brazilian cooperative will showcase its new coffee labels, including Origin, One, Plot, and Impact, and launch an e-commerce platform at its Houston booth, alongside cupping sessions highlighting traceability and sustainability initiatives. (Houston, Texas, US)

• Fri, 18 Apr – Wildroots Coffee becomes first US café to launch watermelon seed milk. The chain introduced MILKish, a plant-based milk that uses 99% less water than almonds. The alternative milk will be featured in a Blueberry Pancake Latte made with espresso or matcha, a house-made blueberry-maple syrup and a dash of cinnamon. (Charlotte, North Carolina, US)

• Fri, 18 Apr – Eclipse Foods will debut non-dairy whole milk inspired by Japan’s Hokkaido at Specialty Coffee Expo. The chickpea and pea-based milk, fortified with Vitamin D and calcium, is nut-free, soy-free, and designed for barista use with stable foaming. (Houston, Texas, US)

• Fri, 18 Apr – Specialty Coffee Association launches global judge training programme. The WCC Judge Skills Programme provides in-person courses on competition rules and scoring, following a 2024 Brazil pilot. Participants gain certificates to standardise judging standards worldwide. (Santa Ana, California, US)

• Fri, 18 Apr – Coffee Bros. launches campaign to sell award-winning Brazilian coffee at 65% discount to protest tariffs. The New York roaster is offering the 92.32-point natural Yellow Catucaí for US $9.99, highlighting the impacts of US import tariffs and urging exemptions via a consumer petition. (New York City, New York, US)

• Fri, 18 Apr – Australia’s Single O launches first day-to-night coffee venue in Kanda, Japan. After a decade in the Japanese market, the roaster will open its first day-to-night flagship café in Kanda Awajicho on Thursday 24 April. Single O will offer a full-service café serving cocktails and wine alongside a food menu. (New South Wales, Australia)

• Fri, 18 Apr – Nuova Simonelli to host Technicians Competition on 29 April in Dubai. The single-elimination competition will feature eight technicians selected through an online quiz. Each round will last 30 minutes, where a randomly paired duo of technicians will face off using the NUOVA Aurelia Volumetric XT by Nuova Simonelli, simulating machine malfunctions or request adjustments that highlight each participant’s technical skills, machine knowledge, and problem-solving ability. (Belforte del Chienti, Italy)

Milestone

• Wed, 16 Apr – MiiR will mark 15th anniversary with coffee tastings and custom cups at Specialty Coffee Expo. The Seattle reusable drinkware brand will host tastings with partners like Equator Coffee, offer limited-edition Expo cups, and debut its Jubilee colourway. Live customisation proceeds benefit nonprofits Kula and Bean Voyage, reflecting its B Corp and Climate Neutral Certified status. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Fri, 18 Apr – India’s Nothing Before Coffee secures US $2.3m for expansion into tier 2 & 3 cities. The affordable chain, backed by Prath Ventures and others, aims to grow from 85 to 150 outlets by 2026, focusing on India’s smaller urban markets with kiosks and digital investments. NBC opened its first European store in Portugal in 2024. (Jaipur, India)

Trade & production

• Mon, 14 Apr – High coffee prices boost Vietnamese farmers’ cash flow. Despite last year’s drought, high prices have allowed producers to store small amounts of capital like “withdrawals” to meet immediate cash needs, prompting investments in quality and irrigation that improve livelihoods even as harvests remain modest. (Hanoi, Vietnam)

• Tue, 15 Apr – Fair Trade USA and Acorn expand carbon credit access for coffee and cocoa farmers. Fair Trade USA partners with Acorn, a Rabobank initiative, to provide smallholder farmers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with equitable access to carbon credits from agroforestry projects, boosting income and climate resilience. (Oakland, California, US)

• Tue, 15 Apr – Coffee futures rebound on dollar weakness and crop concerns. Arabica rose 3.5% as the dollar hit three-year lows, while BMI revised its 2025 price forecast up 42% to US $3.40/lb amid production worries in Brazil and Vietnam. (New York City, New York, US)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Ethiopia sets coffee export record with US $1.5bn revenue in nine months. The country exported 299,607 tonnes, exceeding targets by 48%, driven by demand from Saudi Arabia (18%), Germany (17%), and the US (8%). The Coffee and Tea Authority aims to boost global competitiveness through quality and market diversification. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Safras & Mercado raises Brazil’s 2025/26 coffee harvest forecast to 65 million 60kg bags. After earlier drought‑driven cuts, the analyst now pegs arabica output at about 40 million bags and robusta between 25 and 26 million, lifting the total above 65 million. This number is well above the 62.5 million‑bag market consensus thanks to recent rains. Still, New York and London futures have edged to their highest levels in weeks. (São Paulo, Brazil)

Research

• Wed, 16 Apr – UK coffee prices could standardise at £5 per cup within three years. Industry analysts cite record arabica costs, adverse weather in Brazil and Vietnam, and rising energy expenses. Café owners fear customer pushback, echoing past concerns when £2 seemed excessive, as premium drinks already hit £5. (London, UK)

Events & competitions

• Mon, 14 Apr – More than 17,000 people from 85 countries expected to attend Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston. North America’s largest B2B specialty coffee trade show will host the 2025 World Coffee Roasting Championships from 25 to 27 April. (Houston, Texas, US)

• Mon, 14 Apr – World of Coffee Jakarta will host the 2025 World Brewers Cup. The event, running from 15 to 17 May at the Jakarta International Convention Centre, will also feature the Roaster Village, lectures, and a trade show exhibition. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

• Tue, 15 Apr – BRITA Professional launches third edition of Grounds of Innovation contest. The competition, recognising innovative UK coffee shops, will runs until 23 June. The winner will receive a £1,000 prize, a latte art masterclass with Ben Lewis, and a Purity C iq filter award. (London, UK)

• Tue, 15 Apr – Nicaragua’s Sajonia Estate Coffee hosts second Golden Attribute competition. The exporter hosted the event, which evaluated over 120 Nicaraguan coffees across ten sensory attributes instead of traditional scoring. Winning lots, highlighting regional flavour profiles and sustainable practices, will debut at Houston’s Specialty Coffee Expo. (Matagalpa, Nicaragua)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Victoria Arduino will showcase its espresso innovations at Specialty Coffee Expo Houston. The Italian manufacturer will debut the Black Eagle Maverick machine with T3 Genius and PBtech systems alongside the AI-powered Eagle One and sustainable Eagle Tempo models. The event runs from 25 to 27 April at the George R. Brown Convention Centre. (Houston, Texas, US)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Barista Espresso launched its 25th anniversary capsule at Horeca Lebanon. The company debuted its new Master Blend capsule at the Beirut trade show, which attracted more than 19,000 hospitality professionals to Seaside Arena. (Beirut, Lebanon)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Café Show Vietnam 2025 prepares Ho Chi Minh City showcase. The ninth edition will run from until 19 April, hosting trade exhibitions, workshops, and competitions, including the 2025 Vietnamese Barista, Latte Art, and Brewers Cup Championships. Last year’s event drew 30,000 visitors from 45 countries. (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

• Fri, 18 Apr – Astoria to showcase the AB200 at Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston. The espresso machine features individual shot counters for each grouphead, newly designed Astoria portafilters, an adjustable drip tray, an East Clean steam wand with a purge function, and the Autosteamer Plus, which automatically adjusts milk temperature and foam level. (Susegana, Italy)

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

• Wed, 9 Apr – Free Rein Coffee bolsters leadership team ahead of planned retail growth. The Texas brand appointed Rich Caponi as Head of Growth and Robert Fraze as Head of Brand. Free Rein aims to expand its omnichannel presence and boost customer engagement. (San Angelo, Texas, US)

• Fri, 11 Apr – Esquires Coffee targets 100 UK and Ireland stores by late 2025. Parent company Cooks Coffee reported 35% quarterly sales growth to £9.5m, defying wider market slowdowns, with plans to reach 300 sites by 2034. (London, UK)

Photo credits: The Green Coffee Company, NicaVio

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