Coffee News Recap, 11 Jul:  Joe & the Juice explores US $2.4 billion IPO, 18 countries call for EUDR simplification & other stories

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

Editor’s note

Eighteen EU nations have requested further simplification and delays to the European Union Deforestation Regulation via a signed letter, according to Euronews.

The landmark legislation took effect in June 2023 and classifies countries according to their risk of deforestation in the production of several commodities, including coffee. Following widespread criticism of its implementation, the European Commission postponed the rollout to 30 December 2025 for large and medium-sized companies, and to 30 June 2026 for micro and small companies.

Even with these initial delays, agricultural ministers from eighteen EU countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Romania, and Sweden, have urged the European Commission to defer the start date further. The letter claims that the obligations placed on farmers and business operators are overly burdensome and will result in higher costs, increasing the risk that producers move away from the EU market.

Ultimately, EUDR requires more due diligence across the supply chain, and consumers will bear the cost. However, whether they will be willing to pay more for coffee that is verifiably deforestation-free remains to be determined.

If consumer interest in EUDR-compliant coffee grows, it may offer a competitive advantage to producers and exporters in low-risk origins, such as Costa Rica. High-risk origins, meanwhile, could face more hurdles.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 7 Jul – General Atlantic explores a $2.4 billion US IPO for Joe & the Juice. General Atlantic is in early talks with advisers to list Joe & the Juice in the US as soon as 2026, targeting a valuation near €2 bn ($2.4 bn); the chain operates 363 stores globally after GA acquired majority control in 2023. (New York City, New York, US)

• Mon, 7 Jul – Starbucks advances US turnaround with new store design. Prototype locations feature flexible bar layouts, zoned seating areas, integrated digital order screens, and dedicated mobile pick-up drawers to streamline service flow and enhance the customer experience as part of the Back to Starbucks efficiency drive. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Tue, 8 Jul – Germany’s The Barn makes UK debut in London. The Berlin-based roastery opened its inaugural UK café in Fitzrovia, introducing its single-origin pour-overs and espresso-focused menu to London as part of its expansion into premium hospitality markets. (London, UK)

• Wed, 9 Jul – 18 countries call for simplification of the EUDR. Ministers from 18 EU member states, including Italy, Poland, and Sweden, urged the Commission to exempt low-risk countries, delay implementation, and ease due diligence requirements under the EU Deforestation Regulation, despite industry warnings of added uncertainty. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Wed, 9 Jul – UK’s 92 Degrees expands franchise programme with Midlands partner. Launched in January 2025, the licensed store scheme onboarded its third franchisee for the Midlands, aiming to open up to 15 cafés. Opportunities start with a £20,000 fee and a circa £30,000 investment, with funding available via high-street banks and Start-Up Loans. (Liverpool, UK)

• Wed, 9 Jul – Latest ICO report shows sharp decline in prices and global exports. In June, the ICO composite indicator fell 9.2% to 92.4 US cents/lb, with Brazilian arabica FOB export prices down 13% to $1.78/lb and Vietnamese robusta dropping 16% to $1,485/tonne amid easing frost concerns and increased supply. (London, UK)

• Wed, 9 Jul – Study shows pregnant women’s coffee consumption doesn’t impact the cognitive development of their children. In a China National Birth Cohort of 1,427 mothers in Anhui Province, researchers found no significant link between prenatal coffee consumption and children’s cognitive or motor scores at age three. At the same time, tea intake correlated with modest gains. (Anhui, China)

• Thu, 10 Jul – US President Trump threatens Brazil with 50% tariffs. Trump’s duty on Brazilian goods from August  risks US coffee supply, as Brazil provides about one‑third of US consumption. The US president stated that the decision comes partly in retaliation for what he called a “witch hunt” against his political ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is facing trial for allegedly attempting a coup. (Washington, DC, US)

• Fri, 11 Jul – Sucafina opens trading office in Germany. Opening in Bremen in January 2026, Sucafina Germany marks a significant step forward in strengthening the company’s trading scope across Europe. Sucafina Germany will be led by Bastian Fülles and Tobias Schwind, who bring more than 30 years of combined experience and deep industry knowledge. (Geneva, Switzerland)

Industry news

• Mon, 7 Jul – Asda invests £10m in café refresh programme. Over 180 in-store cafés managed by Compass will receive digital ordering screens, table service, and manned tills, along with menu expansions that include iced coffees, avocado toast, katsu curry, and 12-inch pizzas. Upgrades are scheduled to be completed by the end of October. (Leeds, UK)

• Mon, 7 Jul – Bubble tea giant Mixue highlights Starbucks’ China dilemma. Mixue’s sub-$1 beverages and agile trend adaptation have grown its network to over 46,000 outlets and a $25 billion valuation. At the same time, Starbucks’ market share in China has plummeted from 34% in 2019 to 14%, prompting its first price cuts and talks of a local partnership. (Shanghai, China)

• Tue, 8 Jul – Starbucks offers stock incentives under its turnaround plan. Executives can earn up to $6 million in performance-based stock grants if they implement key Back to Starbucks initiatives, with vesting scheduled to take place after fiscal 2027. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Wed, 9 Jul – NCA ends funding for animal tests. Following a PETA campaign that highlighted live animal testing in coffee research, the NCA announced it would cease funding any experiments on animals and redirect its support toward non-animal alternative methods. (Arlington, Virginia, US)

• Thu, 10 Jul – LA Rams name Juan Valdez official coffee partner. Green Coffee Company and the Los Angeles Rams have announced a multi-year partnership, making Juan Valdez the official coffee of the Rams. This partnership will feature Juan Valdez serving hot and cold brew at home games through stadium activations, as well as special co-branded editions and a digital content series. (Los Angeles, California, US)

• Thu, 10 Jul – UK’s Knoops debuts Shanghai store in early 2026. Premium drinking chocolate and coffee chain Knoops will open its first outlet in China, in Shanghai, in the first quarter of 2026, advancing its target to reach 3,000 stores globally by 2030. (London, UK)

• Thu, 10 Jul – NBA’s Jimmy Butler’s Bigface Coffee pop-up opens in San Francisco. Bigface Coffee runs a two-week pop-up at Square’s Corner Store in the Mission District from 10 to 27 July, serving espresso, cold brew, and pour-over with signature infusions, SF-exclusive merchandise and 15% off for Cash App Card users. (San Francisco, California, US)

• Fri, 11 Jul – India’s Blue Tokai signs Middle East master franchise deal. The Indian chain has partnered with Ambrosia Gulf to launch in the Middle East, opening a flagship Dubai store in Q4 2025 and securing regional RTD coffee distribution rights under the master franchise agreement. (Dubai, UAE)

• Fri, 11 Jul – Trump tariffs loom over coffee market, says Lavazza chairman. Giuseppe Lavazza warned that US duties on Brazilian and Vietnamese imports risk renewed price volatility even as green coffee prices may have peaked, adding that forthcoming EU deforestation rules could prove more damaging to the sector. (London, UK)

Businesses for sale

• Thu, 10 Jul – Starbucks China receives controlling stake bids valuing unit at $10 billion. Prospective buyers, including Centurium Capital, Hillhouse Capital, Carlyle Group, and KKR, have submitted non-binding offers for a majority stake in Starbucks China, valuing the business at up to $10 billion as the company reviews proposals and plans to shortlist by year-end. (Shanghai, China)

New launch

• Wed, 9 Jul – Dutch Bros unveils new summer drinks. The limited edition seasonal menu includes Mudslide Mocha, featuring chocolate milk, Irish cream, and dark chocolate sauce; Strawberry Colada, blending pineapple, coconut, and sweet cream; and Blue Lagoon, mixing blue raspberry and passion fruit, available as Fizz, Lemonade, or Rebel at all 1,000+ locations, while supplies last. (Grants Pass, Oregon, US)

• Tue, 8 Jul – Equation Coffee unveils its Biochar Origins coffee line. Colombia’s Equation Coffee and its partners have developed the line utilising biochar made from coffee prunings as a soil amendment. Pilot plots recorded a 30% increase in soil organic carbon and a 25% rise in farmer income. (Bogotá, Colombia)

• Tue, 8 Jul – Limitless X launches nootropic coffee concentrate. The California-based company has released the Limitless Nootropic Blend Coffee Concentrate, a 30-serving instant Arabica coffee with added nootropics for enhanced focus and energy. The non-GMO, vegan, and sustainable product marks the Limitless X entry into the $500 billion coffee and $2.5 trillion CPG markets. (Los Angeles, California, US)

• Wed, 9 Jul – Darat al‑Qahwa launches digital loyalty and subscription app. The new COFE App rollout across 80+ outlets introduces a digital stamp-card loyalty programme and Ramadan coffee subscriptions, driving a 386% increase in sales and a 66% monthly retention rate while enhancing operational efficiency and data insights. (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

• Thu, 10 Jul – Coffee Project NY launches melon-forward Caturra with nitrogenated fermentation. The roaster’s new limited release, Nitro Culturing Caturra, features bioreactor processing by Colombian producers Julio and Maria Madrid, delivering notes of cantaloupe and honeydew with a creamy body and medium acidity. (New York, US)

• Thu, 10 Jul – Bentwood and GH launch Vertical 75 commercial grinder. A collaboration between Swiss maker Bentwood and North Carolina’s GH Grinding & Brewing unveiled the Vertical 75, featuring 75 mm burrs, an enlarged chamber delivering up to 5 g/s, a vertical grind path with numeric micron display, and the same footprint as the Vertical 63; US sales begin this summer via GH, priced near $2,435. (Portland, Oregon, US)

• Fri, 11 Jul – Laird Superfood launches new functional coffee line. The Colorado-based company launched Perform Whole Bean and Perform Decaf coffees infused with chaga, lion’s mane, maitake, and cordyceps; USDA Organic, shade‑grown beans coated with Aquamin™ trace minerals, offering energy, focus, and balance. (Boulder, Colorado, US)

• Fri, 11 Jul – Brita launches iQ Meter for smarter filter monitoring. The iQ Meter fits standard filter housings to track water usage and filter lifespan via IoT connectivity, sending real‑time alerts for cartridge changes and maintenance to prevent off‑taste risks and ensure consistent brew quality. (Taunusstein, Germany)

Trade & production

• Mon, 7 Jul – Neumann Kaffee Gruppe forecasts a rebound in Brazil’s output. The world’s largest coffee trader said Brazil’s arabica production could reach roughly 40 million 60 kg bags in 2025–26, signalling relief from current supply tightness. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Tue, 8 Jul – Brazil trade surplus misses forecasts in June. June’s surplus fell 7% year-on-year to $5.89 billion, below the $6.45 billion estimate, as imports rose 3.8% to $23.3 billion, despite a 1.4% export gain to $29.1 billion led by coffee and beef. The government cut its 2025 surplus outlook to $50.4 billion. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Wed, 9 Jul – Brazil coffee growers plant over 100 million trees to bolster output. Facing severe drought losses, farmers in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo have replanted more than 100 million coffee saplings this season using government-subsidised seedlings and high market prices to replace ageing stock and improve yields for the 2026/27 harvest. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Wed, 9 Jul – The Gorongosa Coffee Project supports the Mozambican community and conservation. The initiative trains and employs local farmers in Gorongosa to cultivate specialty coffee using sustainable agroforestry, channelling revenue into park restoration, infrastructure improvements, and educational programmes to bolster livelihoods and biodiversity. (Gorongosa, Mozambique)

• Wed, 9 Jul – Coffee prices fall sharply in June due to a surplus outlook. The ICO composite indicator dipped to a median 303.02 US cents/lb amid USDA’s forecast of a 9.32 million‑bag surplus for 2025/26 and ICE stocks hitting 1.85 million bags; Brazilian Naturals fell 10.9% to 338.53 cents/lb, and robustas dropped 17.5% to 196.21 cents/lb. (London, UK)

• Thu, 10 Jul – Ethiopia reports record coffee revenue and unveils national strategy. In the first ten months of 2024/25, Ethiopia exported 354,302 tonnes of coffee for $1.87 billion, up 30%, as ECTA launched a long-term strategy to raise export revenues to $4.6 billion and annual production to 1.26 million tonnes by 2033. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

• Fri, 11 Jul – Typica Holdings signs 10-year direct Brazil trade deal. Under a new MOA, Doutor Coffee will purchase up to 1,000 tonnes of Brazilian beans annually at fixed prices from partners Acaua and Fertinutri, creating a ¥8 billion market and aiming to stabilise producer incomes over ten years. (Osaka, Japan)

Research

• Tue, 8 Jul – WCR taps Dr Verônica Belchior to lead coffee quality breeding efforts. Dr Belchior, a UFMG-trained Q-Grader, joins World Coffee Research as a quality evaluation scientist to map industry perceptions, develop statistical models for sensory and physicochemical traits, and strengthen collaborations for new varieties aligned with market quality targets. (Santa Cruz, California, US)

• Thu, 10 Jul – Study compares flavour impacts of cow’s milk and nut milks in coffee. New research from UC Davis finds cow’s milk generally enhances espresso flavour more than almond, cashew, or oat milks, but points to potential in plant-based innovations to better replicate dairy’s sensory and chemical interactions. (Davis, California, US)

Events & competitions

• Mon, 7 Jul – La Marzocco will take the Out of the Box event to Milan on October 17-21. The signature OOTB event will take place in the Tortona design district during Host Milan, blending espresso with art, design, craft, cuisine, film, luxury makers, speaker panels, DJ sets, and multi-sensory installations for partners, coffee professionals, and the public. (Milan, Italy)

• Tue, 8 Jul – Brighton Coffee Festival 2025 set for August 3. The specialty coffee event returns to the Brighton Dome, featuring tastings, workshops, panels, and networking opportunities designed for professionals and enthusiasts. (Brighton, UK)

• Wed, 9 Jul – The Barista League heads to Montreal on September 11. The event’s North American stop will feature local top barista teams competing at the Montreal Convention Centre, alongside Roasters Village, Barista League Café, and interactive games from Pacific Foods, Toddy, and Rancilio. (Montreal, Canada)

• Wed, 9 Jul – Beantropy 2025 explored the meaning of specialty coffee on July 1. The event featured producer masterclasses with Felipe Contreras, Alejo Castro, and others, guided tastings by Mihaela Iordache and Pierre de Chantérac, expert panels with Arnaud Causse, Noa Berger, and Scott Rao, and barista workshops on mineral-driven flavour and espresso cocktails. (Paris, France)

• Thu, 10 Jul – Raise the Bar launches its barista education event. Level Up is a two-and-a-half-day non‑competitive barista experience that runs from September 27 to 29 at Mill City Roasters, offering workshops, public café service, guest talks and community activities for 80 baristas, with scholarships and sponsorship from Pacific Barista Series, Mill City Roasters and others. (Minneapolis, Minnesota, US)

• Thu, 10 Jul – SIGEP Asia main events announced. From July 16 to 18, SIGEP Asia, in conjunction with Speciality Coffee & Tea Asia, will host the Singapore National Coffee Championship, the Panettone World Cup Asian selections, a 3.5-hour introduction to cupping, and a public showcase of roasters. (Singapore)

• Thu, 10 Jul – Cimbali Group debuts at Thailand Coffee Fest. The Italian coffee machine manufacturing group sponsored the SCA Lounge. It showcased the LaCimbali M200 espresso machine alongside the new Casadio Ermes Dual grinder, marking the start of its APAC rollout phase. (Bangkok, Thailand)

• Thu, 10 Jul – Honduras becomes the first country to host two Cup of Excellence auctions in one year. In a global first, Honduras will hold both its national and regional Cup of Excellence auctions in 2025, underscoring the country’s growing recognition as a producer of high-quality coffees and its strong commitment to the COE programme. (Tegucigalpa, Honduras)

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

• Mon, 30 Jun – Report reveals insights into the South African coffee market. The 2023 South African Coffee Industry Landscape Report projects an 11.2% CAGR to 2028, noting 15.8% off-trade value growth in 2023, rising RTD and cold coffee trends, a shift from instant to ground coffee amid price inflation, and a focus on sustainability innovations. (Johannesburg, South Africa)

• Thu, 3 Jul – Krispy Kreme appoints Raphael Duvivier as CFO. Effective July 11, Duvivier, the current president of international operations, succeeds Jeremiah Ashukian. A six-year veteran of the company, he has served as CFO of the international division and as Chief Development Officer, and has held senior roles at Restaurant Brands International. (Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, US)

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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 how big brands are reinvesting in coffee marketing campaigns.