Coffee News Recap, 24 Jul: USDA predicts record production, exports & consumption in 2026/27, Massimo Zanetti draws six private equity bids up to US$1.2bn & other stories

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

Editor’s note

The USDA’s latest Coffee: World Markets and Trade report forecasts records across the board for the 2026/27 coffee year. According to USDA figures, production will rise 6% to 189.7 million 60kg bags, exports will climb 8.9% to 158.9 million, and consumption will hit an unprecedented 179.7 million. The report says it will be a bumper year for Brazil, Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Uganda, offsetting lower harvests in Indonesia and India.

After years of tight stocks and volatile prices, the forecast surplus of roughly 10 million bags should allow inventories to rebuild throughout 2027. This points to bearish green coffee prices, bringing welcome relief for traders, roasters and, eventually, consumers.

Producers, however, face familiar pressures. Record harvests will push farmgate prices lower, and growers who expanded during the high-price years now face tighter margins. Smallholders with high production costs remain the most exposed if prices fall through 2027.

There is one caveat: StoneX has already warned that a strong El Niño could disrupt coffee production in Brazil, Vietnam, and Indonesia. For now, the global coffee surplus is a forecast, not a certainty.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 20 Jul – Six private equity bids value Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group at €1.2bn. Founder Massimo Zanetti, who created the Segafredo Zanetti brand, confirmed he will sell his stake if terms are acceptable. The group also owns the MZB roasting network and Café do Ponto. (Treviso, Italy)

• Tue, 21 Jul – Mammoth Coffee reaches 1,000 stores in South Korea. The value-focused operator, known for its 940ml iced americano, is the 12th chain in the country to reach this milestone and was recently acquired by Orchestra Private Equity. It now eyes international expansion. (Seoul, South Korea)

• Wed, 22 Jul – Trump administration could respond to Nicaragua’s pending election ban, potentially affecting coffee. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Nicaragua should not expect “business as usual” with Washington after Ortega’s statement that the country ⁠would cease holding elections. The US buys 35% of all coffee exported by Nicaragua, according to USDA figures. (Washington, DC, US)

• Thu, 23 Jul – USDA expects global coffee production, exports, and consumption to reach all-time highs in 2026/27. The arabica harvest is set to reach an all-time high of 105.9m bags, while robusta will fall slightly to 83.8m, the second-highest figure on record. Global exports of all forms of coffee are expected to reach 158.9m, and consumption at 179.7m. (Washington, DC, US)

• Thu, 23 Jul – Four new Singapore Coffee Champions crowned at SIGEP Asia. Gabriel Lim Yeok Sien of Glyph Supply Co. won the Barista Championship, and MAME’s Elysia Tan won the Timemore Brewers Cup. Café Kitsune’s Zheng Yi Lim is the Latte Art Champion, and Wong Li Ping of Torch Coffee won the Cup Tasters. (Singapore)

• Fri, 24 Jul – James Hoffmann and Lucia Solis announce The Fermentation Project. The project processed the same washed coffee through four different kinds of fermentation. Over 100 international roasters are taking part, with tasting sets available soon for a global live tasting later this year.

Industry news

• Mon, 20 Jul – Ireland’s Maxol iced coffee sales surge 215% during June heatwave. The forecourt operator served five million Rosa Coffee cups in 2025 and introduced iced coffee in September 2023. CEO Brian Donaldson said the trend suggests changing consumer habits that could extend beyond summer. (Dublin, Ireland)

• Mon, 20 Jul – US judge dismisses shareholder lawsuit against Starbucks over 2023 sales slump. The court agreed that former CEO Laxman Narasimhan did not intentionally mislead investors. The case, brought by pension funds, followed a 3% same-store sales drop in April 2024 and a 16% stock fall. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Mon, 20 Jul – Nims revenues grow to €132.5m in 2025. Growth was driven by expanded customer service and exclusive customer care. The Lavazza Group company sold over 301m capsules through its direct‑to‑consumer model, serving 40,000 customers. (Padua, Italy)

• Mon, 20 Jul – Ecuador’s Sweet & Coffee plans international debut in Chile in 2027. The country’s largest coffee chain, founded in 1997, will open its first franchise outside Ecuador as part of a wider Latin American expansion strategy. It also plans to open 15 new domestic stores this year. (Quito, Ecuador)

• Tue, 21 Jul – Nestlé expands trademark fight against Seattle Strong Coffee, now challenging its orca logo. The Swiss company originally contested the Seattle Strong name in 2025, arguing it infringes on its Seattle’s Best brand. It filed a second case in March 2026 against the logo, escalating the dispute. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Tue, 21 Jul – Kruti Coffee shipment leaves Kolkata as India’s first coffee export to the UK under the India–UK trade deal. The consignment will supply the opening of Kruti Coffee’s first international café, which launches in London on 1 August 2026. To mark the occasion, Kruti Coffee co-founder Jeeta Mona visited the High Commission of India in London, where she presented a box of Kruti specialty coffee to Kumaran Periasamy, High Commissioner of India to the UK. (London, UK)

• Wed, 22 Jul – Café Amazon faces uncertain future in Cambodia amid border dispute and consumer boycott. The largest branded coffee chain in the country has seen dozens of stores close as conflict between Thailand and Cambodia escalates. Parent company PTT OR has announced a comprehensive business review following a sharp sales decline. (Bangkok, Thailand)

• Wed, 22 Jul – Cimbali Group releases its 2025 Sustainability Report. The document, highlighting value chain sustainability, people development, and transparent governance, underscores continuous progress for the fourth-generation family company. Over 81% of electricity is generated through renewable sources, and more than 30,000 people have trained through the MUMAC Academy since 2014. (Binasca, Italy)

• Thu, 23 Jul – Last Rep Coffee named official supplier for World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26. The athlete-founded brand, co-owned by 1,500m world champion Jake Wightman and Olympian Zak Seddon, will source beans from Hungarian roaster KTRL. The event runs 11-13 September. (Manchester, UK)

• Thu, 23 Jul – Pret A Manger creates new Global Director of Talent role. CEO Pano Christou called the position fundamental to the chain’s future. The JAB-backed operator, which runs 750 outlets across 21 markets and employs 12,500 staff, is accelerating growth in the UK, North America, and the Middle East. (London, UK)

• Fri, 24 Jul – Nestlé H1 2026 coffee sales rise 0.9% to US$14bn. Total group sales fell 2.5% to US$50bn, and net profit dropped 31.4% due to restructuring costs. Nespresso sales reached US$3.6bn with 4.3% organic growth. Nestlé divested Blue Bottle Coffee and formed a Peranel joint venture for water. (Vevey, Switzerland)

• Fri, 24 Jul – Groupe SEB posts H1 sales of €3.74bn, with Professional division outperforming. Overall like‑for‑like sales rose 1.7% and organic growth 0.6%, though net profit fell 9.1% to €179m. The Professional division, which includes WMF and La San Marco, saw organic growth of 9.3%, reaching €343m in H1. (Ecully, France)

• Fri, 24 Jul – EU formally signs International Coffee Agreement 2022, ushering in a new era of global coffee cooperation. The ceremony took place at the ICO headquarters in London on 21 July. The global coffee industry is now valued at over US$300bn annually. (London, UK)

Businesses for sale

• Tue, 21 Jul – Kopi Kenangan eyes US$1bn IPO as it targets 4,000 stores by 2030. The Indonesian chain, backed by Serena Williams and Jay‑Z, posted US$184m revenue and US$17m profit in 2025. It plans to invest US$200m to expand from 1,300 to 4,000 outlets, with about 550 new openings in 2026. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

• Thu, 23 Jul – Serbia’s Kafeterija expands into Bulgaria with acquisition of Eddy’s chain. The deal includes nine of Eddy’s 12 locations, with plans to open five more by year-end. Kafeterija holds 70%; founders retain 30%. (Sofia, Bulgaria)

New launch

• Mon, 20 Jul – De’Longhi unveils Magnifica Duo with multi-pressure brewing. The bean‑to‑cup machine offers three extraction pressures, 20 recipes, and one‑touch cold extract for iced coffee. (Treviso, Italy)

• Tue, 21 Jul – Mago Maga launches Roma‑X AI-powered home roaster on Kickstarter. The third‑generation machine roasts up to 300g at a time, offers 266 built‑in profiles, and includes smoke management, app connectivity, and cloud-based roast sharing. It was a Best New Product finalist at World of Coffee San Diego 2026, and the brand’s first-generation home coffee roaster, Roma Pro, received the 2025 SCA Best New Product – People’s Choice Award. (Hong Kong, China)

• Wed, 22 Jul – Philz Coffee launches four handcrafted matcha drinks. The menu includes Iced Matcha, Strawberry Matcha, Strawberry Mint Matcha, and Salted Caramel Matcha, all made with matcha from Uji, Japan and served with oat milk. (Oakland, California, US)

• Wed, 22 Jul – Lavazza launches Family Blend series with Martin and Francesca Scorsese. The five‑episode mini‑series, directed by Francesca Scorsese and starring Jason Biggs, premiered on 22 July. It is part of the Pleasure Makes Us Human campaign. (Turin, Italy)

• Thu, 23 Jul – Orbiter OB-1 Pro joins the small roaster market. The Taiwanese countertop electric drum roaster handles 300‑1,200g batches, features app control, and has Artisan compatibility. (New Taipei City, Taiwan)

• Thu, 23 Jul – La Marzocco reimagines a classic with the new OFB Strada. Available in Strada X and Strada S with one to three groups, it features CNC‑machined stainless steel legs, hand‑machined aluminium side panels, a mirror‑finish floating drip tray, and the brass OFB logo. Production is limited to preserve craftsmanship. (Florence, Italy)

• Fri, 24 Jul – BrootLegg Extracts launches high-pressure cold brew production. The system pushes water through a sealed canister at up to 1,200 psi, completing a five‑gallon batch in 45 minutes using just 2 to 3.5lbs of coffee. The founders describe the technology as infinitely scalable. (Columbus, Ohio, US)

Milestone

• Tue, 21 Jul – Organic Traditions closes US$10.5m Series A round to scale US growth. The Canadian superfood brand, which offers mushroom coffees and functional lattes, will use the funds to expand retail and e-commerce. It has seen 70% revenue growth over the past three years. (Toronto, Canada)

• Thu, 23 Jul – 7‑Eleven opens 1,000th CAFé outlet in Malaysia. The KLIA store targets high‑traffic travellers. The chain is also refurbishing 200 classic outlets and opening 100 new ones, while facing competition from FamilyMart, CU, and emart24, and analysts warn of rising costs. (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Trade & production

• Tue, 21 Jul – IBGE revises Brazil harvest forecast, StoneX warns El Niño threatens crops. Arabica output holds at 44.4m bags, while robusta is now seen at 21.6m, still 3% above last year. The broker gives over 80% probability of a strong El Niño, posing risks to flowering in Brazil and drought in Vietnam and Indonesia. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Wed, 22 Jul – Kenya launches coffee revitalisation programme to triple production by 2028/29. The initiative targets 265,000 tonnes of green coffee, up from 96,350 tonnes. It includes a direct payment system, subsidised fertiliser, and increased extension services. (Nairobi, Kenya)

• Thu, 23 Jul – Weak dollar squeezes Colombian coffee farmers as peso rallies 17%. The Colombian peso has appreciated 17% against the dollar this year. Farmers like Edmy Yojana Correa, who had been earning enough to buy equipment, now struggle with wages and fertiliser costs. (Bogotá, Colombia)

• Fri, 24 Jul – Saudi Arabia and Ecuador explore trade partnerships for Salvadoran coffee. A Saudi Coffee Company delegation, backed by the PIF, visited farms and the Salvadoran Coffee Institute to assess imports. Ecuadorian firm Coffee Relief also seeks to strengthen bilateral coffee trade. (San Salvador, El Salvador)

Research

• Mon, 20 Jul – Five cups of coffee a day may cut cardiovascular risk. “Unfiltered coffee” raises LDL cholesterol, but caffeine itself shows no clear relationship and is associated with a lower risk of coronary artery disease and heart failure, according to research from the American Heart Association. (Dallas, Texas, US)

• Tue, 21 Jul – Coffee intake improves insulin sensitivity and reduces visceral fat. Analysis of 17,484 participants showed that each additional cup was linked to a 0.5 cm² reduction in visceral fat and improved insulin sensitivity via a higher C-peptide ratio. (London, UK)

• Thu, 23 Jul – Three in four coffee shops are invisible to consumers on AI search. Local Falcon pulled coffee businesses from the full 10,000-business dataset in its Restaurant AI Visibility Index and ran them separately. Of the 925 US coffee shops, cafés, and roasteries in the study, 77.2% never appeared in Google’s AI answers, compared with 13.2% that don’t appear on Google Maps. A coffee shop is nearly six times more likely to be left out of an AI answer than off the map. (Erie, Pennsylvania, US)

• Fri, 24 Jul – Anaerobic dry fermentation boosts flavour precursors in green arabica. Research on Yunnan’s Catimor variety detected 1,706 compounds and identified 75 sensory‑linked metabolites. Anaerobic dry processing enriched amino acids and organic acids, and scored higher in sensory tests for aroma, flavour, and balance. (Kunming, China)

Events & competitions

• Mon, 20 Jul – Brighton Coffee Festival returns on 8 & 9 August. The event will feature over 50 exhibitors, cuppings, talks, workshops, latte art competitions, and the UK & Ireland Filter Championships. (Brighton, UK)

• Wed, 22 Jul – Regionals return for 2027 US Coffee Championships. Four of six events will have regional rounds: Barista, Brewers, Roasting, and Cup Tasters. Latte Art and Coffee in Good Spirits go straight to nationals. (New York City, New York, US)

• Thu, 23 Jul – Coffee Fest Los Angeles 2026 runs 21‑22 August. The event features hundreds of exhibitors, over 80 hours of education, free seminars, and dedicated areas including the Roasting Hub, Cupping Corner, Latte Art Venue, and Tech Lab. (Los Angeles, California, US)

• Thu, 23 Jul – Fifth edition of CoffeeFest Madrid will take place 6-8 March 2027. The event will feature the CoffeeFest Madrid summit, including speakers discussing key topics, Europe’s Green Coffee Auction, the 2027 Spain Coffee Championships, and CoffeeFest Madrid competitions, such as Latte Art Matcha and Espresso Pro Tournament. (Madrid, Spain)

• Fri, 24 Jul – Grounds for Health calls for support in Royal Coffee’s US$125,000 match. Royal Coffee is matching every dollar donated, up to US$125,000, until 31 July. Money raised will fund cervical cancer screening for women in Sidamo, Ethiopia. (Ashfield, Massachusetts, US)

• Fri, 24 Jul – SM Supermalls hosts Coffee Fest 2026 across the Philippines. The month‑long celebration features coffee fairs, tastings, pop‑ups, and promotions. It began 17‑19 July at SM Megamall with the Biyaya festival, Manila Coffee Expo, and Coffee Expo Manila. The Coffee N’ Chill series runs until 2 August. (Manila, Philippines)

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

• Mon, 13 Jul – Alshaya Group expands Starbucks franchise to Georgia. The Kuwaiti operator will open the first store in Tbilisi this summer, with further expansion planned. Alshaya already runs over 800 Starbucks outlets across Eurasia, including Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. (Tbilisi, Georgia)

• Mon, 13 Jul – Lavazza earns EcoVadis Gold Medal for sustainability. The Italian group ranks in the top 5% of assessed businesses, with outstanding scores in Environment, Labour and Human Rights, and improved Ethics. The rating reflects shared efforts across the supply chain. (Turin, Italy)

• Thu, 16 Jul – Circle K Ireland appoints Paul Dixon as new managing director. He takes over from Ciara Foxton, who was promoted to Senior Vice President for Circle K Mid-Europe & Asia, on 1 August. Dixon has been with the business for nine years and will oversee a network of over 420 locations across Ireland. (Dublin, Ireland)

• Thu, 16 Jul – NAMA opens nominations for 2026 Coffee Legend of the Year Award. The deadline for submissions is 8 August, with the winner to be announced at the NAMA 2026 Coffee Tea & Water Show in October. The award honours individuals who have made significant contributions to the coffee service industry. (Chicago, Illinois, US)

Photo credits: SIGEP Asia, Producer & Roaster Forum

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