Coffee News Recap, 14 Aug: Earthquake disrupts Colombia’s coffee sector, new EU sustainable packaging rules enter into force & other stories

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

Editor’s note

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing more than 250 people and leaving hundreds missing, according to Reuters. The earthquake hit the country’s coffee heartland, including Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Caldas, Antioquia, Chocó, and Quindío. Many farms, including Café Granja la Esperanza and partners of Forest Coffee, have reported some damage to infrastructure.

Reports indicate that the country’s coffee exports have virtually stopped. The Cali-Buenaventura road, the main route to Colombia’s busiest port, is blocked at several points, particularly in its tunnels. Asoexport’s chief executive, Gustavo Gómez, says transport firms and processing plants have also suspended operations. Cartagena and Santa Marta ports remain open, but a lorry shortage is limiting the amount of coffee reaching them.

Processing facilities have escaped serious structural damage, Gómez says. The disruption stems mainly from power cuts, communication failures, and staff tending to their own losses, including damage to their homes. The National Federation of Coffee Growers has activated continuity protocols with Almacafé and is assessing damage to farms and homes across the region.

Even after roads are cleared, shipment delays from Colombia are likely. Coffee will need to move through ports already facing bottlenecks, pushing shipment times out for weeks. For importers and roasters worldwide, now is the time to speak directly with partners on the ground and plan accordingly.

Fundraisers for Colombia earthquake relief efforts

Here’s how you can help those affected by the earthquake in Colombia:

• Colombian Red Cross: Teams are deployed in affected areas. Donations support emergency healthcare, safe drinking water, rescue operations, food, emergency kits, psychosocial care, and family reunification.
• UNICEF: Supporting children and families with healthcare, safe water, sanitation and hygiene, temporary shelter, child protection, and essential supplies.
• National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia Earthquake Relief: Assisting families and assessing damage to begin reconstruction.
• All Hands & Hearts Colombia Earthquake Relief: Teams are deployed in Colombia supporting search-and-rescue crews and displaced families with equipment, protective gear and emergency supplies.
• Colombia Se Levanta: A dedicated earthquake campaign mobilising resources for affected Colombian families and communities and their recovery.
• GlobalGiving Colombia Earthquake Relief Fund: Provides local organisations with flexible, rapid funding to deliver emergency medical care, search and rescue support, temporary shelter, food, clean water, hygiene supplies, and other essential services.
• World Central Kitchen Colombia Earthquake Response: Providing fresh meals to local communities.
• GoFundMe Help Families Rebuild After the Colombia Earthquake: Organised by Sara Bedoya, daughter of coffee farmers in Quindío, Colombia. Funds will support families who lost their homes, help repair damaged farms, and provide assistance to vulnerable communities in the Chocó region.
• ABACO – Asociación de Bancos de Alimentos de Colombia donations: Providing food and essential supplies through local food banks to people affected.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 10 Aug – Magnitude 7.4 earthquake halts Colombia’s coffee exports. Reports say the earthquake has killed more than 250 people and left hundreds missing, becoming the strongest earthquake to hit Colombia in the last decade. With the epicentre near San José del Palmar, the worst-hit area was around Pereira, part of Colombia’s coffee-growing region. (Bogotá, Colombia)

• Tue, 11 Aug – Vietnam’s coffee exports reach US$5.45bn in seven months. Vietnam exported 1.2 million tonnes of coffee in the first seven months of 2026, up 10.8% in volume from the same period last year, while export value fell 11.2% year on year. (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

• Wed, 12 Aug – New EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation comes into force. The new EU PPRW regulation establishes a harmonised framework for packaging and packaging waste in the single market, marking a major step towards reducing packaging waste and lowering compliance costs for the packaging industry. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Thu, 13 Aug – Faema to host I’m a Barista Journey with Jack Simpson on 14 September in Barcelona. Designed for coffee roasters, café owners, baristas, distributors, and hospitality professionals, the event combines expert discussions, technical tasting sessions, networking opportunities, and hands-on experiences. Jack Simpson, the 2025 World Barista Champion, will take part in a Q&A. (Barcelona, Spain)

• Fri, 14 Aug – Coffee consumed in moderation does not cause dehydration. Contrary to popular myths, moderate coffee consumption can help meet an individual’s hydration needs, counteracting the mild diuretic effects of caffeine. Diuretic effects are more pronounced when consumed in large doses, typically above 500mg.

• Fri, 14 Aug – April Coffee Roasters to launch Kickstarter for new hand grinder. The grinder is designed specifically for the April Brewer, and is part of the roaster’s April Brewing System. The Kickstarter will launch on 1 September, and you can learn more about the campaign on the brand’s website. (Copenhagen, Denmark)

Industry news

• Mon, 10 Aug – Westrock Coffee Company reports second quarter 2026 results and reaffirms 2026 outlook. Westrock Coffee Company reported a solid second quarter with net sales of US$305.7m, an 8.8% increase, and reaffirmed its 2026 guidance for adjusted EBITDA of US$90mn to US$100mn. (Little Rock, Arkansas, US)

• Mon, 10 Aug – Panera names Andy Rebhun CMO. Panera Bread has announced that Andrew Rebhun has joined as Chief Marketing Officer and will lead all aspects of marketing, including brand & creative, digital & loyalty, menu innovation, and media. (Fenton, Missouri, US)

• Tue, 11 Aug – Nespresso becomes preferred partner of Troon. Troon Partners Network, a division of Troon, a leader in golf and club-related leisure and hospitality services, has announced Nespresso as the company’s newest preferred partner through a multi-year partnership. (Scottsdale, Arizona, US)

• Wed, 12 Aug – Square integrates with Google’s Ask Maps to support coffee shop discovery and ordering. Square announced an expansion of its relationship with Google, bringing US food and beverage sellers into Ask Maps, a conversational AI experience within Google Maps where customers discover restaurants and place orders simply by asking questions. (Oakland, California, US)

• Thu, 13 Aug – Bonavita’s #TagATeacher giveaway is brewing up weekly wins for teachers across the US. Through the #TagATeacher giveaway, parents, colleagues, and students can nominate a teacher for a chance to win a free Bonavita brewer, with a winner drawn at random every Friday. The campaign has received over 185 nominations from 30 states so far. (Woodinville, Washington, US)

• Fri, 14 Aug – Jollibee’s coffee portfolio powers Q2 recovery, but higher cost constrains global ambitions. The Filipino foodservice group’s coffee brands delivered another quarter of rapid international growth, with wider targets cut, led by Highland Coffee, Compose Coffee, and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. International sales climbed 32.6% YOY, largely fuelled by the coffee and tea segment. (Manila, the Philippines)

Businesses for sale

• Mon, 10 Aug – Mega Coffee, Godo Partners vie for Haitai htb in South Korea sale. The takeover battle for Haitai htb, well known as the maker of “Podo Bong Bong” and “Coco Palm,” has solidified into a contest between a strategic investor and a financial investor. MGC Global, operator of the low-priced coffee franchise Mega Coffee, and the fledgling private equity firm Godo Partners were shortlisted as qualified bidders. (Seoul, South Korea)

• Tue, 11 Aug – Reborn Coffee signs MoU with the Mighty Oak Inc. to expand US distribution. The strategic MoU establishes a framework for cooperation in sourcing, supplying, and selling products across the US. (Brea, California, US)

• Wed, 12 Aug – Multigenerational farm Lions Gate Coffee looking for new owners. For more than a century, coffee has been grown on Lions Gate Coffee Farm in South Kona. Now, the business is for sale along with a piece of the 15-acre working farm. The owners, Suzanne Shriner and her partner, are ready to retire. (South Kona, Hawaii)

New launch

• Mon, 10 Aug – Ellianos Coffee launches Build Your Own Energy Drink programme. The drive-thru specialty coffee brand’s new programme enables customers to create a customised beverage from more than 30,000 possible combinations or choose from six Signature Energy creations developed by the Ellianos team. (Lake City, Florida)

• Mon, 10 Aug – Value Way Inc. opens CHIZU search drawing on OpenAlex. Value Way Inc., a Japan-based company building data platforms that integrate the entire coffee value chain, has launched CHIZU, a free, no-signup search over 190,643 coffee records drawn from the OpenAlex (CC0) data. (Kobe, Japan)

• Tue, 11 Aug – Crane Coffee introduces a new generation of coffee machines for UK and EU markets. The portfolio includes the CALI 2 for high-volume environments and several COTI 2 models intended for premium, retail, and other connected locations, emphasising updated design, connected technology, and easier operation. (Malvern, Pennsylvania, US)

• Wed, 12 Aug – Jolene Coffee introduces three new bold flavours. Popular RTD coffee brand JOLENE announces a continued brand expansion with the release of its first new flavours since launch, Red Velvet, Hazelnut, and Salted Caramel, reinforcing JOLENE’s commitment to ethically sourcing beans from women farmers in Peru. (Los Angeles, California, US)

• Thu, 13 Aug – Half-Caff Coffee launches three mindfully caffeinated ready-to-drink coffees. Minnesota-based RTD coffee brand Half-Caff Coffee, focusing on moderate caffeine and clean ingredients, launches its debut coffees. (Minneapolis, Minnesota, US)

Milestone

• Mon, 10 Aug – Fiorenzato expands North American presence through New Jersey subsidiary. The Italian grinder manufacturer is expanding its presence in North America through its New Jersey subsidiary, combining local support with cutting-edge grinding technology. (Santa Maria di Sala, Veneto, Italy)

• Tue, 11 Aug – Overseas expansion important strategic milestone for Oriental Kopi. Oriental Kopi Holdings Bhd’s expansion into Indonesia and Mauritius represents an important strategic milestone in the company’s evolution from a domestic café operator to a regional consumer brand. (Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia)

• Wed, 12 Aug – Rave Coffee lands Great Taste 2-Star award with best-selling Signature Blend. One of Rave’s other longstanding favourites, Fudge Blend Nº 5, came away from Great Taste 2026 with a 1-star award, while a more recent release, the El Carmen No. 50 Coffee Liqueur, also earned a 1-star rating. (Cirencester, UK)

• Fri, 14 Aug – UCTT announces it is joining ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. The North American tea importer has agreed to join ECOM Agroindustrial Corp Ltd, a leading global soft commodities company, marking an important milestone in UCTT’s long-term succession planning and positioning it for continuous growth. (Bronxville, New York, US)

Trade & production

• Mon, 10 Aug – Araku Coffee Board sets sights on 50,000 tonnes by 2047. Coffee production in Araku’s Coffee Valley in India has grown from just 15 tonnes five decades ago to around 15,000 tonnes a year. The Coffee Board is now targeting 50,000 tonnes by 2047 through scientific cultivation, better quality, and sustainable farming. (Araku, India)

• Tue, 11 Aug – Uganda and Vietnam explore climate-resilient value chains. Vietnam and Uganda are stepping up cooperation to build more sustainable and climate-resilient coffee value chains, drawing on shared experience in production, technology, capacity building, and market development. (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

• Thu, 13 Aug – Orbia Netafilm launches GrowSphere FLEX to scale digital farming for smallholders and mid-sized farmers. Orbia Advance Corportation S.A.B. de C.V. Precision Agriculture business announces the launch of GrowSphere™ FLEX, a smart irrigation and fertigation controller developed to bring professional digital farming capabilities to smallholders and mid-sized farmers. (Tel Aviv, Israel)

Research

• Mon, 10 Aug – Sustainable corrosion mitigation using aqueous spent coffee grounds extract. A new study investigates the efficiency of green corrosion inhibitors derived from spent coffee grounds (SCGs) for OL 37 carbon steel. Results showed that at concentrations of 800 ppm and 1000 ppm, both inhibitors exhibited high efficiency, reaching 96% and 95%.

• Tue, 11 Aug – Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee partners with Kate Hilton to debunk coffee myths. The Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee is working with Kate Hilton, a registered dietitian, to address some of the most common coffee health myths circulating online, aiming to help consumers identify credible nutrition advice and better understand the current evidence around coffee and health. (La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland)

• Thu, 13 Aug – Coffee consumption may represent a protective dietary factor against high-fructose intake-induced metabolic alterations. A new study reviews current evidence on the potential role of coffee consumption and coffee-derived bioactive compounds in modulating fructose-induced metabolic alterations and discusses the mechanisms involved.

• Fri, 14 Aug – Utilisation of spent coffee waste biomass as a promising feedstock in bioplastics production using Cupriavidus necator. A new study demonstrates that the integrated valorisation of spent coffee grounds can effectively generate fermentable substrates for microbial PHA production, offering a sustainable approach to converting agro-industrial residues into high-value bioplastics and supporting circular bioeconomy strategies.

Events & competitions

• Mon, 10 Aug – Dates announced for 2026 Italy, Portugal, and Bolivia AeroPress Championships. The 2026 AeroPress Championships are announced for Portugal (9-10 October at Mercado do Bolhao in Porto), Italy (18 September at Coffeetech Showroom in Rome), and Bolivia (12 September in Santa Cruz). The winners will represent their country at the World AeroPress Championship in Mexico in December.

• Tue, 11 Aug – Registration opens for World of Coffee Japan. The event will be held in Tokyo, Japan from 28 April to 1 May 2027. Bookings for booths at the event are now open, with early-bird discounts available until 31 October 2026. (Tokyo, Japan)

• Wed, 12 Aug – 2026 Best of Hawai’i celebrates Hawai’i’s top coffees. This year’s competition recognised coffees across five categories representing both traditional and innovative approaches to coffee production and processing. The highest-scoring coffee of the competition was produced by Miranda’s Farms of Ka‘u, whose natural Geisha earned a score of 87.84 and first place in the Innovative Unpulped Division. (Maui, Hawai’i)

• Fri, 14 Aug – Creative Coffee Week Durban hosts biggest event yet. Creative Coffee Week Durban brought together more than 200 coffee professionals from across South Africa for three inspiring days of learning and collaboration. The three-day event concluded with a farm visit. (Durban, South Africa)

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

• Thu, 6 Aug – TAP Brazilian Cafe opens in NYC’s NoMad neighbourhood. TAP Brazilian Cafe opens its fifth location in NYC’s NoMad neighbourhood, offering a 100% gluten-free menu featuring Brazilian superfoods and coffee beans imported from Minas Gerais. (New York, New York, US)

• Fri, 7 Aug – The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf introduces enhanced rewards experience and fall menu featuring new hojicha and pumpkin beverages. The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is introducing a revamped Coffee Bean Rewards programme featuring expanded rewards and personalised challenges, alongside its fall beverage lineup. (Los Angeles, California, US)

• Fri, 7 Aug – PrimoHoagies names Glen Brandenburg COO. PrimoHoagies, the award-winning Italian specialty sandwich franchise and more than 34 years of family stewardship, has named Glen Brandenburg as the new Chief Operating Officer. (Westville, New Jersey)

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