Coffee News Recap, 22 May: Scientists discover new liberica-excelsa hybrid, Indonesian coffee production expected to fall by 8% & other stories

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

Editor’s note

Specialty coffee is always looking out for the latest varieties and species, and there’s a new addition to the list.

Researchers at Kew Gardens have identified a natural hybrid of excelsa and liberica, formally named Coffea × libex, or Libex. Published in Scientific Reports, the study examined 113 hybridised accessions from three continents and found that the two parent species cross with relative ease and grow across Southeast Asia, Central America, Africa, and India.

Libex yields more than liberica, with potential direct implications for producers’ income. Its thinner pulp and parchment also make post-harvest processing more efficient. The seed size is closer to arabica, which could simplify roasting and grinding, and early taste tests suggest it’s more palatable to consumers than liberica. It also appears to carry liberica’s resistance to leaf rust, a disease that excelsa doesn’t typically have.

Perhaps most significantly, Libex may be viable in regions where arabica and robusta can’t grow. As the climate crisis puts established coffee-growing areas under increasing pressure, the potential to expand cultivation into new geographies is huge.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 18 May – New rules announced for 2026 World Barista Championship. SCA said this round of updates introduces changes to the water served to the judges, clarifies language regarding the number of espresso shots competitors must prepare for the signature beverage course, and explains that competitors may override the drink evaluation protocol for the espresso and milk beverage courses by not serving spoons. (Panama City, Panama)

• Mon, 18 May – Two Coffee Masters Champions crowned at London Coffee Festival. A total of 16 competitors went head-to-head across a series of disciplines, including cupping, brewing, latte art, The Order, and The Signature Drink. Alejandro T. Griffin-Diaz and Sharon Ip both claimed the winning title. (London, UK)

• Tue, 19 May – Indonesian coffee production set to fall by 8%. According to a new USDA report, excessive rainfall in Sumatra and Java, high-volume robusta growing regions, disrupted flowering and cherry maturation. Arabica output was also revised down due to floods in Aceh and North Sumatra. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

• Wed, 20 May – Kew Gardens researchers discover new excelsa-liberica hybrid. Coffea × libex has been shown to have higher yields than liberica, and its thinner pulp and parchment make it conducive to easier, more efficient post-harvest processing. (Kew, UK)

• Wed, 20 May – ICO warns Strait of Hormuz blockage raises coffee sector costs via oil and fertiliser prices. Around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the strait. For coffee, this directly affects transport costs, inland logistics, and fertiliser prices. Fertiliser price (urea) has risen from US$465.45/t to US$684.75/t since February. (London, UK)

• Thu, 21 May – Brazil expected to post record export volume in 2026/27. The Brazilian arm of ECOM said producers would be incentivised to sell quickly since the market is inverted, meaning prices are higher now than in the future, and estimated that exports of green coffee would probably reach around 50 million 60kg bags. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Fri, 22 May – Starbucks to cut 300 US jobs, Nestlé plans to axe 16,000. This marks Starbucks’ third round of job cuts, affecting 300 employees in the US, as the company continues its strategic turnaround efforts. Meanwhile, Nestlé announced plans to cut 16,000 global jobs over the next two years – its largest reorganisation in the company’s recent history. (Seattle, Washington, US and Vevey, Switzerland)

Industry news

• Mon, 18 May – PunThai Coffee adds over 800 stores in 2025 to challenge Thai-market leader Café Amazon. PTG Energy’s chain surged to 2,151 outlets, compared with Amazon’s 4,400. The Thai-branded coffee shop market is forecast to grow by 6% over the next five years. (Bangkok, Thailand)

• Mon, 18 May – Rodd’s iced coffee surpasses £3m in first-year sales. Positive results are related to the Brown Sugar Latte launches in Sainsbury’s. The brand has expanded to 6 SKUs and now has national supermarket coverage. (London, UK)

• Tue, 19 May – Kerry welcomes EFSA scientific opinion supporting Acrylerase for acrylamide reduction in instant coffee and coffee substitutes. Acrylerase, Kerry’s novel amidase food enzyme, is the first commercially available enzyme that decomposes acrylamide after it forms, reducing levels by up to 90% without altering flavour or aroma, Kerry says. (Naas, Ireland)

• Tue, 19 May – Starbucks Korea CEO fired after “Tank Day” promotion sparks political backlash. The chain launched a “Tank Day” campaign for its “Tank” tumbler series on 18 May, the anniversary of the 1980 military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Gwangju. Shinsegae Group dismissed Sohn Jeong Hyun over what it described as “inappropriate marketing”. (Seoul, South Korea)

• Wed, 20 May – Tata Starbucks posts 7% annual revenue growth to US$163m, with third consecutive quarter of positive like-for-like sales. The chain is holding ground in India’s branded coffee shop market despite a strategic slowdown in outlet expansion. (Mumbai, India)

• Wed, 20 May – Alsea renews Starbucks licensing for 20 years across Latin America and Europe. The deal retains substantially unchanged terms and includes development obligations for 2026-2028. CEO Christian Gurria said Starbucks is a strategic pillar for Alsea. (Mexico City, Mexico)

• Thu, 21 May – Luckin promotes changes to its board of directors. Feng Liu stepped down but remains an external strategic advisor. The nine-member board keeps committee chairs unchanged. (Beijing, China)

• Thu, 21 May – Sucafina’s 2025 sustainability report highlights integration to improve farmer livelihoods. Last year, the green coffee trading group monitored over 437,600 farms for deforestation risk, IMPACT-verified more than 69,220 farmers across 16 origins, and invested over US$7.42m in projects to support farming communities. (Geneva, Switzerland)

• Fri, 22 May – Raw Coffee Company names Charl Badenhorst as partner and chief growth officer. The 25-year F&B veteran will focus on regional expansion. The UAE-born roaster has grown to 80 employees and secured a second warehouse over the past year. (Dubai, UAE)

• Fri, 22 May – Brazil’s coffee revenue is low relative to volume produced, says ABIC. Brazil still accounts for 40% of global coffee production, but its revenue per worker is 53 times lower than in the US. The association launched a redesigned ‘Cafés do Brasil’ brand at the São Paulo F1 Grand Prix to boost global visibility. (Santos, Brazil)

• Fri, 22 May – Oceana Coffee selects three non-profits for its Cup of Kindness programme. Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, African Orphan Educational Foundation, and Vita Nova are the three featured nonprofits for Oceana’s May to July Cup of Kindness programme. Since its launch, Oceana Coffee has distributed more than US $20,000 to nonprofits serving Palm Beach County and communities worldwide. (Palm Beach, Florida, US)

Businesses for sale

• Mon, 18 May – vendinGO completes acquisition of Portuguese roaster Caffier. The Lisbon-based vending operator gains an annual production capacity of 960 tonnes, plus a coffee pod range. Clients across Portugal, Spain, and France can now access coffee optimised for vending machines. (Lisbon, Portugal)

• Tue, 19 May – TA Associates seeks US$2bn exit from bubble tea chain Gong Cha. The Boston firm acquired the Taiwanese brand for US$288m in 2019 and scaled it from 1,100 to 2,200 stores. It now operates across 33 markets, ranking third globally behind Coco and Chatime. (Boston, Massachusetts, US)

New launch

• Mon, 18 May – Bookoo launches Puckgo 3-in-1 tool combining WDT, dosing ring, and tamper. The device uses vertical impact technology to deliver consistent pressure, with a retractable WDT and a tilt‑free design to streamline puck prep, Bookoo says. (London, UK)

• Mon, 18 May – David Rio launches Matcha Rio line rooted in Japanese heritage. The portfolio includes Barista, Super, and Frappe blends sourced from Kagoshima, reflecting co-founder Rio Miura’s Omotenashi hospitality philosophy. (San Francisco, California, US)

• Mon, 18 May – La Marzocco’s Officine Fratelli Bambi designs bespoke Linea Mini and Pico for entrepreneur and long-distance runner Nicki Lange. The base colour is Oak Green Metallic, the colour of Lange’s Porsche, and the design incorporates the routes of his longest runs, such as The Speed Project from LA to Las Vegas and the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc. (Florence, Italy)

• Mon, 18 May – Tim Hortons launches RTD iced coffee and syrups in Canada. Made with 100% arabica, the three unsweetened flavours and two syrups are available at Walmart and other major retailers nationwide. (Toronto, Canada)

• Tue, 19 May – Julius Meinl and Wien Energie launch Austria’s first green hydrogen coffee roaster. The Ottakring plant, using 100% renewable hydrogen and reducing CO2 emissions by up to 2kg per batch, can save up to 300 tonnes of the gas annually after a decade of development, according to the two companies. (Vienna, Austria)

• Tue, 19 May – Mago Maga unveils Roma-X home roaster with 266 roast curves and app control. The third-generation fluid-bed machine features a 5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, and an integrated filter that reduces visible smoke by about 90%, Mago Maga says. (Beijing, China)

• Tue, 19 May – Oval Coffee Roasters expands across DeCicco & Sons stores. The expansion in Westchester and Putnam Counties builds on a nearly two‑decade retail relationship, with in‑store demos planned. (New York City, New York, US)

• Tue, 19 May – Luckin Coffee launches alcoholic beverages in China to better use idle store hours. “Crimson Moonlight” and “Cocoa Vienna” contain less than 0.5% alcohol, requiring in-store pickup. The 15.9 yuan drinks mark the chain’s re-entry after a 2023 Moutai latte collaboration. (Beijing, China)

• Wed, 20 May – Anua and EL&N launch limited skincare‑café collab in London. Available at four flagship EL&N café locations across London, the partnership celebrates the best-selling Anua Zero-Cast Moisturising Suncream SPF 50 and EL&N’s cult status. (London, UK)

• Wed, 20 May – ONA Coffee opens first international outlet in Dubai. The Jumeirah location features an immersive coffee bar, a sensory room for workshops, a private events space, and an outdoor terrace. (Canberra, Australia)

• Thu, 21 May – Oatly opens world’s first bike‑thru coffee pop‑up in Amsterdam. The zero‑emission pop-up runs until 7 June, featuring rotating international roasters such as Nomad, April, and Wide Awake, plus a new signature drink each week. (Amsterdam, Netherlands)

• Thu, 21 May – Nescafé enters the UK and Ireland RTD iced coffee market with two latte options. The Iced Latte and Iced Caramel Flavour Latte target on‑the‑go consumption. Marketing director Ingrid Hayes cited growing consumer demand for cold convenient formats. (London, UK)

• Thu, 21 May – Pact Coffee launches a Waitrose-exclusive Colombian single origin, backing a women-led cooperative. The medium roast from Huila’s Mirtayu Women’s Group will fund cooperative expansion. Sales rotate between members while maintaining chocolate and orange notes. (London, UK)

• Fri, 22 May – DiFluid unveils the Moment thermometer, which displays tasting notes and gathers customer feedback. The touchless infrared device guides drinkers through flavour stages, with a screen for logging preferences. Feedback syncs to the CoffeeOS app for café owners to review consistency. (Shenzhen, China)

• Fri, 22 May – Taco Bell adds permanent cold brew line with three cold foams at Live Más Cafés. The lineup includes Purple Velvet Cream, Caramel Dulce Cream, and Vanilla Cream, launched at sites in Houston, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Southern California. (Irvine, California, US)

Trade & production

• Mon, 18 May – Honduran and Mexican coffee production grow while India weathers volatility, USDA reports. Honduras is expected to reach 6.03m bags in 2026/27, while Mexico’s output is predicted to rise to 4.1m bags. India’s output is forecast at 6.14m bags, with farmgate prices down 11-16% and domestic consumption up. (Washington DC, US)

• Tue, 19 May – IWCA Italia leads European buyer mission to women-led coffee farms in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The seven-day trip in July includes farm visits, cupping, and direct-producer meetings, guided by Q grader Matteo Borea. (Milan, Italy)

• Wed, 20 May – HRNS kicks off Coffee Camp 2026 in Honduras. The initiative aims to inspire youth in coffee farming while teaching sustainable practices and leadership skills. (Tegucigalpa, Honduras)

• Wed, 20 May – Vietnamese coffee producers receive payouts after heavy rainfall. WTW business Willis placed the high-rainfall parametric solution with Bao Minh Insurance Corporation in Vietnam, protecting coffee farmers’ revenue against yield losses due to excessive rainfall. The solution uses NASA satellite data to measure rainfall levels in three areas of Gia Lai Province. (London, UK)

• Thu, 21 May – ICO April composite price fell to lowest levels in 19 months. Robusta dropped 7.1% to a 26‑month low, while arabica declines were milder, as the supply outlook outweighed Middle East tensions. Global exports rose 1.6% to 13.59m bags, driven by a 21.3% surge in robusta. (London, UK)

• Thu, 21 May – Tanzania coffee production forecast to grow 10% to 1.6m bags in 2026/27. USDA sees growth driven by robusta and plantation recovery, and projects a 2% increase in the cultivated area to 275,000 hectares. Exports are projected at 1.41m bags, with domestic consumption at 90,000 bags. (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania)

• Thu, 21 May – Conab predicts Brazil’s 2025/26 production at record 66.7mn bags, but robusta crop could be lower than expected. Arabica production is estimated at 45.77 million bags, a 28% increase over last year. Robusta output is forecast at 20.9 million bags, up 0.8% from the previous harvest. (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

• Fri, 22 May – Fertiliser crisis hits Brazil’s coffee sector at “the worst possible time”. Urea prices have surged by over 50% due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Coffee producers face soaring diesel and fertiliser costs, with nitrogen fertiliser imports expected to fall by nearly 19% if the strait remains closed. (Brasília, Brazil)

• Fri, 22 May – Brazil’s arabica CEPEA/ESALQ price index drops 7%. A cold front raised frost concerns as the harvest has reached only 3-5% of the expected crop, limiting price declines. The CEPEA/ESALQ Index for type 6 closed at BRL 1,637.88/60kg bag on 15 May. (Piracicaba, Brazil)

• Fri, 22 May – Soluble coffee drives Indian exports while arabica declines. Production forecast falls 4.5% to 6.14m bags, with arabica yields hit by erratic weather. Exports are set to rise by 3% to 6.22m bags, supported by demand for soluble coffee and new trade deals with the UK and EFTA countries. (New Delhi, India)

Research

• Mon, 18 May – Review confirms that coffee compounds offer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Brewing methods and individual variability influence metabolic outcomes and disease prevention, but hot filter coffee offers optimal extraction of antioxidants. (Milan, Italy)

• Wed, 20 May – New SCA “Coffee Decoded” study explores the science behind coffee’s sweetness. Early findings from Ohio State University suggest that sweetness is perceived as both a taste and a smell, driven by caramel, vanilla, and fruit aromas rather than naturally occurring sugars. (Irvine, California, US)

• Wed, 20 May – KDP 2026 “State of Beverages” study finds 58% of Gen Z and Gen Alpha see drinks as a form of self-expression. The report surveyed 6,954 people, highlighting a shift towards global and more unconventional flavours. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are 58% more likely to choose beverages based on their mood or occasion. (Burlington, Massachusetts, US)

• Thu, 21 May – Brazilian consumers define ‘strong coffee’ through bitterness, colour, and body, study says. Sensory cues such as dark colour and roasted aroma are the main indicators. Findings conclude that strength is context-dependent, not a fixed attribute or related to caffeine levels. (Campinas, Brazil)

• Fri, 22 May – AI could accelerate soil science, improving carbon storage and climate adaptation, study finds. Multi-agent AI systems can generate hypotheses, create digital soil twins, and trial strategies virtually to boost coffee and other crop yields. Researchers stress AI augments, not replaces, human expertise. (Sydney, Australia)

Events & competitions

• Mon, 18 May – Hotelex Shanghai 2026 attracts record 303,576 visitors. A total of 18,431 foreign visitors attended, marking a 48.08% year-on-year increase and representing 189 countries and regions, with Malaysia, South Korea, and Russia leading. HOTELEX Shanghai 2027 will run from 30 March to 2 April. (Shanghai, China)

• Mon, 18 May – Applications open for 2026 UK & Ireland Filter Championships for three regional heats and finals. Southern heat will take place on 8 & 9 August at Brighton Coffee Festival, Northern Ireland heat on 3 & 4 October at Belfast Coffee Festival, and Northern heat from 20 to 22 November at Manchester Coffee Festival. The finals will be held on 22 November.

• Tue, 19 May – The Barista League: Asia 2026 heads to Tokyo on 11 June with a new creativity‑first competition format. Judges include World Barista Championship runner‑up Miki Suzuki and Brewers’ Champion Yasuo Ishii. (Tokyo, Japan)

• Wed, 20 May – Third Liverpool Coffee Festival set for 6 & 7 June at Black Lodge Brewery. The event features a Roasters’ Village, Tasting Lab, talks and a craft market, celebrating the city’s growing specialty coffee scene. (Liverpool, UK)

• Fri, 22 May – Origami Cup brewing competition to take place in Cape Town on 11 July. The event will be hosted at the African School of Coffee. Registration details and full competition rules will be announced soon. (Cape Town, South Africa)

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

• Mon, 11 May – Uganda secures trade deal with Turkish retailer Kafe Kavil. Uganda’s coffee exports to Turkey rose from 2,304 60kg bags in 2024 to 15,037 in 2025, with revenues rising from US$3.34m to US$5.51m. Uganda targets 20m bags by 2030. (Kampala, Uganda)

• Thu, 14 May – Paris Baguette opens 18 new cafés and secures 60 units. The bakery café chain continues its North American expansion as part of a strategy to reach 1,000 stores by 2030, following six consecutive years of positive comparable sales growth. (Moonachie, New Jersey, US)

Photo credits: Specialty Coffee Association

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