Coffee News Recap, 2 Feb: Applications open for Australia’s Richest Barista 2024, De’Longhi reports 4.6% revenue increase after La Marzocco move & other stories

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

Here are this week’s coffee news stories.

The word of the week is: expansion.

Mon, 29 Jan

• AeroPress launches limited-edition Clear Pink brewer. The coffee brewer is made from the same Tritan material used in the standard Clear model. It’s another in a list of new releases by the company over the past year, suggesting that more limited-edition brewers may be on the horizon.

• Robert Downey Jr. and Craig Dubitsky launch happy™ Products, starting with coffee. The actor has partnered with Dubitsky, a successful entrepreneur, to launch happy™ Products. The brand aims to “help consumers rediscover the magic in the everyday” through products like ground, whole bean, and instant coffee, as well as K-Cup compatible coffee pods.

• ECM Espresso Coffee Machines and Mercedes-AMG collaborate on Synchronika Limited Edition espresso machine. The two-group machine features a brushed stainless steel housing, custom pressure gauges, carbon handles and levers, and a prominent AMG crest.

• Pilot Coffee Roasters set to acquire Bridgehead Coffee for US $2.6 million. The Canadian company has agreed to acquire Bridgehead Coffee from Aegis Brands, enabling it to take control of a roasting facility, 22 retail stores, and a wholesale channel.

• ZUS launches Malaysia’s first halal-certified RTD canned sparkling coffee. The new COFFIZZ carbonated coffee drink is the company’s first foray into the RTD sector. It contains coffee extract, is “light” in caffeine, and has been halal-certified to cater to the Malaysian market.

• Women-owned BUNO Coffee Roasters plans to bring state-of-the-art roasting technology to Brisbane, Australia. The company’s new roasting facility uses fully automated roasting systems across the board, promising consistent quality and environmental sustainability. BUNO will also host cupping sessions and roastery tours.

• Groupe SEB unveils new professional equipment hub in Shaoxing, China. The company says the project marks a significant step in strengthening its global position in the professional coffee equipment sector. It’s invested over US $65 million in the facility.

Tue, 30 Jan

• Competitor applications open for Australia’s Richest Barista 2024. The second edition of the competition will take place at MICE2024 in Melbourne, Australia from 12 to 14 May. It’s set to feature three rounds of intense challenges that will test barista, latte art, and cup tasting skills. Prospective competitors are encouraged to apply now.

• NCA Convention 2024 announces final events schedule. The National Coffee Association’s Annual Convention is set to take place in Nashville, Tennessee from 7 to 9 March 2024. The schedule includes various by invitation meetings, as well as educational sessions on a variety of coffee industry topics. Tickets are available now.

• Heylo unveils new London, England office. The induction espresso machine manufacturer is inviting coffee professionals to visit its new Shoreditch office to sample its induction coffee technology, which promises huge energy savings and efficient workflow.

• Starbucks reports record revenue in first fiscal quarter of 2024. The company notes that while Q1 performance was strong “on many measures”, operating income decreased significantly year-on-year. Net revenues for its Channel Development segment fell by 6%.

• Ally Coffee adds Colombia Galeras Decaf to its offerings. The coffee is sourced from farms located around the Galeras Volcano high in the department of Nariño and has undergone the ethyl acetate decaffeination process. It’s available in 25lb boxes of green coffee or as green or roasted samples.

• Danish RTD brand BOLD now available in Sweden. The Copenhagen coffee brand has signed a retail distribution agreement with Pressbyrån and 7-Eleven in Sweden, bringing its BOLD True, BOLD Choco, BOLD Oat, and BOLD Protein products to nearly 400 stores across the country.

• Juan Valdez opens first UAE store in Dubai. The Colombian coffee chain says the UAE is an ideal foundation for its wider Middle East expansion strategy. The store is located in Dubai’s upmarket Jumeirah Beach district.

Wed, 31 Jan

• De’ Longhi reports 4.6% increase revenue increase after La Marzocco move. The coffee machine and appliance manufacturer says that while it ended 2023 with revenues slightly lower than the previous year, it has shown “significant progression and expansion” in terms of coffee and nutrition and food preparation.

• Expocacer commences operations in the US. The Cerrado Coffee Growers Cooperative has launched a logistics hub in Dellaware, USA, aiming to achieve an increase in sales of between 10% to 15% in the first year.

• Spare parts manufacturer REPA expands partnership with Rancilio Group. REPA says it’s now an official spare parts distributor for Rancilio and Rancilio Specialty in France, Italy, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. It currently stocks more than 1,000 spare parts for Rancilio machines.

• Win Win Coffee set to launch CoffeePLUG, a platform that directly connects farmers to buyers. Following the closure of their store in 2020, Win Win’s Nikisha Bailey and Matthew Nam plan to launch CoffeePLUG. The B2B platform “cuts out middlemen in the supply chain so farmers can earn more for their crops and buyers can get the coffee for a better deal”.

• De’Longhi appoints Eliza Woolston Sheffield as President of US and Canadian business. The company says that Sheffield “has an outstanding and diverse track record of success in growing businesses and building brands”. She will report to CEO Mike Prager and will be responsible for the future direction, growth, and day to day operations.

• ofi announces new 2030 sustainability targets. The company’s Coffee LENS 2.0 goals will focus on four areas: improving farmer livelihoods, empowering communities, accelerating decarbonization, and restoring coffee landscapes. The full plan is available online.

• Study finds that Denmark is the most expensive place to buy a cup of coffee, while Tunisia is the cheapest. Research by Mandoe Media claims that Danes pay an average of US $5.45 per cup of coffee, while in Tunisia, the average cup costs just US 0.56c. It adds that Finns drink the most coffee per capita, while Indians drink the least.

Thu, 1 Feb

• Nordic Coffee Fest set to feature a record number of coffee roasters. The first-ever Nordic Coffee Fest will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden on 24 & 25 February, featuring notable Scandinavian roasters like da Matteo & Kahls, Tim Wendelboe, Drop Coffee, and Coffee Collective. Tickets are available now.

• Scholarship applications open for Digital Coffee Future’s Smart Survey Programming for Mobile programme. The five-week education program, launched in collaboration with Rabo Foundation, is geared towards coffee enterprises in Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia looking to kick-start or enhance their digital data collection processes. Prospective participants are encouraged to apply by 19 February 2024.

• Melbourne International Coffee Expo announces new leadership. The expo’s organiser, Prime Creative Media, has appointer Siobhan Rocks as General Manager of MICE. It calls her an experienced events executive, having managed events like Fine Food Australia, Foodpro, and Naturally Good. She will now support the redevelopment of MICE.

• Covoya Coffee appoints Mark Inman as Director and Senior Trader. Inman boasts over 30 years of experience in the coffee sector. The company calls him “one of the most respected professionals in our industry” and adds that the former SCA president will focus on business development, sustainable sourcing, and providing comprehensive services to roasters.

• Recently-closed roastery to host “A Day for Rudy” to help producer secure outstanding contract payments. Former staff of Kodachrome Coffee in Indiana, USA say that following bankruptcy filings, it still owes producer Rudy Carcamo more than US $40,000 in outstanding contract payments. It’s calling on roasters to join its event, where all involved cafés will purchase, brew, and sell Rudy’s coffees.

• Hawaiian lawmakers introduce bills to enforce stricter coffee labelling following Kona coffee lawsuit. Legislators representing consumer and farmer interests in Kona, Hawaii have introduced several bills mandating stricter labelling requirements for Kona coffee. This follows a high-profile lawsuit that resulted in more than US $33 million in penalties for more than 20 companies.

• Crematics Lab launches process to remove up to 99% of chaff from coffee beans. The US company says its “Center Cut” machine effectively removes coffee chaff while “ensuring that the beans retain their original freshness while enriching their natural flavours”.

• Lavazza Group announces expanded partnership with Keurig Dr Pepper. The companies have reached an agreement to increase the distribution of Lavazza K-Cup capsules and launch the Kicking Horse brand in the Keurig coffee production system. The partnership now extends into Canada.

Fri, 2 Feb

• Alimentaria&Hostelco set to return to Barcelona, Spain from 18 to 21 March 2024. The leading international business platform for food, beverages, food service, and hospitality equipment will once again be held at Fira de Barcelona, featuring over 3,200 exhibiting companies, educational sessions, and product demonstrations.

• Visitor registration now open for THAIFEX – HOREC Asia 2024. The HoReCa expo will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from 6 to 8 March, offering visitors a platform “to forge partnerships, elevate expertise, and champion hospitality excellence”. The expo will co-locate with several events, including the ASEAN Barista Championship.

• Peruvian Cafesazo Festival returns to Lima from 17 to 18 February 2024. The community-run event will take place at Parque Candamo in Lima, Peru, featuring a celebration of Peruvian coffee culture, a cold brew throwdown, and the Summer Underground Tournament.

• Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii plans to open a minimum of 20 new stores in 2024. The coffee chain currently operates 32 stores across the US, but aims to reach 180 total stores by 2028. As part of its expansion plans, it aims to open at least 20 new stores by the end of the year.

• Caffè Nero set to open first-ever drive-through store in the UK. The café chain will open the store at London Stansted Airport this spring, marking its first drive-through store of any kind. It adds that it intends to use the store as a template for future openings.

• Lumapixel coffee documentary nominated for Best Documentary Short at the Cannes World Film Festival. The documentary, Remembering the Future, was created in collaboration with St Remio. Filmed in Rwanda, it “explores the unsustainable model of current coffee production”.

• RAVE Coffee launches two Extra Thick Coffee Chocolate Eggs ahead of Easter. The UK coffee roaster says that following the success of its coffee eggs last year, it has partnered with Coco Chemistry to launch both Milk and Blonde versions of its new Extra Thick Coffee Chocolate Easter Egg from 28 February.

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

• Fri, 19 Jan – Rancilio Group appoints Massimiliano Bizzari as new CEO. Bizzarri, who previously served as an executive at Ali Group, took over from outgoing CEO Ruggero Ferrari on 1 January. He says he aims to “achieve new goals and accompany Rancilio Group towards a new phase of transformation and expansion”.

• Mon, 22 Jan – Dean’s Beans CEO Beth Spong appointed to the International Women’s Coffee Alliance board. The company is a long-time partner of the IWCA and says Spong has positioned it “at the forefront of advocating for fair trade practices, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility within the specialty coffee industry”.

• Wed, 24 Jan – New report sheds light on causes of Mercon bankruptcy filing. According to La Prensa, Mercon Coffee Group and its subsidiaries “were seriously harmed by the socioeconomic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic”. The crisis was aggravated by increased interest rates, low international coffee prices, and “unusually larger” harvests from large producers like Brazil and Indonesia.

• Fri, 26 Jan – NuZee, Inc. announces receipt of NASDAQ notification noting its failure to satisfy continued listing requirements. The coffee packaging company says it received news from NASDAQ concluding that it “did not satisfy the continued listing requirement under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(b)(1) for the Nasdaq Capital Market”. NuZee intends to submit a compliance plan within 45 days of the date of the notification.

• Sat, 27 Jan – Ongoing initiative aims to incentivise coffee farming along the Panama Canal. According to Reuters, the 15-year-old programme uses coffee farming to slow environmental damage along the canal, including soil erosion and water contamination. The Panama Canal Authority has already invested US $32 million in the programme.

• Sun, 28 Jan – EU deforestation law could mean uncertainty for African coffee producers. According to Deutsche Welle, critics say the new European Union Deforestation Regulation could penalise smallholder coffee farmers in Africa, placing their main source of income in jeopardy. It adds that this may lead to a coffee shortage in Europe.

Coffee news photo credits: La Marzocco, Melbourne International Coffee Festival

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