Bringing specialty coffee roasters the latest news stories from around the world, including packaging innovations, consumer trends, and coffee industry updates.
June 8 – Coffee prices rise as production from key exporting countries falls (World Coffee Portal)
The International Coffee Organization (ICO) has identified a “firm upward trend” for coffee prices over the first eight months of the coffee year 2020/21. Driven by higher consumer demand and lower output from some of the world’s top producers, the price of coffee rose to 134.78 US cents/lb in May 2021, according to the ICO’s composite indicator. The increase follows years of persistently low global coffee prices, with many roasters and retailers calling for greater action to improve farmer profitability.
June 9 – Inaugural Costa Rican coffees auction to take place June 24 (Daily Coffee News)
Costa Rican green coffee company Exclusive Coffees and auction platform provider Sensible Development have teamed up to launch the Costa Rica Exclusive Coffees auction this June 24. The private auction, which is designed to bring some of the finest arabica coffees from Costa Rica to the international market, will be held online, with coffees auctioned in one to four 50-pound boxes.
June 10 – Researchers publish plant-based polymer breakthrough (Packaging News)
Researchers from a University of Cambridge spin-off, Xampla, have released details of how they can create a plant-based polymer film that is “sustainable, scalable, and 100% natural”. Published in Nature Communications, the research claims that the material’s functionality is consistent with conventional plastic but leaves no pollutants behind after use. It’s hoped the polymer will soon replace single-use plastics used in flexible packaging films, carrier bags, and personal care products.
June 11 – % Arabica expands into US with location in Brooklyn (World Coffee Portal)
Japanese boutique coffee chain % Arabica has added to its international portfolio with the opening of its first US store in Brooklyn, New York. Featuring both indoor and outdoor seating, and a “green bean corner” where customers can select green beans for custom roasting, the 1,500 sq ft store represents the franchise’s 89th location. % Arabica opened its first store in Kyoto, Japan in 2014, and currently operates in more than 15 countries worldwide.
June 11 – Nescafé relaunches RTD kopitiam drink with new branding (Comunicaffe)
Nescafé has brought back its popular RTD kopitiam drink with fresh packaging and flavours. The new designs pay homage to the traditional kopitiam coffee shops of Malaysia, while the new flavours include tea and coffee, and coffee with milk. Commenting on the launch, business executive officer for Nestlé Malaysia said: “Here at Nescafé Ready-to-Drink, we aim to deliver a sense of comfort and inclusivity when Malaysians enjoy their favourite local ‘kopi’ anytime and anywhere.”
June 13 – G7 leaders lay out sustainability commitment in Nature Compact (gov.uk)
G7 leaders, including the UK, have made commitments to tackle deforestation, reduce marine litter, stamp out illegal wildlife trade, and halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. It forms part of the G7 Nature Compact, a key agreement which brings G7 countries together to address the most pressing international and interlinked challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change. Leaders from the seven participating countries met at a summit in Cornwall, England between June 11 and 13.
June 13 – Takeaway coffee cups to be phased out of Western Australia by 2023 (Daily Mail)
The state of Western Australia (WA) has fast-tracked plans to banish takeaway coffee cups by 2023 as part of its war on single-use plastics. WA Premier, Mark McGowan, announced that the state’s “Plan for Plastics” would be brought forward by four years, which will require businesses to offer environmentally friendly cups and lids only, while consumers will be encouraged to bring coffee “keep cups”. Under the plans, plastic plates, bowls, cups, utensils, and polystyrene food containers will be banned by the end 2021. McGowan said that he wanted WA to be a “plastic-free leader among Australian states”.
June 14 – Brazil coffee exports down 20% in May due to logistic issues (Comunicaffe)
This year, coffee exports from Brazil fell to their lowest level for the month of May since 2018. Cecafé, the Council of Coffee Exporters of Brazil, reported that all forms of coffee were 20.3% down to 2,615,707 bags, while green coffee exports decreased by 20.5%. Logistic issues, and new rules on statistics and Certificates of Origin issued by the International Coffee Organization (ICO) have been blamed. Brazil is the world’s largest coffee producer by volume, responsible for around a third of all coffee.
June 15 – Nespresso joins Central America economic development initiative (World Coffee Portal)
Swiss coffee machine manufacturer Nespresso has become a founding member of the Partnership for Central America, an initiative aimed at boosting economic development across Central American countries. As part of its incorporation to the initiative, Nespresso has committed to sourcing coffee from El Salvador and Honduras from 2021, while spending a minimum of $150 million across coffee purchases. The company joins a number of businesses and organisations, including Microsoft, Mastercard, and the World Economic Forum.
June 17 – Civil unrest pushes Colombian coffee prices to record highs (Daily Coffee News)
The price offered to Colombian producers for their coffee has hit an all-time high amid ongoing civil unrest. The Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia, the country’s largest coffee growers’ union, was offering COP 1,440,000 (US$386) per 125kg in early May, a 34% increase since the start of the year. Anti-government protests, which began at the end of April, have caused widespread disruptions to coffee exports, with roadblocks set up in key coffee-growing regions.
June 17 – Manchester Coffee Festival set to return in November (Sprudge)
The Manchester Coffee Festival (MCF), an independent coffee festival aimed at educating consumers on the value of specialty coffee and other related markets, is set to return for an in-person event this November. The two-day festival will feature a wide range of exhibitors, from roasters to green coffee brands, as well as hosting the UK Cup Tasters Championship finals. Coffee tastings, brew tutorials, workshops, and more will be available throughout the event.
June 20 – One of a Kind Guatemala coffee sample kits available until June 25 (Anacafé)
Sample kits comprising 27 Guatemalan coffees with an SCA score of 86 and above are available until June 25 following an auction of the coffees last week. The auction, One of a Kind Guatemala, was organised by the country’s national coffee association, Anacafé, with the aim of promoting Guatemala as a high-quality coffee origin. The sample kits feature a range of varieties and processing methods, including caturra, catuaí, and washed bourbon. Each kit contains twenty-seven 200g bags of green coffee, and costs $250 USD.
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