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Record $318 Per Kilogram Gesha Tops Ecuador Farmer’s Collection Auction
The debut of the Ecuador Farmer’s Collection auction — hosted by Qima Coffee and the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) on March 26 — closed with a record result, with a washed Gesha cultivated by Andrés Yepez at Hosteria Canavalle in Ibarra, Imbabura, selling for $318 per kilogram. The buyer was identified as China-based Wolfing Coffee Museum. The organizers said the price sets a new high for an Ecuadorian coffee at international auction.
Two New Coil-Shaped Fungi Species Identified on Dead Arabica
A study led by Mei-Yan Han of Chiang Mai University, published in the open-access journal MycoKeys, identified two new species of saprophytic fungi — Neohelicomyces coffeae and Neohelicomyces puerensis — found on dead branches of arabica plants in Yunnan. The coil-shaped fungi decompose dead matter and return nutrients to the soil.
British Coffee Association Revises Arbitration Rules
The British Coffee Association (BCA) adopted a revised set of arbitration rules at its recent annual meeting. Any pre-existing boards of appeal or tribunals will continue to operate under the former rules. The BCA is also developing an online platform for short remote training courses, with details to follow later this year.
Lavazza Posts €3.9 Billion in 2025 Revenue, Up 15.7%
Privately held Italian coffee company Lavazza reported revenue of €3.9 billion ($4.5 billion) for 2025 — its 130th year — a 15.7% increase from 2024. See the company’s 2025 financial results.
NKG Reveals Expert Advisory Council, Active Since 2025
The shareholder of Germany-based green coffee service group Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG) has publicly announced the NKG Coffee Council — an expert advisory body outside the group’s governance structure, established in 2025.
Report: Blank Street in Talks to Raise More Than $100 Million
New York-born coffee chain Blank Street is in early talks to raise more than $100 million in fresh funding to fuel expansion, according to a Financial Times report.
Gregorys Coffee Takes Franchise Program on D.C.-to-Connecticut Road Tour
New York-born specialty coffee chain Gregorys Coffee is promoting its franchise program — backed by parent company Craveworthy Brands — through a series of open house events in Washington, D.C., New Jersey and Connecticut from April 7-10.
Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant Sues Stumptown Coffee Over In-Flight Burns
Alaska Airlines flight attendant Victoria Waldron is suing Stumptown Coffee Roasters, alleging she sustained “serious and permanent” burns when an “explosive” coffee maker failed on an April 1, 2024, flight from Seattle, about 30 minutes before landing in Phoenix. The complaint alleges “defective packaging” from the airline’s coffee supplier caused the failure, and cites at least nine similar prior incidents involving Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines employees, according to a People report.
Operation ‘Cocaine and Coffee’ Results in 17 Arrests
After a multiyear investigation, ‘Operation Cocaine and Coffee’ led to the arrests of 17 people tied to a North Philadelphia cafe called Cumberland Coffee & Snacks. Prosecutors alleged the cafe was used as a front for selling, cooking and packaging drugs, according to multiple local sources.
Lao-German Couple Launches Kickstarter to Launch Coffee Farm
A Lao-German couple is seeking funding to build a coffee project on existing family land in the Bolaven Plateau region of southern Lao PDR. Their Kickstarter campaign aims to plant the first two hectares of arabica, build a protective fence and cover startup costs while documenting the process.
ICYMI
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
SCA’s World of Coffee Heading to New Orleans in 2027
The 2027 edition of the Specialty Coffee Association‘s flagship U.S. trade show, World of Coffee, is coming to New Orleans April 9-11… read more
Specialty Coffee Still a Sliver of Brazil’s Total Crop, Study Finds
While Brazil remains the world’s largest producer and exporter of coffee by wide margins, a new peer-reviewed analysis suggests its specialty coffee footprint remains comparatively small, highly concentrated and expensive to scale… read more
Major Traders Agree on Two ‘Principles of Procurement’ to Improve Coffee Sector Sustainability
A group of 14 major coffee traders and roasters has agreed on two shared green coffee buying principles intended to improve the long-term economic viability of coffee farmers… read more
Keurig Taps JDE Peet’s CEO Rafael Rafael Oliveira to Lead Coffee Company
Keurig Dr Pepper has completed its acquisition of JDE Peet’s while naming JDE Peet’s CEO Rafael Oliveira to lead the combined coffee business and eventually helm the planned spinoff company, Global Coffee Co… read more
Get Roast Magazine’s “The Inside” Guide to San Diego
As the global coffee community prepares to gather for World of Coffee San Diego 2026, the Roast magazine city guide The Inside is here to help attendees make the most of their time on and off the show floor… read more
Nestlé and ILO Launch Two-Year Project Addressing Farm Labor in Three Key Countries
Nestlé and the International Labour Organization have announced a new two-year project on labor rights in coffee supply chains, focusing on three of the world’s major producing countries: Brazil, Colombia and Mexico… read more
Spicy Vodka Creamer, Coffee for ‘Straights’ and More April 1 Coffee Headlines
The worst thing that could happen in the lead-up to April Fools’ Day was the theft of 12 tons of KitKat bars… read more
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