Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the week.
Editor’s note
Andrea Illy, president of illycaffè, has confirmed that a stock exchange listing is “a possibility” but has not set a timeline. Speaking at the Trento Economics Festival, he said the company is “taking it one day at a time”.
His comments reflect a careful approach from a major coffee business under growing pressure. Illy pointed to geopolitical uncertainty and volatile green coffee costs as defining features of 2025, a year he described as “one of transition” for illycaffè.
The financial picture, though, gives the company a credible foundation for a listing. The group reported €700 million in revenue for 2025, up 12% year-on-year, with growth across every key market. Italy rose by 14%, the US by 20%, and Europe by 23%. The brand also began roasting 15-20% of its US-sold coffee domestically earlier this year, signalling a deeper commitment to its second-largest market.
The wider coffee industry faces the same conditions. Coffee futures hit historic highs in early 2025 and have stayed volatile since, though analysts expect prices to ease on the back of a predicted record crop in Brazil. Conflict in the Middle East has added further cost pressure, pushing up logistics, fertiliser, and oil prices across the supply chain.
These factors have thinned margins and delayed investment decisions throughout the sector. The question is timing, and right now, illycaffè, like much of the coffee industry, is monitoring conditions carefully before committing to any decisions.
Top stories of the week
- Mon, 25 May – USDA forecasts Vietnam 2025/26 harvest at 31.7 million bags. These figures are up 9.3% on last crop. Robusta accounts for 30.5 million bags, and exports are predicted at 28.5 million bags, led by Germany, Italy, and the US. However, a looming “super” El Niño threatens the 2026/27 harvest. (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)
- Tue, 26 May – Sana’a University plants 2,400 Yemeni coffee seedlings on campus. Haraz Coffee supplied the seedlings for the reclaimed agricultural land, which includes a modern irrigation network. The initiative aims to restore Yemen’s coffee identity and support practical training for agriculture students. (Sana’a, Yemen)
Industry news
- Mon, 25 May – Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini passes away at 76. The visionary leader created the international Terra Madre gathering and the University of Gastronomic Sciences. He built a global movement rooted in good, clean, and fair food for all. (Bra, Italy)
- Tue, 26 May – Melitta invests €100m to expand Bremen coffee site. The project adds a roasting plant, packaging centre, and high‑bay warehouse, boosting capacity by 50% and making it Europe’s largest coffee facility by volume. The investment supports Melitta’s 2033 strategy to double group sales. (Bremen, Germany)
- Wed, 27 May – Kyiv’s coffee community reopens after Russian attack damages 14 cafés and offices. On 24 May, Russian missiles and drones struck Kyiv and the surrounding region, damaging residential buildings and local businesses. According to members of Kyiv’s coffee community, !FEST Coffee Mission’s Kyiv office was affected, along with approximately 14 cafés and coffee-related businesses across the city. Some have resumed operations, while others continue to assess damage and seek support for repairs. (Kyiv, Ukraine)
New launch
- Tue, 26 May – The Coffee Grind launches hidden speakeasy Behind the Grind. The café expands into a hybrid day-to-night destination with live entertainment and design-forward interiors. Partners Lewis Sigelakis and Dominick Raffaele aim to bring a fresh nightlife experience to Long Island. (Massapequa, New York, US)
Milestone
Trade & production
Research
- Wed, 27 May – Roast level ranks as consumers’ most important coffee label. Recent research from the NCA, Ohio State University, and the Coffee Sensorium confirms that specialty coffee buyers use roast level to predict overall flavour, as it guides expectations of strength and bitterness. (Irvine, California, US)
Events & competitions
- Wed, 27 May – Probat to exhibit at WoC Brussels. The company will showcase its P01, P12, and P25 drum roasters at booth 11246, representing nearly the full spectrum of its small-batch specialty coffee portfolio. (Emmerich am Rhein, Germany)
- Fri, 29 May – Nicaragua Cup of Excellence 2026 winners announced. Samuel Zavala won the washed category with a 91.44 Geisha; Inversiones Valladarez Acevedo S.A. took top natural/honey spot at 92.00. A total of 29 lots will be auctioned online on 14 June. (Dipilto, Nicaragua)
Here are a few coffee news stories from previous weeks that you might find interesting. Take a look:
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