Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the week.
Editor’s note
Heineken has appointed Rafael Oliveira as its new CEO, breaking with tradition by selecting an outsider to address slumping demand. Oliveira, currently CEO of KDP-owned JDE Peet’s, will take over on 1 October 2026, subject to shareholder approval. He steps into the role as KDP launches its Global Coffee Co., which will be responsible for US$16bn in worldwide sales.
At Costa Coffee, the news is less certain. Coca-Cola has brought in restructuring advisers, AlixPartners and Alvarez & Marsal, following an attempt to sell the chain. The sale collapsed in January after bids failed to reach Costa’s £2bn asking price, roughly half the £3.9bn Coca-Cola paid for the business in 2018.
On the regulatory side, the UK government confirmed plans to introduce its own deforestation regulation. The EU’s legislation, which came into force in 2023, caused significant disruption across the coffee industry, and the UK’s equivalent is expected to do the same.
Taken together, these stories reflect the pressure bearing down on large coffee companies from multiple directions simultaneously: operational underperformance, leadership instability, and tightening supply chain regulation.
Top stories of the week
- Fri, 26 Jun – Third edition of Beantropy will discuss the future of specialty coffee. This year’s theme is “Where Do We Go From Here?”, bringing together international producers, roasters, importers, coffee shop operators, researchers, journalists, and industry leaders to explore the opportunities and challenges facing specialty coffee. (Paris, France)
- Fri, 26 Jun – Coaltown Coffee among 2026 Coffee Design Awards winners. The Welsh roaster won the Branding award, recognising the evolution of its brand identity, developed in partnership with Smörgåsbord and its in-house creative team throughout 2025. Coaltown’s new 200g, 1kg, and 5kg coffee bags are made from GRS-certified post-consumer recycled plastic, while the new 200g coffee box introduces an elevated unboxing experience inspired by South Wales’ industrial heritage. (Ammanford, Wales)
Industry news
- Wed, 24 Jun – Harlan + Holden raises US$12m for Southeast Asia expansion. The Manila-founded lifestyle brand, which started in clothing before moving into specialty coffee, will use the funds to expand its store network across the region. It already operates in the Philippines and Indonesia. (Manila, Philippines)
Businesses for sale
- Tue, 23 Jun – Coffee Fellows returns to founding family ownership. The Tewes family has bought back the 22% stake held by BWK GmbH, effective 1 July 2026. Kolja Mühlberger becomes co-CEO to lead a generational transition, with the group targeting €260m system sales by 2031. (Munich, Germany)
New launch
- Tue, 23 Jun – Carte Noire unveils new visual identity with Aroma System. The Lavazza-owned company tasked Landor with the rebrand, introducing a new logo, revised visual architecture, and the Aroma System graphic asset to convey its sensory universe. The new look rolls out in summer 2026. (Paris, France)
- Wed, 24 Jun – Vixxo launches AI‑enabled cafe equipment repair service. The programme covers espresso machines, grinders, and cold brew systems. It is initially available in Dallas, Phoenix, and Denver, backed by a network of over 250 technicians with nearly 20 years of experience with coffee equipment. (Dallas, Texas, US)
- Thu, 25 Jun – Latte Art Factory launches LAF Neo multi‑liquid system. The countertop unit dispenses dairy and plant milks, syrup, and water, with up to five programmable phases per recipe. It has an 18% smaller footprint than the previous model and debuted at WoC Brussels, where it is nominated for 2026 Best New Product. (Milan, Italy)
- Fri, 26 Jun – Trung Nguyên Legend breaks ground on coffee factory system in Đắk Lắk. The project, with a total investment of nearly 2.2 trillion VND (about US$86.6m), includes a new energy coffee factory and an expansion. It aims to become Southeast Asia’s largest instant coffee facility and boost Buôn Ma Thuột’s status as a coffee capital. (Buôn Ma Thuột, Vietnam)
Milestone
- Mon, 22 Jun – Expocacer ranks second in the Minas Gerais cooperative agro ranking. The Cerrado Mineiro co-op climbed two positions in the “Surplus Before Allocations” index among 196 agricultural cooperatives. It also rose in total revenue and net equity rankings. The co-op posted R$3bn in 2025 revenue and projects 2.86m bags of arabica for 2026. (Patrocínio, Brazil)
Trade & production
- Tue, 23 Jun – Ethiopia looks to the African market to bypass coffee trade wars. US tariffs of 10‑46% on coffee exporters and the AfCFTA ratification drive a shift towards continental consumption. Africa accounts for 13% of global supply but has underdeveloped domestic demand, with nations like South Africa, Nigeria, and Uganda now promoting local coffee culture. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
- Tue, 23 Jun – Kenya promises farmers will be paid within 5 days. The Direct Settlement System ends months‑long delays. The government allocated US$120m for fertiliser subsidies and US$20m to clear debts and support co‑operatives. (Nairobi, Kenya)
- Thu, 25 Jun – Nestlé backs regenerative farming industry push to scale adoption. It joins more than 40 businesses supporting the SAI Platform’s Regenerating Together Programme, which offers guidance and verification protocols. The move supports Nestlé’s goal to source 50% of key ingredients from regenerative farms by 2030. (Vevey, Switzerland)
- Fri, 26 Jun – Hawaii’s coffee berry borer-infested areas expand to Lānaʻi and Kauaʻi. Almost every coffee-growing island is now designated infested. Movement restrictions on green beans, bags, and equipment have been lifted for these islands, but permits are still required for plant material. Molokaʻi remains non-infested with stricter rules. (Honolulu, Hawaii, US)
Research
- Fri, 26 Jun – Poison in Your Coffee report finds global coffee industry is heavily dependent on Highly Hazardous Pesticides, including chemicals banned in the EU and US. Research compiled by Coffee Watch, Inkota, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, and Pesticide Action Network UK found that 60% of pesticides used in coffee are classified as Highly Hazardous and 59% are banned in the EU. Residues, including glyphosate, have been detected on green beans, posing risks to human health, water, soil, pollinators, and biodiversity.
Events & competitions
Here are a few coffee news stories from previous weeks that you might find interesting. Take a look:
Photo credits: Beantropy, Coaltown Coffee, Expocacer, Latte Art Factory
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