Coffee News Recap, 11 Apr: Arabica prices fall as US tariffs come into effect, rules for 2025 World Barista Championship announced & other stories

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

Editor’s note

Since 2 April, news has been flooded with reports on how the Trump administration’s tariffs will send the cost of goods, including coffee, soaring in the US – one of the world’s biggest consumers of coffee.

The repercussions of the levies are global. American importers and roasters have been bracing themselves for the impact, with concerns about paying 10% to 35% more for green coffee, meaning additional costs would need to be passed on to the consumer. At the same time, producers in countries that were set to be hit the hardest by the tariffs – including Vietnam, Indonesia, and India – considered other export destinations to avoid hefty fees and unprecedented logistical challenges.

The market’s response to Trump’s tariffs was to be expected: the worst one-day fall since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. The S&P 500, which tracks 500 of the biggest companies in the US, saw more than 10% of its value wiped out over three days – a drop almost as steep as the decline experienced during the 2008 financial crisis. The C price also dropped to multi-month lows as the tariffs spurred market sell-offs.

Then, on 9 April, in a sudden U-turn, Trump capped all tariffs at 10% for 90 days. China, however, currently faces a 145% levy, while Canada and Mexico have both been imposed with 25%.

It’s becoming impossible to predict which move the US President will make next. Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs appear to be short-lived, but what will happen after – or even during – the 90-day freezing period remains to be seen. The past week has been a turbulent time for the world, and the volatility of the situation doesn’t seem to be diminishing.

Despite the arbitrary reduction, tariffs on US imports remain at the highest level since the 1930s. In the coming weeks, or even days at this point, US roasters and importers, as well as global producers and exporters, will need to stay vigilant and well-informed to navigate one of the most tumultuous periods in recent history.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 7 Apr – Arabica prices drop to multi-month lows as US tariffs come into effect. Global commodity prices slipped as US tariffs – now frozen at 10% for 90 days, excluding China, Mexico, and Canada – spurred market sell-offs. ICE arabica futures dropped 5.1% to their lowest levels in months, while robusta fell 4.8%. Cocoa prices also declined significantly. (New York City, New York, US)

• Mon, 7 Apr – Updated rules announced for the 2025 World Barista Championship. The new rule updates align registration and complaint procedures with other World Coffee Championships and provide additional details on penalties to clarify common practices and ensure consistency in judging. The definition of “espresso” has also been updated for greater flexibility. (Irvine, California, US)

• Mon, 7 Apr – ICE adds Vietnam as deliverable origin for arabica futures. From May 2027, arabica coffee from Vietnam will be deliverable on ICE’s Coffee “C” contract at US 6 cents per pound under par, aligning it with Brazil and expanding supply options amid shifting trade dynamics. (New York City, New York, US)

• Tue, 8 Apr – Growing number of roasters and associations urge US government to exempt coffee from tariffs. Following recent market turmoil, New York roaster Coffee Bros joined the NCA in calling for coffee to be excluded from the new tariffs imposed on key producing countries. The move aims to protect small businesses and consumers, emphasising that the US cannot meet its own demand without relying on international trade partners. (New York City, New York, US)

• Tue, 8 Apr – Brazilian exporters eye new opportunities with US tariffs. Prior to the 10% universal tariff freeze on 9 April, Vietnam and Indonesia were hit with 46% and 32% levies, respectively, while Brazil was imposed with a 10% tax fee. Brazilian exporters see an opportunity to ship more robusta to the US if the Trump administration exempts coffee from tariffs, according to Cecafé’s Marcos Matos. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Thu, 10 Apr – Starbucks UK vows recovery after £35m annual loss. The coffee chain cited inflation, consumer boycotts, and competition from specialty coffee brands for its 2024 downturn, despite opening 100 new UK stores. Plans include 80 new openings in 2025 while focusing on tech upgrades and menu optimisation to regain market momentum. (London, UK)

Industry news

• Wed, 8 Apr – Kopi Kenangan appoints Head of Business Development for India. Former Subway exec Dheeraj Maini will lead Kopi Kenangan’s expansion into India, with the first store set to open in New Delhi’s Pacific Mall in 2025. Maini brings years of experience from Subway, Burger King, and other top chains. (New Delhi, India)

• Thu, 10 Apr – Cambio Roasters expands sustainability efforts with dual partnerships. The coffee brand has partnered with TerraCycle for free aluminum pod recycling and 4Ocean to remove ocean plastic, pledging one pound cleaned per US $40 purchase. The initiative builds on its Keurig-compatible aluminum pod innovation. (Charleston, South Carolina, US)

• Fri, 11 Apr – Hawaii’s Bad Ass Coffee names new CBO. Former P&G Marketing Director Iain Douglas, who previously consulted for the chain, is now Chief Brand Officer. He will drive brand strategy, boost community engagement, and support franchise growth for the coffee brand, which currently runs 40 stores across 12 US states. (Salt Lake City, Utah, US)

New launch

• Mon, 7 Apr – Lavazza launches single-serve product made entirely of coffee. During Milano Design Week, Lavazza introduced Tablì, a new single-serve format featuring a coffee-only tab and dedicated machine. Developed over five years, the system aims to offer a more sustainable approach to home coffee consumption. (Milan, Italy)

• Tue, 8 Apr – Bosch and Lavazza partner for home espresso solution. Bosch’s fully automatic espresso machines can be paired with Lavazza’s coffee offerings. The collaboration aims to simplify home brewing and deliver a user-friendly coffee experience. (Turin, Italy)

• Wed, 9 Apr – Starbucks debuts low-sugar RTD coffee innovations. The five-calorie Iced Energy and 100-calorie Frappuccino Lite ranges mark the chain’s push into functional beverages. The drinks are priced at US $2.99 per can and bottle and are available across various US retail channels. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Wed, 9 Apr – Ceado releases REV commercial grinder series. The professional-grade models incorporate dose control technology, thermal management systems, and interchangeable 83mm burr sets, targeting specialty coffee shops requiring consistent extraction. (Spinea, Italy)

• Thu, 10 Apr – Romania’s 5 to Go launches mobile cart model to boost franchise growth. The country’s largest coffee chain has introduced its low-cost 5 to Go Espresso mobile cart to reach underserved areas and events. The innovative model aims to support the chain’s expansion to 1,000 outlets, with 20–40 carts projected in 2025 and over 50 in 2026. (Bucharest, Romania)

• Thu, 10 Apr – US Congressional Coffee Caucus launches to support industry. Representatives Jill Tokuda (D-HI) and William Timmons (R-SC) co-chair the bipartisan group aiming to strengthen coffee’s economic impact, despite current tariff challenges facing the import-reliant US market. (Washington DC, US)

Milestone

Trade & production

• Mon, 7 Apr – Brazil eyes robusta production leadership after Vietnam study tour. An Espírito Santo state delegation observed Vietnam’s coffee sector, noting yield limitations from small plots but efficient logistics. It projects that Brazil could surpass Vietnam in robusta output through scalable farming models. (Vitória, Brazil)

• Fri, 11 Apr – Vietnam joins International Coffee Agreement 2022. Ambassador Do Minh Hung signed the agreement in London, reinforcing Vietnam’s role as the world’s second-largest coffee producer and its commitment to global sector cooperation. (London, UK)

Research

• Wed, 9 Apr – World Coffee Research releases 2024 report on climate-resilient coffee. The report highlights breakthroughs in breeding, trials, and global partnerships, including US $10 million in multi-year member commitments. Its innovative programmes aim to deliver high-performing coffee varieties to farmers for a sustainable future. (Portland, Oregon, US)

• Wed, 9 Apr – Study confirms stenophylla’s chemical similarity to arabica. Research in Science of Food reveals that the native Sierra Leone coffee species shares key flavour compounds (caffeine, chlorogenic acids, and sucrose) with arabica, despite growing in hotter climates. The heat-resistant species also uniquely contains cognitive enhancing theacrine, which could help combat coffee fraud.

• Thu, 10 Apr – Study links coffee bag colours to consumer expectations. Research led by Fabiana Carvalho shows that coffee packaging colours influence perceived flavour and concepts like quality or sustainability, suggesting that aligning colour with a coffee’s sensory profile could aid specialty marketing. (Poços de Caldas, Brazil)

• Fri, 11 Apr – Study reveals ideal pour-over method for “stronger” coffee. Researchers found that using high, thick water jets to maintain laminar flow significantly improves the mixing of coffee grounds, yielding a higher TDS with fewer beans. Thin jets, which break into droplets, result in weaker extraction, according to the study. (Washington, DC, US)

Events & competitions

• Mon, 7 Apr – The Dublin Coffee Festival 2025 to take place on 12 & 13 April. The event, held at the Royal Dublin Society, will include an exhibition of over 50 local and international roasters, free tastings, demos, workshops, panel discussions, and competitions, including the inaugural DCF Latte Art Competition and Irish Cup Tasters Championship. (Dublin, Ireland)

• Thu, 10 Apr – COFFeEast celebrates second edition and announces GreatEast Cup winners. In the Mastery Cup, Alejandro Griffin Diaz was crowned the GreatEast Barista, Răzvan Pele was awarded GreatEast Skills, and Adi Avasîlcăi received the GreatEast Craftsmanship & Service award. In the Team Cup, Alexandra Nistor & Mirica Sebastian of Simple Two won the GreatEast Team award, and Sibspresso’s Delia Avram & Horia Birtas received the GreatEast Skills award. (Bucharest, Romania)

• Thu, 10 Apr – Victoria Arduino announces its 2025 Paris Café Festival line-up. The company’s activities at the event, running until 14 April, will feature equipment demos including the energy-efficient Eagle Tempo and programmable PureBrew+, alongside barista training sessions with French champion Brice Robin. (Paris, France)

• Fri, 11 Apr – SCA reveals two locations for 2026 World Coffee Championships. The World Barista Championship will be held at the inaugural World of Coffee Panama from 23 to 25 October 2026. Next year’s World Latte Art Championship will take place at the newly rebranded World of Coffee San Diego from 10 to 12 April 2026. (Irvine, California, US)

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

• Tue, Apr 1 – La Marzocco debuts Modbar pop-up at Milan Design Week. The premium equipment manufacturer launched its Modbar Espresso Atelier pop-up at Milan Design Week 2025, showcasing modular brewing systems and hosting 1895 Coffee Designers masterclasses and workshops on innovative coffee techniques. (Milan, Italy)

• Thu, 3 Apr – Fairtrade and Black Baza win SCA Sustainability Awards 2025. Fairtrade International and Black Baza Coffee Co. were chosen by a panel of 14 judges for their impactful sustainability work in coffee. All Sustainability Award winners will be recognised at the 2025 Specialty Coffee Expo. (Houston, Texas, US)

Photo credits: Specialty Coffee Association

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Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence News & Opinion piece about what Trump’s tariffs mean for the global coffee industry.