Coffee News Recap, 13 Mar: Brazil & Vietnam coffee exports fell in February, RFK Jr. challenges Starbucks and Dunkin’ over sugar levels & other stories

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

Editor’s note

“America runs on Dunkin’” – but Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disagrees. The US Health Secretary recently took aim at the coffee and doughnut chain, alongside Starbucks, for its sugar-laden drinks.

Under RFK Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative to overhaul food ingredient rules, he wants both chains to prove their high-sugar drinks are safe for teenagers. The numbers are striking: at least six Dunkin’ drinks each contain over 100g of sugar, with a large Triple Mocha Frozen Coffee coming in at a staggering 165g.

The health concerns are understandable, particularly given Gen Z’s appetite for flavoured, customised coffee drinks. But RFK Jr. cut US$500m in mRNA vaccine funding last year, which makes his focus on Starbucks and Dunkin’ feel rather misguided.

Still, publicly calling out major coffee chains for their sugar content could push them towards lower-calorie options. The functional coffee market has grown considerably as more consumers pay closer attention to health and wellness. A shift in this direction, whether voluntary or applied through political pressure, may be where the market ends up.

Top stories of the week

• Tue, 10 Mar – Brazil & Vietnam coffee exports both fell in February. Vietnam’s February exports fell by over 16%, a decline local traders attributed to high domestic prices and limited stock. Brazilian coffee exports totalled 2.6 million bags last month, down 23.5%. Cecafé president Márcio Ferreira attributes the decline to falling arabica prices. (Hanoi, Vietnam & Brasília, Brazil)

• Wed, 11 Mar – Intelligentsia opens first drive-thru store. The Santa Monica store features a 250-sq-ft setup with a La Marzocco KB90 espresso machine, batch brew systems, and a streamlined menu to minimise wait times. (Santa Monica, California, US)

• Wed, 11 Mar – Volcafe brings North American operations under direct leadership. Volcafe North America is now the sole authorised representative of the Volcafe, Volcafe Specialty, Volcafe Way, Volcafe Verified, and Volcafe Excellence brands in the region. The former licensee now operates independently as Coastal Commodities and no longer represents the Volcafe brand or its portfolio. (Red Bank, New Jersey, US)

Industry news

• Mon, 9 Mar – Gregorys Coffee begins franchising to accelerate growth. The New York chain is shifting its business model after nearly two decades of exclusively operating company-owned shops. The brand currently has over 40 sites and seeks to enter new markets quickly. (New York City, New York, US)

• Mon, 9 Mar – Tim Hortons partners with the Canadian Paralympic Team. The coffee chain is now the squad’s official quick-service restaurant through to the 2028 Games. The brand will also feature para-sport highlights in its upcoming national marketing campaigns. (Toronto, Canada)

• Tue, 10 Mar – Fore Coffee rejects franchise model while expanding in Southeast Asia. The Indonesian chain recently added 60 outlets, bringing its total to 290 across Indonesia and Singapore. Fore says it will prioritise company-owned growth to protect service standards, brand control, and measured scaling across key markets. (Jakarta, Indonesia)

• Thu, 12 Mar – Bellwether Coffee expands roaster network and marketplace. The company has doubled its number of roasters as more shops move to roast coffee in-store. This expansion offers a larger range of green coffee for those using the brand’s electric, ventless equipment. (Berkeley, California, US)

• Fri, 13 Mar – Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA appoints Matthew Smith as president. Smith brings over 25 years of experience to the role, overseeing popular brands like Chock full o’Nuts and Segafredo Zanetti. He replaces John Battle as the firm focuses on new strategic goals and future growth. (Portsmouth, Virginia, US)

New launch

• Mon, 9 Mar – Cotti Coffee to open first Belgian outlet. The Chinese chain plans to enter the Brussels market with competitive pricing as part of its rapid global expansion. This move marks a significant step for the company in Western Europe. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Tue, 10 Mar – Cup Scout launches to showcase upcoming micro roasters in the US. The new weekly subscription service specifically scouts “hidden gem” roasters with small followings and 15lb batch capacities. Cup Scout meets roasters in person to host cuppings and source exclusive small batches to ship to subscribers weekly. (Atlanta, Georgia, US)

• Wed, 11 Mar – Astoria unveils ST-400 and ST-800 machines at Internoga. Designed for high-volume venues, the new “Smart Traditional” platform features Intelligent Portafilter Recognition and integrated self-adjusting grinders. A final launch is scheduled for WoC Brussels. (Susegana, Italy)

• Wed, 11 Mar – Thermoplan releases 2025 Sustainability Report focused on circular economy. Despite global economic tensions, the Swiss manufacturer refurbished over 500 Black&White4 modules and 100 Black&White3 end-of-life machines for reintroduction to the market. The report also highlights the uniqueBean social project and international university collaborations. (Weggis, Switzerland)

• Thu, 12 Mar – MHW-3BOMBER launches new cupping bowl. Designed for professional sensory evaluation and roast development, the bowl joins the brand’s 2026 lineup of precision equipment. It aims to provide roasters and baristas with a standardised tool for accurate flavour analysis. (Guangzhou, China)

• Fri, 13 Mar – Nigredo Café opens its doors in Colombia. The new specialty coffee shop, located in Parque Coinca, is described as a space where coffee and ideas meet. Owned by Jayson Galvis, former CoE international judge and head judge at the Global Coffee Awards, the venue aims to foster community through high-quality service and “coffee alchemy”. (Armenia, Colombia)

Trade & production

• Mon, 9 Mar – Vietnam supply issues threaten to raise global coffee costs. Severe drought and reduced harvests in the world’s top robusta producer are creating a shortage in the market. This turmoil is expected to push up prices for instant coffee and espresso blends worldwide as stocks reach record lows. Traders are monitoring weather patterns closely. (Hanoi, Vietnam)

• Mon, 9 Mar – World’s largest urban coffee farm plants new trees in Brazil. The Biological Institute in São Paulo is adding hundreds of saplings to its historic grove to boost research and education. This unique green space helps scientists study pests and the impact of climate change while teaching city residents about coffee’s journey from seed to cup. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Tue, 10 Mar – Uganda achieves record coffee exports to start the new season. The country shipped over 600,000 bags in a single month, marking its highest volume in decades. High global prices and better farming practices helped drive the surge in sales. This boost strengthens the nation’s position as a top African producer. (Kampala, Uganda)

• Wed, 11 Mar – Specialty coffees gain ground in Brazil despite structural and climate challenges. While domestic consumption of high-quality beans is rising, the sector faces hurdles including high production cos,ts and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Experts emphasise the need for better technical assistance to help small producers maintain quality and sustainability standards. (São Paulo, Brazil)

Research

• Mon, 9 Mar – New research shows younger consumers are changing US coffee culture. Toast analysed same-store sales across US restaurants on the platform between January 2024 and December 2025, finding that new format drinks are overtaking American staples. Sales of regular hot drip coffee fell by 3%, while cold brew dipped by 2.2%. “Handcrafted barista-made” drinks saw the biggest increase, with espresso up by 3.3%. (New York City, New York, US)

• Tue, 10 Mar – Study explores coffee pulp as beef fat substitute. Researchers found that replacing 50% of animal fat with dried coffee cherry waste maintained burger texture and juiciness. The antioxidant-rich powder also improved shelf life by preventing spoilage during storage. (Athens, Georgia, US)

• Thu, 12 Mar – Study finds coffee intake weakly linked to sleep quality. Research with more than 30,000 adults found that people who regularly drink coffee do not show meaningful differences in sleep quality or daytime tiredness compared with non-drinkers, suggesting daily coffee habits may affect sleep less than commonly believed. (Linköping, Sweden)

Events & competitions

• Mon, 9 Mar – India International Coffee Festival plans 2027 expansion. Following a successful event with 20,000 visitors, organisers aim to expand their international footprint next year. Recent showcases highlighted local specialty coffee offerings and a shift towards quality-driven markets. (Bengaluru, India)

• Tue, 10 Mar – NCA 2026 Convention takes place in Tampa, Florida. The annual convention provides industry professionals with opportunities to gain new knowledge and insight into developments in the US coffee sector. The event includes a trade show exhibition, a speakers’ programme, workshops, educational sessions, networking opportunities, and an awards programme. (Tampa, Florida, US)

• Wed, 11 Mar – Dalla Corte and Franke announced as sponsors for 2026 US Barista Championship. Dalla Corte North America will serve as the Official Machine Sponsor, with competitors using the Zero Plus Classic three-group machine. Franke Coffee Systems will join as the Calibration Sponsor, featuring the Mytico Due. The championship is scheduled to take place from 18 to 21 June in Denver. (Denver, Colorado, US)

• Wed, 11 Mar – Hyderabad Coffee Festival celebrates India’s growing coffee culture. The event, taking place on 14 & 15 March, brings together cafés, roasters, and coffee enthusiasts through tastings, latte art demos, expert talks, and live performances, highlighting India’s growing specialty coffee scene and offering visitors a platform to explore different origins and brewing methods. (Hyderabad, India)

• Thu, 12 Mar – Toddy to host Cold Brew Competition at London Coffee Festival. Scheduled for 14 to 17 May, the contest challenges professionals to showcase their technical skills and creativity across three rounds, including a full-immersion brewing round and a designer drink category. Toddy will host a Cold Brew Championship at PRF El Salvador on 26 & 27 March 2026. (London, UK)

• Thu, 12 Mar – Wood Fired Coffee to host interactive flat white workshop. Wood Fired Coffee founder Mark Pupo will lead the session on Monday, 30 March, where he will share the history of the drink, the origins of Wood Fired Coffee, and how the coffee is blended to enhance milk-based drinks. Visitors will also have the chance to make their own flat white. (London, UK)

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

• Thu, 5 Mar – Black Rock Coffee Bar targets 1,000 locations in expansion push. The chain plans to rapidly increase its footprint from the current 130 sites across the US. This aggressive growth strategy focuses on high-traffic areas and regional hubs to compete with larger industry players. (Scottsdale, Arizona, US)

Photo credits: Morgan Eckroth, COFFeEAST Festival

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