Coffee News Recap, 19 Jun: Stumptown president exits months after KDP acquisition, Liberia to revive coffee production & other stories

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

Editor’s note

Laura Szeliga, who led Stumptown Coffee Roasters for five years, departed just two months after its parent company, JDE Peet’s, was acquired by Keurig Dr Pepper in a US$18bn deal.

Szeliga isn’t the only employee to have left Stumptown. Over the past month, at least half a dozen people across sales, marketing, logistics, and human resources have posted on LinkedIn about leaving the company. The pattern is familiar in large corporate acquisitions, where leadership installed under a previous owner often finds itself at odds with the incoming owner’s priorities.

In other news, Nigerian agro-development company JR Farms Group has signed a US$60m, 20-year partnership deal with the government of Liberia to revive the country’s coffee sector.

Liberia is known for liberica and has fertile soils suited to cultivating arabica and robusta. The deal is projected to benefit more than 200,000 farmers and generate over 300,000 jobs across the country’s coffee sector. For a country with significant agricultural potential that has long sat on the margins of global coffee trade, the agreement marks a serious attempt to compete.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 15 Jun – Rains halt Brazil’s coffee harvest and raise risk of disease. Three days of rain hindered drying in Minas Gerais. Farmers have reported cherry drop and quality loss. More rain is forecast, complicating disease control, as producers can’t apply fungicide in these conditions. (São Paulo, Brazil)

• Wed, 17 Jun – Huracán Coffee launches award-winning coffee giveaway. The Lithuanian company, recently crowned the World’s Best Roaster at the 2025 Global Coffee Awards World Championship, will give away five 60g sample sets to five winners. Coffees include CoE-winning Bernardina La Esperanza from Café Pacas and the GCA Filter Washed Winner Avantage from Kamagogo Kiru Coop in Kenya. (Vilnius, Lithuania)

• Fri, 19 Jun – WoC Brussels to host 2026 World Brewers Cup, Coffee Roasting, and Coffee in Good Spirits Championships. The event, taking place from 25 to 27 June 2026, will also include Roasters Village, Producer Village, Best New Product Competition, Coffee Design Awards, lectures, workshops, cuppings, and more. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Fri, 19 Jun – Huracán Coffee to host WoC Brussels afterparty on 25 June. Celebrating their recent win at the 2025 Global Coffee Awards World Championship, the Lithuanian roaster is inviting the specialty coffee community to join them at Brasserie de l’Ermitage, one of Belgium’s best craft breweries. (Brussels, Belgium)

Industry news

• Mon, 15 Jun – ofi publishes first Choices for Change impact report. The report shows progress in farmer livelihoods, living income, human rights, climate action, and traceability across cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts, and spices. 730,000 farms are geolocated in its EUDR-ready system. (Singapore)

• Tue, 16 Jun – Silver Apples Bakery secures supply deal with 92 Degrees. The Stockport sweet specialist will supply cookies, cronuts, brownies, and plant-based bakes to all 22 outlets nationwide. The bakery’s MD noted a natural alignment between the two northern UK brands. (Stockport, UK)

• Tue, 16 Jun – Finlays publishes its 2025 Sustainability Report. The coffee and tea supplier recorded a 26% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions since 2022, and 100% of tea made, green leaf tea, and soluble coffee is traceable to the factory, garden mark, farm, or mill. The company warns that without deeper value chain collaboration, pressure on producers and buyers will only intensify. (London, UK)

• Wed, 17 Jun – Jenki to double London footprint with five new openings. The matcha-focused chain will add sites in Shoreditch, Covent Garden, Marylebone, Soho, and Fitzrovia, taking its total to ten. Founded in 2023, Jenki offers matcha‑based drinks, soft serve, and pastries. (London, UK)

• Thu, 18 Jun – Dalla Corte named official machine sponsor of 2026 US Barista Championship. The Italian coffee equipment manufacturer, celebrating its 25th anniversary, only recently entered the North American market. The competition, which uses Dalla Corte’s Zero Plus machines, runs until 21 June at Huckleberry Roasters, where 36 baristas are competing for the top spot. (Denver, Colorado, US)

Businesses for sale

• Fri, 19 Jun – illycaffè denies Wall Street IPO rumours. CEO Cristina Scocchia said a listing is a strategic option, but no decisions have yet been made and no timetable has been set. Reports had suggested an IPO by the end of 2026 or early 2027. (Trieste, Italy)

New launch

• Tue, 16 Jun – Blueprint Coffee releases Timespan dark roast. Previously exclusive to Trade for two years, the blend has notes of dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and almond. Roastery Director Nora Brady says it bridges old and new approaches to roast character. (St Louis, Missouri, US)

• Tue, 16 Jun – Blue Bottle launches Kyoto-Style Espresso globally. The cold‑water method replaces the hot‑brewed method with a time‑based extraction for smoother iced espresso that retains its character over ice, Blue Bottle says. CEO Karl Strovink says it moves iced espresso from an adapted process to a new standard. (Oakland, California, US)

• Wed, 17 Jun – Blackfinger Coffee opens in Camberwell as a co‑op. The queer-owned roaster’s name references the ink left after voting in India, and it focuses on Asian origins, including India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and China. Blackfinger’s menu also features Colombian coffee, aligned with Racafé’s CRECER sustainability framework. (London, UK)

• Thu, 18 Jun – Spacegoods launches RTD mushroom iced coffee across the UK. The functional drink is available in Original and Vanilla Mocha at Sainsbury’s, with no added sugar and under 30 calories per can. Co‑founder Alex Neale says it taps into the same functionality as coffee but for all day. (London, UK)

• Thu, 18 Jun – Istanbul’s Cup of Joy to open first UK venue. The coffee shop and bakery will open its first English site in Marylebone in July. The chain serves a signature blend of arabica from El Salvador, Brazil, and Colombia, and all drinks come in bespoke ceramics made by the founder. (London, UK)

• Thu, 18 Jun – Kicking Horse launches Cool Mule iced coffee blend. The limited‑time medium roast features peach, milk chocolate, and syrupy nectar notes, formulated specifically for iced coffee. It launched across US Costco from 8 June and online from 16 June. (Invermere, Canada)

• Fri, 19 Jun – Wacaco launches Prestina, a patented manual immersion brewer. It uses the cup itself as the press, requiring no electricity or paper filters. The brewing process involves 15g of medium-ground coffee, 240ml of water at 90°C, a one-minute infusion, then pressing down with the cup. (Hong Kong, China)

• Fri, 19 Jun – La San Marco launches globally with the La 125 flagship machine. The brand, founded in 1920, now joins SEB Professional’s portfolio. The La 125 offers ±0.1°C thermal stability and intuitive controls and is aimed at high‑volume specialty cafés and premium hospitality venues. (Verdello, Italy)

• Fri, 19 Jun – Cerrado Mineiro to launch new brand strategy at WoC Brussels. The first Brazilian coffee Denomination of Origin will present its ‘Um Futuro Regenerativo para o Café’ positioning from 25 to 27 June at booth 11462, highlighting origin, regeneration, and value creation for future generations. (Brussels, Belgium)

Milestone

• Wed, 17 Jun – The Last Bean wins three Gold Awards at the 2026 Monde Selection in Paris. The Belgian roaster was recognised for Panama Gesha Suarez, Jamaica Blue Mountain BMCP Estate, and Saint Helena Bamboo Hedge Estate. Founder Steven Corveleyn said the awards confirm a vision built on the same attention to origin and terroir as the gastronomic world. (Knokke-Heist, Belgium)

• Thu, 18 Jun – Ancoats Coffee Co celebrates 10 years in Manchester. Founder Jamie Boland championed sustainable sourcing and helped pioneer the city’s specialty coffee scene. The Brews, Beats, 10 Years celebration will be held on 25 June from 6-9 pm at the roastery café in Royal Mills, with local beers from Shindigger, Ancoats Coffee Espresso Martinis, food from Kongs Chicken Shop, and live music. (Manchester, UK)

• Fri, 19 Jun – European Coffee Brewing Centre turns 50. Founded in 1972, the Oslo‑based facility certified its first brewer, a Moccamaster, in 1976. It has since evolved to test home and professional equipment, partnering with the SCA since 1997. (Oslo, Norway)

Trade & production

• Fri, 19 Jun – Brazil secures coffee seed export authorisation to Panama. The country also opened its market to Brazilian fruit pulp and frozen fruit. Panama imported about US$100m in Brazilian agricultural products in 2025, including coffee, cereals, and forestry products. (Brasília, Brazil)

Research

• Fri, 19 Jun – Coffee tastes best midweek, says Oxford study. Wednesday peaks as the most enjoyable day, as people clear the midweek hurdle and anticipate the weekend. Research involving 3,000 people across 11 countries also found that spring, morning hours, and social settings boost appreciation for coffee. (Oxford, UK)

• Fri, 19 Jun – New study finds seven out of 10 Germans drink coffee every day. According to the latest edition of the Aral Kaffeestudie, more than 62% of Germans drink at least two to three cups of coffee a day, and nearly 30% drink four or more cups. Filter coffee remains the most popular drink. (Bochum, Germany)

Events & competitions

• Mon, 15 Jun – Birdhill Coffee Festival returns on 26-28 June. The three-day event features masterclasses, demos, competitions, and talks to improve home brewing. Attendees can win a Sage Barista Touch Impress and other prizes. (Tipperary, Ireland)

• Mon, 15 Jun – Caffè Culture 2026 returns to London on 29 & 30 September. The UK trade show, in its 20th edition, will host over 120 exhibitors and 3,500 attendees, featuring the Roasters Forum, Cupping Village, Brew Lab, and the European Speciality Tea Association’s Tea Hub. (London, UK)

• Wed, 17 Jun – Record 139 entrants for Guatemala Cup of Excellence 2026. The competition, marking its 25th edition since 2001, received the highest number of submissions since 2010. The winners will be announced on 26 June, with the online auction set for 7 July. (Guatemala City, Guatemala)

• Wed, 17 Jun – SIGEP China returns to Shanghai on 17 & 18 June. The two‑day roadshow covers coffee, gelato, bakery, and pizza supply chains. China’s ice cream market exceeded €12bn in 2025, with artisanal gelato growing 15‑18% annually. (Shanghai, China)

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

Photo credits: Huracán Coffee, Blue Bottle Coffee, Rancilio, Beantropy

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