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Weekly Coffee News: Questioning Coffee’s Future + New Look for CQI

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coffee future

Daily Coffee News photo by Nick Brown.

 

NPR: What Lies in Coffee’s Future?

An NPR story this week explored the mounting challenges facing coffee growers, including rising temperatures, shrinking arable land, droughts driven by climate change, financial pressures, generational labor shortages, international market volatility and over-reliance on arabica production. “Most immediately, the Trump administration’s tariffs, which threaten their sales, add to the ongoing challenges of pests and diseases for coffee production,” the piece states. “In the longer term, experts say the coffee industry can’t continue with business as usual.”

The Coffee Quality Institute Unveils New Look for International Coffee Day

The Coffee Quality Institute unveiled its new logo and website on International Coffee Day with a palette designed to “evoke coffee’s origins” while marking a new phase for the organization as it cedes the Q Grader program to the SCA. The new look also reflects the group’s expansion of its post-harvest processing program (PHP), including a new cohort of 14 instructors. 

Ratio Four Series 2 Available for Pre-Order

After its first production run sold out in less than a year, coffee equipment maker Ratio Coffee has launched the Ratio Four Series 2 for pre-order, with shipments beginning in early November.

Best of Yemen Auction Sets World Record for Third Consecutive Year

The annual Best of Yemen auction set another record with its top lot fetching $1,878 per kilogram ($852 per pound), marking the third straight year of record prices. The auction is led by trader Qima Coffee in collaboration with the Alliance for Coffee Excellence. 

CECAFÉ President Warns Brazil Coffee Exports to U.S. Will Fall Further With Tariffs

Marcio Ferreira, head of Brazilian coffee exporters council CECAFÉ, told Reuters that Brazil’s coffee exports to the U.S. will continue declining if the 50% tariff remains.

Starbucks Closes its Seattle Reserve Roastery For Good

Following the recent news from Seattle-based coffee giant Starbucks that it will be laying off 900 U.S. corporate staff members, a MyNorthwest report noted that the company’s first-ever Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood was closed. 

World Coffee Portal Releases 2026 U.S. Market Report

Allegra’s World Coffee Portal released its Project Cafe USA 2026 market report, which provides market data, consumer research and competitive strategies regarding the coffee shop retail market. 

Sur La Table Introduces its Coffee Foundry

Kitchen equipment retailer Sur La Table has launched a “Coffee Foundry,” a consumer site that includes coffee brewing and equipment guides and direct-to-consumer coffee sales. 

Cuisinart Rolls Out New Grind & Brew Single-Cup Coffee Maker

Home appliance maker Cuisinart launched its Custom Grind & Brew Single-Cup Coffee Maker, a pod-free grind-and-brew machine with six brew sizes and hot and iced capabilities.

The National Coffee Cooperative Union and Dimitra Partner to Support EUDR Compliance

Global AgTech leader Dimitra has partnered with Kenya’s National Coffee Cooperative Union (NACCU) to advance a nationwide system integrating carbon accounting, environmental compliance assessment and ESG practices throughout Kenya’s coffee value chain to help farmers comply with the looming EUDR enforcement.

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ICYMI

Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…

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Report: U.S. Coffee Shop Coffee Prices Are Rising

Hot coffee and cold brew prices on U.S. coffee shop menus are rising rapidly, according to new private point-of-sale data spanning tens of thousands of cafes… read more

SCA Officially Launches Q Grader Courses Tied to the CVA

The United States- and Europe-based Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) officially opened enrollment for the new Q Grader program, saying courses will roll out across regions and languages in the coming months… read more

Starbucks Cutting 900 Non-Retail Jobs and Closing More Stores

Seattle-based coffee giant Starbucks is planning to lay off 900 U.S. corporate staff members tomorrow morning, according to an open letter from CEO Brian Niccol… read more

2027 World of Coffee Asia and World Barista Championship Set for Tokyo

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) announced that Tokyo will host the World of Coffee Asia trade show and the World Barista Championship (WBC) in 2027… read more

Nespresso Names Alfonso Gonzalez Loeschen Global CEO

Swiss food giant Nestlé appointed Alfonso Gonzalez Loeschen as the next global chief executive of Nespresso, effective Nov. 1, 2025… read more

Second Shot Market Launches for Used Coffee Gear

Coffee equipment seller Prima Coffee Equipment last week launched Second Shot Market, an online marketplace for pre-owned or open-box coffee equipment… read more

Science Recently Delivered This Shocker: Morning Coffee Improves Mood

Scientists in the UK and Germany have officially confirmed what most coffee drinkers feel intuitively every single day: coffee in the morning puts you in a better mood… read more

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