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Daily Coffee News photo by Nick Brown.
Innovea Global Coffee Breeding Network Named 2025 TIME Best Invention
World Coffee Research (WCR) announced that its Innovea Global Coffee Breeding Network was named one of the TIME Best Inventions of 2025. The Innovea network connects research institutions and governments across Asia, Africa and Latin America to accelerate genetic development of more resilient arabica and robusta varieties. “We share this award with the 11 partners around the world who make up this unprecedented collaboration network and who together produce over 40% of the world’s coffee,” WCR CEO Jennifer “Vern” Long said in an announcement from the group.
Steel Oak Coffee Launches Interactive Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel
Ormond Beach, Florida-based specialty roaster Steel Oak Coffee has launched an interactive Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel for consumers. The wheel leads users directly to packaged coffees in Steel Oak’s online store, following users’ flavor preferences. Steel Oak opened its production roastery and headquarters in 2023.
2025 Cocoa Barometer Launches
VOICE Network managing director Antonie Fountain announced the launch of the 2025 Cocoa Barometer, a deeply researched report that outlines opportunities and challenges facing the sector. The introduction states, “While virtually all cocoa stakeholders, including industry, seemed to be aligned on the need for coordinated action on both sustainability and improving the incomes of the weakest players in the supply chain, a political shift to the right has caused fact-free pushback against the regulatory environment, denying the fundamental truth that a resilient and sustainable supply chain is a competitive one.”
ICO Releases Monthly Coffee Report for September 2025
The International Coffee Organization (ICO) released its September 2025 global market report, showing the ICO Composite Indicator Price averaging $3.2462 per pound — a 9.3% increase from August.
NCA Announces Revamped Coffee Product Labeling Guide
The National Coffee Association (NCA) released an updated 24-page Coffee Product Labeling Guide, including new resources on “healthy” labels for coffee. The guide is available free to NCA members.
Mexico Coffee Industry Shows Promise Amid Global Instability
With coffee production rising over the past decade, Mexico is positioned to capitalize on trade volatility from U.S. tariffs and strengthen its supply chain — if it can streamline the process for introducing new coffee varieties, according to an AgTech Navigator report.
Chobani Asks Court to Throw Out Danone Case on Cold Brew
Danone and La Colombe Coffee parent company Chobani remain in a legal battle over cold brew branding and the phrase “Bright & Mellow.” In a filing this week in Manhattan federal court, Chobani argued the terms are too generic to trademark and that customers don’t associate them exclusively with Danone, according to an Insurance Journal report.
Colombia’s Big Crop to Drop for 2025/26 Coffee Cycle
Following its best harvest in over three decades — thanks to favorable weather and crop renewal — Colombia’s coffee production is expected to decline next year due to heavy rainfall in the first half of 2025, according to a Reuters report.
Collective Coffee Announces Small Ownership Change in Wichita Falls
Wichita Falls, Texas-based Collective Coffee announced on Instagram that two of its three founding families — the Roberts and Wilsons — will continue as co-owners, while the Kemp family departs after six years.
Starter Coffee Gets Fresh Start as Entrepreneur-Exclusive SparkHaus Brand
Northern Kentucky business support firm Blue North has relaunched the dormant coffee brand Starter Coffee, which was originally owned by Braxton Brewing Co. The Starter coffees will be served inside the new SparkHaus business incubator and cafe in Covington.
New from CoffeeIndustryJobs.com
- Green Coffee Supply Chain Part-Time Manager — Artisan Coffee Imports
- Field Service Technician — Ozo Coffee Roasters
- Warehouse Manager — Kauai Coffee
- Trader — Atlas Coffee Importers
- Store Manager – Housing Available — Hampton Coffee Company
- Coffee Trainer & Educator — Speedwell Coffee
- Coffee Equipment Technician & Production Assistant — Small World Coffee
ICYMI
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
Scenes from the Inaugural Portland Coffee Festival
The inaugural Portland Coffee Festival brought hundreds of coffee enthusiasts from Oregon and beyond to the coffee-dense Buckman neighborhood over the weekend… read more
7-8 Daily Drinks of Coffee, Tea and Water Linked with Reduced Death Risk
New research shows that people who drank some combination of 7-8 coffee, tea and plain water drinks per day were 28% less likely to die from any cause during the study period than people who drank fewer than four drinks… read more
The Esplorer Cup from Squeaky Splits the Difference of Flavors
Thailand-based specialty coffee accessories maker Squeaky is launching a novel espresso tasting cup designed to separate the layers of a shot for clearer evaluation… read more
Sweeping Review Links Moderate Coffee Intake to Many Health Benefits
A sweeping new review of decades of research suggests that moderate coffee drinking is doing more good than harm across a broad range of health outcomes… read more
Study Adds Merit to High-Elevation Coffee Quality Claims
Typically expressed as meters above sea level, the elevation of the coffee farm has long been a signature marketing point among purveyors of high-quality, traceable arabica coffees… read more
Celebrating 5 Years, Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity Launches Fellowship
As it celebrates five years as an organization promoting the professional success of Black and Brown people in coffee, the United States-based Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity (CCRE) has launched the Brewing for Equity Fellowship… read more
Pedro and Paco Gaviña of Family-Owned Gaviña Coffee Die at 80 and 81
California-based Gaviña Coffee Company announced that two of its longtime leaders — brothers Pedro Lázaro Gaviña and Francisco Marcos “Paco” Gaviña — have died… read more
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