Coffee News Recap, 18 Apr: NCA report confirms coffee remains the US’ favourite drink, Colombia’s production volumes surge 36% amid tariff concerns & other stories

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

Editor’s note

The NCA’s latest National Coffee Data Trends report shows that 66% of US adults drink coffee each day. This figure is higher than past-day consumption of tea, juice, soda, and bottled water and up nearly 7% since 2020 – reaffirming coffee’s position as America’s favourite beverage. North Americans typically drink an average of three cups per day, according to the new data.

Between 2020 and 2025, the research also shows that the consumption of specialty coffee in the US increased by nearly 18%. Consumption of traditional coffee, meanwhile, held steady during the same period. This now means that for every 100 cups of coffee consumed in the country, 59 are specialty and 41 are traditional, signalling a shift in consumer behaviour in favour of higher-quality coffee.

Within the specialty category, past-day consumption of espresso-based drinks increased by 17%, while past-day consumption of non-espresso-based beverages (including frozen blended coffees, cold brew, and nitro coffees) spiked by nearly 42%. In a country that historically favoured drip and filter coffee, the trend towards espresso and non-traditional coffee drinks is significant, primarily driven by the growing popularity of beverage customisation.

The NCA’s report comes at a pivotal moment, as the Trump administration’s tariffs are set to send US retail coffee prices soaring. How consumers will respond to their favourite beverage becoming increasingly more expensive remains to be seen. However, the data is undeniable: coffee plays an integral role in daily American life, and tariffs only serve to threaten this.

Top stories of the week

• Mon, 14 Apr – Colombian coffee production surges 36% amid tariff concerns. Data from Fedecafé shows Q1 output hit 3.78 million 60kg bags – a 36% increase on the same period in 2024 – with exports rising 21% to 3.6 million bags. However, a new 10% US tariff on Colombian exports may challenge price competitiveness. (Bogotá, Colombia)

• Tue, 15 Apr – Saudi chain Barn’s explores Riyadh IPO for Middle East expansion. Despite a turbulent market, the homegrown Saudi coffee brand is planning an IPO on the Tadawul stock exchange, with plans to expand across the Middle East. Barn’s launched in 1992 and operates 850 coffee shops in the Middle East, with 600 in the kingdom. (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Coffee remains the US’ favourite drink as specialty consumption rises 18%. According to the Spring 2025 National Coffee Data Trends report, coffee is consumed daily by two-thirds of Americans – more than bottled water, tea, and soda. Specialty coffee consumption has risen 18% since 2020. Cold brew demand has also surged 42% since 2020, and espresso-based drinks consumption grew 17%. (New York City, New York, US)

• Thu, 17 Apr – European Union reduces administrative burden for importers ahead of EUDR deadline. Companies can now submit annual due diligence statements instead of per shipment, reducing administrative costs by 30% for commodities like coffee and cocoa. The delayed law will come into effect on 30 December 2025 for medium and large-sized businesses, and 30 June 2026 for micro and smaller-sized companies. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Bialetti will be sold to Hong Kong’s NUO Capital. The Italian company, which manufactures the iconic moka pot, has struggled in recent years with poor investment decisions and competition from capsule brands. NUO Capital, registered in Luxembourg, is controlled by one of Hong Kong’s wealthiest families. (Milan, Italy)

Industry news

• Tue, 15 Apr – Starbucks updates barista dress code for “consistency”. Starting 12 May, North American baristas will have to wear solid black tops with any khaki, black, or blue denim bottoms. This “streamlined” look, designed to highlight the iconic green apron, is part of CEO Brian Niccol’s broader effort to revive sales and enhance the café atmosphere. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii announces expansion with NFL family partnership. The Hawaiian chain signed a three-unit deal backed by NFL quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s parents and franchise veteran Ted Davenport, with the first café opening on Waialae Avenue in spring 2025. The expansion emphasises local coffee sourcing and community-focused cafés. (Honolulu, Hawaii, US)

• Wed, 16 Apr – Caribou Coffee to expand in Georgia. Caribou Coffee announced up to eight new locations across the Atlanta metropolitan area with openings beginning spring 2025 and all operational by summer, following four 2024 Georgia launches as part of its broader Southeastern expansion and community‑focused, sustainable build strategy. (Minneapolis, Minnesota, US)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Cimbali Group wins China lawsuit over Slayer espresso machine design. The Italian manufacturer secured a rare legal victory against four firms in Shanghai, which Cimbali stated copied its Slayer Espresso machine’s distinctive design, deemed “influential” under local unfair competition laws. The court ordered production halts and damages, marking a milestone in IP protection for foreign coffee equipment brands. (Shanghai, China)

Businesses for sale

• Wed, 16 Apr – Olam pivots to food ingredients amid divestments. Olam Group will invest US $500m in its Food Ingredients unit and allocate US $2bn to repay debts while selling non-core assets. CEO Sunny Verghese says tariff impacts remain minimal due to diversified global production. (Singapore)

New launch

• Tue, 15 Apr – AeroPress launches Clear XL brewer. The new 600ml Clear brewer is currently available in the US, with international rollout in the coming weeks. (Palo Alto, California, US)

• Fri, 18 Apr – Wildroots Coffee becomes first US café to launch watermelon seed milk. The chain introduced MILKish, a plant-based milk that uses 99% less water than almonds. The alternative milk will be featured in a Blueberry Pancake Latte made with espresso or matcha, a house-made blueberry-maple syrup and a dash of cinnamon. (Charlotte, North Carolina, US)

• Fri, 18 Apr – Nuova Simonelli to host Technicians Competition on 29 April in Dubai. The single-elimination competition will feature eight technicians selected through an online quiz. Each round will last 30 minutes, where a randomly paired duo of technicians will face off using the NUOVA Aurelia Volumetric XT by Nuova Simonelli, simulating machine malfunctions or request adjustments that highlight each participant’s technical skills, machine knowledge, and problem-solving ability. (Belforte del Chienti, Italy)

Milestone

Trade & production

• Mon, 14 Apr – High coffee prices boost Vietnamese farmers’ cash flow. Despite last year’s drought, high prices have allowed producers to store small amounts of capital like “withdrawals” to meet immediate cash needs, prompting investments in quality and irrigation that improve livelihoods even as harvests remain modest. (Hanoi, Vietnam)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Ethiopia sets coffee export record with US $1.5bn revenue in nine months. The country exported 299,607 tonnes, exceeding targets by 48%, driven by demand from Saudi Arabia (18%), Germany (17%), and the US (8%). The Coffee and Tea Authority aims to boost global competitiveness through quality and market diversification. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

• Thu, 17 Apr – Safras & Mercado raises Brazil’s 2025/26 coffee harvest forecast to 65 million 60kg bags. After earlier drought‑driven cuts, the analyst now pegs arabica output at about 40 million bags and robusta between 25 and 26 million, lifting the total above 65 million. This number is well above the 62.5 million‑bag market consensus thanks to recent rains. Still, New York and London futures have edged to their highest levels in weeks. (São Paulo, Brazil)

Research

Events & competitions

• Thu, 17 Apr – Café Show Vietnam 2025 prepares Ho Chi Minh City showcase. The ninth edition will run from until 19 April, hosting trade exhibitions, workshops, and competitions, including the 2025 Vietnamese Barista, Latte Art, and Brewers Cup Championships. Last year’s event drew 30,000 visitors from 45 countries. (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam)

• Fri, 18 Apr – Astoria to showcase the AB200 at Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston. The espresso machine features individual shot counters for each grouphead, newly designed Astoria portafilters, an adjustable drip tray, an East Clean steam wand with a purge function, and the Autosteamer Plus, which automatically adjusts milk temperature and foam level. (Susegana, Italy)

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

Photo credits: The Green Coffee Company, NicaVio

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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 and Opinion piece about whether coffee will be exempted from US tariffs.