Each Friday, Excellent Day by day Grind rounds up the highest espresso trade information from the week. 

Editor’s word

The outcomes of the twenty fifth World Barista Championship are in. Australia’s Jack Simpson was topped the winner, with Simon SunLei from China and Ben Put from Canada inserting second and third, respectively.

It was a major win for Jack Simpson, who has been competing for some eight years. Beginning his routine, he talked concerning the disappointment of lacking out on the title of World Barista Champion eventually yr’s competitors, the place he positioned second after Indonesia’s Mikael Jasin.

On the 2025 occasion, Jack used two completely different coffees: an anerobic pure Papayo from Finca Zarza in Colombia and nitrogen-macerated Gesha from Finca Deborah in Panama. All through his efficiency, Jack shared private journal entries from the earlier yr, demonstrating how emotional storytelling and vulnerability have develop into more and more distinguished components of WBC routines in opposition to an trade backdrop of value volatility and political uncertainty.

“Espresso is about folks, human connections, and never simply outcomes,” he mentioned. “The extra time I spent centered on outcomes, the extra disconnected I grew to become from my tasks.”

Additionally within the competitors highlight this week are the winners of the World Espresso Awards Origin Roasted class. Colombia’s Casa Landino was topped the general winner, whereas Ethiopia’s Galani Espresso, Nicaragua’s DeLa Finca Specialty Espresso, and Mexico’s Café de las Nubes additionally acquired prime honours.

In March 2026, these roasters will go head-to-head with the US & Canada and European GCA winners to vie for the title of world’s finest, serving to to degree the taking part in area for espresso competitions and recognising roasting excellence on a worldwide scale.

High tales of the week

• Mon, 20 Oct – Liberia to advertise Liberica underneath FAO’s OCOP initiative. Liberia has chosen the indigenous Coffeea Liberica species as its flagship export underneath the UN FAO “One Nation One Precedence Product” programme, aiming for launch in December 2025 and positioning the nation as the primary in Africa to advertise liberica on a worldwide scale. (Monrovia, Liberia)

• Wed, 22 Oct – Regenerative espresso gross sales practically triple within the UK. Up to now in 2025, UK regenerative espresso orders have reached 70 tonnes, and pre-orders from 22 UK roasters for the 2025-26 harvest are anticipated to double. Brazilian cooperative Expocacer’s ECO certification is vital for consumers, demonstrating ESG compliance and guaranteeing traceability. (London, UK)

• Thu, 23 Oct – World Espresso Awards broadcasts one of the best roasters in producing nations. Colombia’s Casa Landino took general honours on the Origin Roasted occasion in Houston, Texas, US. Different class winners included Ethiopia’s Galani Espresso (Espresso), Nicaragua’s DeLa Finca Specialty Espresso (Flat White Dairy), and Mexico’s Café de las Nubes (Flat White Various). Gold winners progress to the worldwide finals at PRF El Salvador on 26 & 27 March 2026. (Houston, Texas, US)

• Thu, 23 Oct – European Fee proposes simplifying EUDR compliance for SMEs. Micro and small enterprises could have decreased obligations underneath the EUDR, and the formal entry into software will likely be delayed till December 2026. For all different firms, the deadline stays 30 December 2025, however a six-month grace interval will likely be granted on account of IT points. Sure provide chain actors, together with smallholder farmers and downstream firms, will likely be exempt from submitting due diligence statements. (Brussels, Belgium)

Trade information

• Mon, 20 Oct – Salted espresso pattern features traction amongst US specialty cafés. Baristas are including small quantities of Himalayan or sea salt to espresso, filter, and chilly brew drinks to intensify perceived sweetness, scale back bitterness, and intensify caramel notes, demonstrating the worldwide recognition of Southeast Asian meals and beverage developments. (New York Metropolis, New York, US)

• Tue, 21 Oct – Starbucks buyers urge firm to restart union talks. A shareholder decision backed by main institutional buyers referred to as on the corporate to have interaction proactively with unionising employees. It emphasised the necessity for a constant labour technique, citing reputational and operational dangers if dialogue stays stalled. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Tue, 21 Oct – Lagardère Journey Retail posts document third-quarter revenues. The worldwide travel-retail operator reported Q3 income of practically €1.7 billion, marking 6.2% reported progress. Efficiency was led by openings in Amsterdam and Auckland and substantial F&B features within the EMEA and South American markets. (Paris, France)

• Tue, 21 Oct – South Korea points document franchise effective for cost-shifting. FTC penalised a significant espresso model with the most important effective ever over undisclosed further billing to franchisees, discovering the chain shifted uncooked supplies, uniforms, and wastewater expenses onto retailer house owners with out a contractual foundation. (Seoul, South Korea)

• Wed, 22 Oct – Salma Hayek Pinault stars in Kahlúa x Dunkin’ marketing campaign. The Telenovela-style spot promotes Kahlúa Dunkin’ Caramel Swirl Cream Liqueur by pairing the espresso liqueur with Dunkin’ caramel swirl and actual cream. The marketing campaign, that includes the Academy Award-winning actress, runs on streaming, social media, and audio, with a Grand Central pop-up. (New York Metropolis, New York, US)

• Wed, 22 Oct – Black Sheep Espresso to open 11 new websites. The UK chain will broaden into market cities, procuring centres, retail parks, and drive-thrus throughout the Merseyside space underneath a multi-unit growth plan, persevering with its speedy nationwide progress. (Liverpool, UK)

• Thu, 23 Oct – Coca-Cola reassesses espresso technique. Coca-Cola says it’s pausing to reassess its place within the fast-growing espresso class, reviewing channels from RTD to retail and weighing partnerships, model funding, and speed-to-market as competitors and margin dynamics intensify. (Atlanta, Georgia, US)

• Fri, 24 Oct – Espresso Home unveils new company management crew. The Nordic chain named a five-member management group as a part of a streamlined organisational construction throughout its 500-store enterprise, signalling a push for operational simplification and progress. (Lund, Sweden)

• Fri, 24 Oct – Hojicha, roasted Japanese tea, is gaining recognition on espresso store menus. Hojicha is roasted tencha, yielding caramel, nutty, and smoky notes with low caffeine ranges. It has develop into fashionable in cafés in Japan and past, the place it’s served as lattes, chilly brews, and whilst a flavour shot alongside espresso as a substitute for espresso. (Tokyo, Japan)

• Fri, 24 Oct – Rival Bros raises close to $4m to scale roastery and cafés. The corporate has reached practically 75% of its fundraising aim to extend roastery manufacturing, open extra cafés and develop e-commerce, focusing on nationwide growth and better roasting capability. (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US)

• Fri, 24 Oct – US representatives Bacon and Khanna urge removing of espresso tariffs. They requested President Trump to exempt espresso from reciprocal tariffs and backed the bipartisan No Espresso Tax Act to repeal them; US home manufacturing covers underneath 1% of consumption, and the letter cites a roughly 26% rise in retail espresso prices, hitting customers and small cafés. (Washington, DC, US)

• Fri, 24 Oct – Industrial espresso grinders report profiles of 180 firms. The market research maps provider profiles, market dimension, forecasts, and expertise developments within the industrial espresso grinder sector, benchmarking 180 firms and analysing demand, capability, and aggressive dynamics; contains Buhler, Ditting, Kuban Makina, and Trendy Course of Gear. (New York Metropolis, New York, US)

• Fri, 24 Oct – Cimbali Group presents its 2024 Sustainability Report. The group aligns 2024 disclosure with the ESRS, strengthens governance and folks insurance policies, and units targets for product decarbonisation, the round financial system, and accountable supply-chain practices, whereas reporting Scope 1–2 inventories and energy-efficiency measures. (Milan, Italy)

New launch

• Tue, 21 Oct – La Marzocco unveils the Jay grinder. The brand new mannequin gives stepless micrometric adjustment, anti-retention geometry, programmable weight-based dosing, modular burr units, and Wi-Fi connectivity, designed for café and roaster workflows to enhance dose accuracy and extraction consistency. (Florence, Italy)

• Tue, 21 Oct – Bazzara unveils new brand and luxurious packaging. The restyling refines the model for worldwide retail and e-commerce with clearer typography, gold color coding on the Luxurious line, a simplified sensory radar, and wider on-line visibility. (Trieste, Italy)

• Tue, 21 Oct – Franke launches new modular espresso answer. The A-Line combines modular automation, an intuitive touchscreen, energy-saving modes, and cloud connectivity to make sure constant extraction and simpler servicing. (Aarburg, Switzerland)

• Tue, 21 Oct – Mahlkönig reveals Xenia house espresso machine. The brand new house mannequin follows Hemro Group’s acquisition of German Xenia Espresso and targets prosumers with twin boilers, steam, an auto-adjust built-in grinder, Wi-Fi app management, and quick heat-up time. (Milan, Italy)

• Wed, 22 Oct – Terres de Café releases Everlasting Espresso documentary. Christophe Servell and Fabrice Leseigneur’s new movie follows their journey from Mexico’s Chiapas to Panama, capturing producers’ voices calling for a metamorphosis in espresso manufacturing and consumption fashions. (Paris, France)

• Wed, 22 Oct – Rancilio introduces Classe 5 Crono vary. The brand new mannequin builds on the Classe 5 and Classe 5 Eco, including a group-integrated digital show with shot timer, Regular Brew temperature stability, and quick-clean automation. The Classe 5 Crono will likely be accessible in a single, two, and three-group codecs from January 2026. (Milan, Italy)

• Thu, 23 Oct – Inoumi launches matcha, mushroom, and collagen ranges within the UK. The model sells powdered ceremonial matcha, mushroom blends, and hydrolysed collagen powders comprised of complete floor components with out extracts or sweeteners. These merchandise are packed in recyclable pouches and home-compostable single-serve sachets. Retail rollout is due within the coming months. (Surrey, UK)

• Thu, 23 Oct – Alfred Espresso opens devoted matcha café in Los Angeles. The Studio Metropolis outlet focuses completely on premium Japanese matcha menu gadgets, together with lattes, comfortable serve, and signature drinks, demonstrating the booming world recognition of matcha. (Los Angeles, California, US)

• Thu, 23 Oct – Monin launches Indian Rasa vary for Diwali. Chai Tea Focus leads the lineup, supported by rose, spiced jamun, uncooked mango, and hibiscus syrups. Designed for cooks, baristas, and mixologists underneath the Brighter With You marketing campaign, the syrups can be found in 700ml and 250ml bottles by way of choose retailers and on-line. (Hyderabad, India)

• Fri, 24 Oct – Hario launches AYA collection impressed by Japanese design. The New AYA assortment blends conventional Japanese aesthetics with trendy espresso and tea gear, that includes heat-proof glass servers, drip stands, and thin-wall glasses crafted for aware day by day rituals. (Tokyo, Japan)

• Fri, 24 Oct – Soul Origin launches first drive-thru in Melbourne. The café model will open its Epping website on 23 October with a drive-thru format serving its signature brewed espresso and recent meals, providing free iced matchas and lattes throughout the launch, and focusing on 10–25 drive-thru openings yearly. (Melbourne, Australia)

Milestone

• Tue, 21 Oct – Panera Bread names Earl Ellis new CFO. Ellis succeeds Kelly Prepare dinner and brings expertise from tech and retail finance roles. He begins instantly and can steer Panera’s capital methods, reporting on to CEO Niren Chaudhary because the chain grows its bakery-café operations. (St. Louis, Missouri, US)

• Wed, 22 Oct – Brazil’s The Espresso opens first retailer in Belgium. The chain’s Belgium debut marks its eighth European market because it accelerates Benelux progress after current launches within the Netherlands and Luxembourg, positioning Europe on the centre of its worldwide growth. (Brussels, Belgium)

• Thu, 23 Oct – Contemporary Roasted Espresso expands manufacturing with solar-powered progress mannequin. The Pennsylvania roastery put in a 753 kW photo voltaic array, reducing power prices by about 90%, enabling reinvestment in expertise and co-packing. Its 115,000 sq ft facility now produces over 375 million pods and capsules yearly with 80% decrease roasting emissions. (Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, US)

• Fri, 24 Oct – Kissing Rock Espresso wins gold at Golden Bean the Americas. Oregon coast roaster captured the championship for its processing innovation and flavour readability, beating over 30 finalists and incomes worldwide recognition for its microlot programme. (Oregon Coast, Oregon, US)

Commerce & manufacturing

• Tue, 21 Oct – Indian espresso skilled highlights robusta’s key position in sustainability. S. Ravi, former CEO of the Indian Espresso Board, argues robusta gives local weather resilience and illness resistance, urging balanced planting and genetic enchancment to guard farms and meet demand for each robusta and arabica throughout India’s increasing espresso zones. (Bengaluru, India)

• Wed, 22 Oct – African Union backs continental espresso sector amid market shifts. AU endorses a continental espresso technique to harmonise requirements, broaden processing capability, mobilise funding, and enhance intra-African commerce, aiming to strengthen farmer incomes and resilience as world market pressures reshape export dynamics. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

• Fri, 24 Oct – Uganda initiatives a 14.8% rise in espresso output this crop yr. Manufacturing is forecast at 9.3 million 60-kg luggage, up from 8.1 million, as maturing new plantings and authorities seedling and fertiliser programmes enhance yields; exports earned $2.2bn within the 12 months to August, reinforcing Uganda’s position as East Africa’s main robusta provider. (Kampala, Uganda)

Analysis

• Wed, 22 Oct – New evaluation highlights espresso’s chlorogenic acid position in metabolic well being. Researchers discovered that chlorogenic acid (CGA), a plant compound plentiful in espresso, might assist enhance power use, scale back fats buildup, calm irritation, and enhance blood sugar management. Although promising, human-scale trials are nonetheless wanted to verify these advantages. (Poznan, Poland)

Occasions & competitions

• Mon, 20 Oct – Indigenous Amazon robusta scores 100 factors in Brazilian competitors. Rafael Mopimop Suruí’s microlot from Sete de Setembro Indigenous Land in Rondônia scored 100 utilizing the Fantastic Robusta Cupping Type on the Tribos competitors – the primary robusta to succeed in this mark and a landmark for indigenous producers. (Porto Velho, Brazil)

• Tue, 21 Oct – BRITA reveals Grounds of Innovation 2025 winners. Cheltenham’s Ritual Espresso Roasters acquired the highest prize, with 15grams in London and Effy in Nottingham additionally inserting among the many prime UK cafés. BRITA Skilled hosted an unique occasion at Ritual Espresso Roasters, that includes a latte artwork masterclass with 2025 Latte Artwork Champion, Ben Lewis, and a water sensory session led by a BRITA water sommelier. (Taunusstein, Germany)

• Tue, 21 Oct – My Espresso Awards unveils fourth version with limitless espresso tastings. The three-day competition (previously BCN Espresso Awards) will run from 7 to 9 Nov at Nau Bostik, providing limitless espresso for ticket holders. The occasion will host the 2026 Spanish Latte Artwork and Cup Tasters championships, and My Espresso Information scores. My Espresso Awards will recognise excellence in classes akin to Café Expertise, Barista Persona of the Yr, Breakthrough Café, Excellence in Barista Coaching, Pastry and Bakery Expertise, Design and Ambiance, and Sustainability. (Barcelona, Spain)

• Wed, 22 Oct – NCA conference set for Tampa in March 2026. The three-day occasion will run from 12 to 14 March and can convene practically 800 espresso leaders for periods on financial forecasts, provide chain developments, and strategic networking for C-suite decision-makers. (Tampa, Florida, US)

• Thu, 23 Oct – World Espresso Innovation Summit 2025 takes place in London. The occasion gathered senior leaders from espresso and cocoa provide chains to discover themes like Scope 3 emissions, EUDR compliance, regenerative agriculture, digitalisation, and inclusive worth creation by an ecosystem enterprise mannequin. (London, UK)

• Thu, 23 Oct – DMCC to host ninth UAE AeroPress Championship underneath Qahwa Qulture theme. The enterprise hub will host the 2025 version of the competitors from 6 to eight November in its flagship Almas Tower. The theme for the ninth version, “A Celebration of Qahwa Qulture within the Emirates”, pays tribute to the UAE’s place as each a worldwide buying and selling nation and a booming specialty espresso market. (Dubai, UAE)

• Fri, 24 Oct – HOTELEX Shenzhen 2025 to showcase espresso and hotel-catering improvements. Scheduled for 16 to 18 December on the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Conference Centre, the expo will function over 3,000 exhibitors, a devoted espresso & tea zone, a Espresso Worth Summit, and worldwide barista competitions, geared toward sourcing throughout South China’s hospitality provide chain. (Shenzhen, China)

• Fri, 24 Oct – Austin Espresso Competition returns to Palmer Occasions Heart. Fourth version runs 25–26 Oct with at the least 40 roasters, latte-art competitions, tastings and distributors serving espresso, tea and chai, providing guests a single-venue probability to match micro-lots, new blends and native roaster choices. (Austin, Texas, US)

Listed here are just a few espresso information tales from earlier weeks that you simply may discover attention-grabbing. Have a look:

• Wed, 15 Oct – The Espresso Bean & Tea Leaf companions with Now You See Me for a limited-time menu. Two limited-time iced teas, Mango Magic Heist Tea and Strawberry Shimmer Heist Tea, pair Swedish Berry tea with lemonade, fruit flavours, and glitter, whereas a sweepstakes runs till 14 Nov with weekly prizes and a grand-prize VIP journey to the movie premiere in New York Metropolis on 10 Nov. (Los Angeles, California, US)

• Wed, 15 Oct – Knowledge-driven approaches goal espresso high quality and consistency. A evaluation revealed in AIP Convention Proceedings surveys supervised studying, sensor, and spectroscopy instruments that predict sensory scores, scale back variability, and help sustainable processing, suggesting data-driven workflows for grading, roasting, and provide chain selections. (Melville, New York, US)

Picture credit: Specialty Espresso Affiliation, Fellow, My Espresso Awards

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