Coffee Talk

Café Baluarte de Veracruz from Veracruz, Mexico, has been named the overall winner of the 2026 Global Coffee Awards Latin America. The coffee was roasted by Macizo Café and produced by Luis Eduardo Moreno of Finca Villa Hermosa. The regional winners were Macizo Café in Bogotá, Colombia, and DeLa Finca Specialty Coffee in Managua, Nicaragua. Café Baluarte de Veracruz won both Flat White and Filter categories.

Lavazza On the Move, the Coffee to Go initiative from Lavazza Professional, has entered a significant partnership with Motor Fuel Group (MFG) to implement over 600 Coffee to Go machines across MFG locations in the UK by Spring 2027. This collaboration targets the growing consumer demand for quality coffee during routine journeys, integrating MFG's extensive network with Lavazza's coffee expertise to enhance the availability of premium coffee options.

As everyday expenses rise, TikTok has become a popular platform for DIY content, particularly in the realm of home coffee-making, marked by the viral trend #COFFEETOK. A 2026 Mintel study indicates that one-third of consumers are brewing more coffee at home due to increased prices, with 49% of Gen Z learning about coffee-related topics through TikTok.

A sugar cane field represents an easy food source for elephants, likened to a broken vending machine. For years, farmers in Thailand have cultivated crops like bananas and sugar cane, only to face challenges in deterring elephants through various methods like fireworks and shouting. However, some communities in Kanchanaburi province have switched to growing coffee, which elephants find less appealing than sugary crops.

Annual online auction features exceptional green coffee and specialty equipment Grounds for Health will hold its annual Green Coffee & Equipment Auction September 23-24, bringing together roasters, importers, producers and other members of the coffee industry to support cervical cancer prevention in coffee-growing communities. This year's auction coincides with Grounds for Health's 30th anniversary.

The coffee supply landscape has become increasingly complex, particularly as fears of a shortage have subsided. In 2026, the fundamental challenge for exporters and importers lies not in sourcing coffee but in ensuring timely and cost-effective delivery to destination markets. Port congestion, high freight costs, shipping delays, and limited vessel capacity remain significant hurdles across the supply chain. Brazil, hosting one of its largest coffee crops, exemplifies these issues.

American coffee brands like Starbucks have dominated South Korea's café market, but now Korean franchises are aiming to establish their presence in the U.S. These chains are capitalizing on the global interest in Korean culture amid a saturated domestic market. With the U.S. café market projected to reach $61.5 billion by 2030, competition is intensifying.

The 2026 National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) Fall Report, published by Dig Insights for the National Coffee Association in June 2026, reveals a consistent 66% of American adults consume coffee daily. Notably, out-of-home coffee consumption is nearing pre-pandemic levels, while specialty coffee consumption has reached an unprecedented high. Coffee remains the most favored beverage in the U.S., surpassing even tap and bottled water in daily consumption.

A growing trend in the specialty beverage industry is seeing entrepreneurs opt for mobile operations over traditional brick-and-mortar establishments. This shift is characterized by vendors utilizing carts, trucks, and trailers to serve coffee, tea, and other drinks, often strategically positioning themselves in high-traffic areas or at events. Mirwais Mahmoud, co-owner of Afghan Chai, operates a mobile chai cart in Washington D.C. with his siblings, Zaki and Deeba.

Customs officials in southern Thailand have conducted a significant crackdown on the illegal importation of goods, seizing over 20 tonnes of green coffee beans in a historic move for the region. This operation is a part of broader enforcement efforts that have resulted in the confiscation of goods valued at 216 million baht, reflecting a 20.5% increase compared to the previous year.