Coffee Intelligence Round-Up July 21st

Our coverage includes emerging market trends, challenges at origin, technological innovation, and human interest stories.

Consumption & Trends

Coffee brands today are differentiating not through terroir, but through themes that resonate – whether veteran pride, athletic vigour, or wellness.

Coffee is now a canvas for identity – not just a drink. From veteran-themed blends to influencer products, demographic resonance often overrules flavour. With 66% of US adults drinking coffee daily yet European demand stagnant, brands are leaning into values and lifestyle to stay relevant.

Sarah Charles speaks with Bartholomew Jones (cxffeeblack) about why brand voice and values matter more than ever to consumers.

Once, carrying a Starbucks cup – tall, plastered with the green mermaid – was a status symbol, a badge of modernity. But that was yesterday’s currency.

Gen Z’s “little treat culture” is fuelling a boom in customised coffee drinks. 85% of Gen Zers add creamer, driven by aesthetics. Once a symbol of status, Starbucks has given way to DIY concoctions, matcha and lavender lattes as social currency.

Sarah Charles speaks to Jaseem Abbas, India’s Barista Champion 2023, about how for many – and especially younger generations – coffee has become an intentional consumption choice, and a form of social currency.

News & Opinions

When the CEO of one of the world’s most recognisable coffee brands makes a public prediction, it can have ripple effects – or at the very least, the industry and consumers pay attention.

Arabica futures hit 305.65¢/lb, the lowest since January. Meanwhile, illycaffè’s CEO recently projected that arabica prices will stabilise between $2.50 and $3/lb over the next 15 months.

Sarah Charles speaks with Doug Bachman, President of Bachman Beverage Specialist about whether big-brand projections can sway sentiment in an already jittery coffee market.

For years, Ethiopia has been synonymous with African coffee, the continent's undisputed leader in the sector. No longer. In a quiet but formidable shift, Uganda has reportedly taken the lead.

Uganda reportedly exported a record 47,606 tonnes of coffee in May 2025. It has now surpassed Ethiopia to become Africa’s top coffee exporter for the first time, a success that others will seek to emulate. $1.97 billion earned from coffee exports in the past year alone is a result of government-led reforms, private sector alignment, and rising global demand.

Sarah Charles speaks with Robert Byaruhanga, President of the Uganda Coffee Federation, and Michael Mamo, Managing Director of Addis Exporter, about how Uganda’s latest win was achieved, and how it can benefit and motivate other African coffee origins.

What else is brewing

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