Espresso Information Recap, 6 Mar: Luckin backer reportedly acquires Blue Bottle, Germany overtakes US as Brazil’s greatest espresso purchaser & different tales

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

Editor’s notice

Centurium Capital, the primary stakeholder in espresso large Luckin, has agreed to accumulate Blue Bottle for just below US$400m, based on a number of Chinese language media retailers. Neither social gathering has publicly confirmed the deal. Beneath the reported phrases, Centurium will tackle Blue Bottle’s bodily café places, whereas Nestlé retains the patron packaged items facet of the enterprise, overlaying prompt espresso and ready-to-drink merchandise.

Nestlé purchased a majority stake in Blue Bottle again in 2017 for roughly US$425m, valuing the model at over US$700m on the time. The acquisition was a part of a broader development of multinational corporations buying specialty roasters throughout the mid-2010s, as bigger gamers sought entry into the premium espresso phase by shopping for established third wave manufacturers.

The latest reported sale follows the identical logic, although from a unique angle. Luckin reached 31,040 shops globally by the top of 2025 and has already expanded into the US and different key East Asian markets. Shopping for Blue Bottle would give Luckin a recognised premium model with out the time and value of constructing a specialty espresso division from scratch, extending its attain past the value-focused phase the place it has concentrated its progress up to now.

For now, the espresso trade awaits closing affirmation of the deal.

High tales of the week

• Mon, 2 Mar – Wenbo Yang is the 2026 US Roasters Champion. Yang, of Washington State’s Story Espresso Bellevue and Cozy Monster Espresso, positioned first on the competitors, which was hosted at Roastronix. Peter Shim of Olympia Espresso positioned second, and Desolate Espresso’s Alex Huang got here third. (Houston, Texas, US)

• Wed, 4 Mar – Strait of Hormuz closure disrupts world fertiliser commerce, affecting espresso producers. Passage by means of the waterway has halted since battle between Iran and the US-Israel began on 28 Feb. As much as a 3rd of the world’s uncooked supplies for fertiliser manufacturing go by means of the strait, in addition to a fifth of its crude oil and gasoline. Vessels are rerouting through the Cape of Good Hope, elevating delivery and insurance coverage prices. (London, UK)

• Thu, 5 Mar – Royal Cup Espresso and Tea to accumulate Farmer Bros. The espresso and tea producer and distributor has agreed to accumulate Farmer Brothers Espresso, a nationwide espresso roaster, wholesaler and distributor, for US$1.29 per share, increasing its nationwide foodservice and retail channels. Each corporations share 250 years of mixed trade expertise. (Birmingham, Alabama, US)

Business information

• Mon, 2 Mar – RBI units 2028 progress targets for Tim Hortons. The group expects the model to ship a 5% enhance in internet restaurant progress and contribute to an 8% enhance in organic-adjusted working revenue, backed by renewed Canadian openings, round 100 annual new North American places, and stronger worldwide rollout and efficiency. (Toronto, Canada)

• Tue, 3 Mar – Bluewater USA named water associate for US Espresso Championships. The corporate will provide Café Station items that allow rivals to purify and tailor TDS and mineral profiles. The gear debuted on the US Espresso Roasters Championship, supporting flavour consistency and high quality management. (Houston, Texas, US)

• Wed, 4 Mar – Greggs commits to 120 new shops in 2026. Gross sales rose 6.8% to £2.15bn in 2025 whereas underlying pre-tax revenue fell to £171.9m. The CEO cited weak client confidence. Enlargement will depend on a robust pipeline, relocations, and format trials because the chain seems to broaden to over 3,000 places. (Newcastle, UK)

• Thu, 5 Mar – Sevengrams spotlights Milan’s espresso revolution. New café serves fruit-forward micro-lots, immersive espresso tastings, and academic classes to broaden appreciation of specialty espresso, experimental processing, and lighter roast profiles. (Milan, Italy)

• Thu, 5 Mar – Starbucks to open 100 new UK shops. The funding will prioritise café upgrades, drive-thru enlargement, and digital providers. Executives cite inflation, provide, and staffing dangers as they pursue a wider EMEA rollout and a cautious progress technique. (London, UK)

• Fri, 6 Mar – Oatly invests US$16m in Swedish analysis campus. The oat milk firm is constructing a brand new facility in Lund to review oats and sustainable meals. The venture goals to search out new methods to make use of the grain for milk alternate options. (Lund, Sweden)

• Fri, 6 Mar – Lavazza strikes partnership with Qantas Airways. The collaboration will present premium blends to Qantas’ enterprise and first-class passengers beginning in 2026. The settlement follows an analogous cope with American Airways and goals to mix Italian espresso heritage with Australian hospitality. (Sydney, Australia)

Companies on the market

• Thu, 5 Mar – Jollibee Meals weighs Vietnam IPO for Highlands Espresso. Advisors are reportedly exploring itemizing choices for the chain. The father or mother firm is assessing strategic and capital-raising advantages, whereas no closing resolution or timetable has been set. (Manila, Philippines)

New launch

• Mon, 2 Mar – IHOP launches proprietary espresso mix. The mix, together with Brazilian beans, was developed with a 3rd social gathering after visitor suggestions to enhance beverage high quality. The brand new launch helps IHOP’s premium innovation and worth technique. (Pasadena, California)

• Mon, 2 Mar – Starbucks launches new espresso & protein RTD line. The 2 12-oz Traditional Caffè and Caffè Mocha merchandise every ship 22g of protein, 5g of prebiotic fibre, and 2g of sugar. A nationwide product rollout will begin on 23 March. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Tue, 3 Mar – Bulletproof introduces Espresso + Creatine prompt espresso. The premium prompt black system accommodates 5g of creatine monohydrate and 250mg of electrolytes per serving. The powder mixes into sizzling or chilly water and can debut at Pure Merchandise Expo West. (Seattle, Washington, US)

• Thu, 5 Mar – Probat releases all-new Cx70 drum roaster. The roaster, which has a most capability of 350 kg per hour, will debut at Hotelex Shanghai from 30 March to 2 April. The Cx70 additionally options an optionally available partial recirculation system that reuses residual warmth, decreasing the necessity for extra thermal vitality and enabling vitality financial savings of as much as 20%. (Emmerich am Rhein, Germany)

• Thu, 5 Mar – BrainMood launches platform linking espresso, color and temper. The unbiased platform maps espresso origins, species, and processing to colors, moods, and sensory notion as an academic device. Founders say it presents an evolving dataset for analysis and collaboration. (Caguas, Puerto Rico)

• Fri, 6 Mar – New ESSPO RTD practical espresso model launches. Backed by Refinery29 and Lonely Planet founder Philippe von Borries, the drink presents 120mg of caffeine and 240mg of L-Theanine per can and is obtainable in three flavours: Traditional Vanilla, Cherry Vanilla, and Candy Lemon. (New York Metropolis, New York, US)

Milestone

• Mon, 2 Mar – JDE Peet’s proclaims sustainability milestones in Brazil. Its partnership with International Espresso Platform established arabica and conilion demo plots, ran a seven-farm viability examine in Minas Gerais, set 40 irrigation demos in Espírito Santo, and educated 159 extensionists underneath Widespread Grounds to scale regenerative practices and resilience. (Amsterdam, the Netherlands)

• Wed, 4 Mar – Inoumi secures retail listings in Harrods and Selfridges. The powdered drinks model achieved the milestone following its launch earlier this 12 months by specializing in ingredient integrity and flavour high quality. Each malls will inventory Inoumi’s ceremonial-grade matcha and pure mushroom blends. (Surrey, UK)

• Fri, 6 Mar – Scooter’s Espresso marks 900-store milestone. The franchise-led chain added 83 websites in 2025 and operates a vertically built-in provide community with six distribution centres, together with a 183,000 sq ft hub opened in Indianapolis, to assist additional roll-out and the push towards 1,000 shops. (Omaha, Nebraska, US)

Commerce & manufacturing

• Mon, 2 Mar – Heavy rains in Minas Gerais’ Zona da Mata increase considerations. Above-normal rainfall has saturated soils and delayed harvesting and drying operations, with farmers and cooperatives warning of high quality dangers and processing bottlenecks if moist climate persists throughout vital post-harvest levels. (Juiz de Fora, Brazil)

• Tue, 3 Mar – Jamaica launches marketing campaign to “demystify” espresso pricing for farmers. The programme will clarify how world and home espresso costs, high quality premiums, and prices form farmgate returns, and can present workshops, on-line instruments, and stakeholder dialogues to enhance worth transparency and strengthen growers’ bargaining energy. (Kingston, Jamaica)

• Tue, 3 Mar – Robusta exports from Sumatra develop on increased provide. Indonesian customs information present elevated shipments from the island’s ports as harvest volumes rise and occasional strikes to main markets, with merchants noting agency demand from Asia and Europe boosting stream. (Medan, Indonesia)

• Wed, 4 Mar – Ethiopia to spice up regenerative agriculture in partnership with PepsiCo. Nationwide Geographic Society and PepsiCo’s Meals for Tomorrow fund awarded 5 grants, together with one to Hewan Degu to review microbial proof for coffee-potato intercropping. The corporate goals to scale regenerative practices to 10 million acres by 2030. (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

• Thu, 5 Mar – Espresso farming expands in Nepal as merchants hyperlink producers to markets. Farmers in villages akin to Sindrang and Homtang are shifting from subsistence crops like maize to commercial-grade espresso, supported by federal grants and collective plots. Natural heaps at the moment are bought domestically and exported, boosting family incomes and the native financial system. (Bhojpur, Nepal)

• Thu, 5 Mar – Honduran espresso exports leap over 80% in February. IHCAFE reported shipments reached about 1.44 m luggage, up from roughly 0.79m a 12 months earlier, and export worth climbed sharply, with the US, Germany, and Belgium main as prime locations. (Tegucigalpa, Honduras)

Analysis

• Fri, 6 Mar – Client Studies analyses caffeine ranges in main espresso manufacturers. The examine revealed that quantities fluctuate considerably between servings. Even some decaf choices have been discovered to have hint portions, which is vital for individuals who must restrict their consumption for well being causes. (Yonkers, New York, US)

Occasions & competitions

• Tue, 3 Mar – Grounds for Well being Week 2026 to start on 8 March. The annual marketing campaign mobilises occasions, fundraisers, and roaster partnerships to assist cervical most cancers screening and training in coffee-producing areas as a part of wider well being outreach. Espresso outlets and roasters can signal as much as obtain advertising and marketing kits and will likely be featured in nationwide Grounds for Well being campaigns. (Williston, Vermont, US)

• Wed, 4 Mar – World Tea Expo 2026 introduced for Las Vegas. The commerce present will collect tea and infusion manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers for displays, workshops, and networking targeted on tendencies, sustainability, and enterprise progress. (Las Vegas, Nevada, US)

• Thu, 5 Mar – Breville returns as platinum sponsor for MICE2026. The occasion takes place from 26 to twenty-eight March on the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre. The partnership highlights 4 core manufacturers, together with LELIT and Baratza, to have interaction each espresso professionals and residential baristas. (Melbourne, Australia)

• Thu, 5 Mar – IWCA Spain champion wins Ladies in Espresso Entry & Coaching Grant. Monserrat Cornet, winner of the Espréssate Ladies’s Barista Championship, acquired €1,500 from the brand new grant to cowl prices and advance to the Spain Barista Championship, boosting visibility and assist for ladies rivals. (Barcelona, Spain)

• Fri, 6 Mar – The Barista League Europe to land in Prague on 28 March. The regional competitors will see groups battle throughout espresso, milk, and signature rounds to showcase technical expertise and creativity whereas partaking native communities and cafés in collaborative occasions. (Prague, Czech Republic)

• Fri, 6 Mar – Fourth version of Meals & Drinks Malaysia by SIAL 2026 will run from 21 to 23 July. This 12 months’s version is anticipated to draw over 18,000 guests, 1,000 manufacturers throughout 60 international locations, and greater than 600 exhibitors. The occasion will even host the 2026 ASEAN Barista Group Championship, which celebrates the artistry, expertise, and teamwork of baristas throughout Southeast Asia. (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Listed here are just a few espresso information tales from earlier weeks that you just would possibly discover fascinating. Have a look:

• Fri, 27 Feb – Minas Gerais expands cowl crops programme in espresso fields. The initiative goals to enhance soil well being and resilience towards local weather change for native producers. The sustainable follow helps sequester carbon and scale back the necessity for chemical fertilisers throughout the area. (Belo Horizonte, Brazil)

Picture credit: Nordic Espresso Fest, Verve Espresso

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