Our recurring round-up of the latest specialty-coffee industry news.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Featured image by Joshua Earle
Strait of Hormuz Blockade Poses Risk to Global Coffee Industry
As the ongoing Strait of Hormuz closure impacts worldwide trade, coffee production is under threat, as many producing countries rely on the fertilizers that typically pass through the Strait. Experts predict that, even if the war should end and the Strait should reopen soon, fertilizer supply and prices will take awhile to return to previous levels. In addition, producing countries like India risk losing major export destinations in the Middle East due to the blockade.
“Although coffee-producing countries do not depend directly on the Strait of Hormuz to export their beans, they are highly exposed to the secondary effects of rising energy prices,” wrote the International Coffee Organization. “Coffee is a deeply globalized sector, and its resilience depends on stable trade systems and international cooperation. In times of geopolitical uncertainty, transparency, market intelligence and coordinated dialogue become even more important.”
World of Coffee Europe 2027 Will Take Place in Lisbon, Portugal
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) has announced that their 2027 World of Coffee Europe event will be hosted in Lisbon from June 17 to 19—the first time the show has been hosted in Portugal. The Lisbon Exhibition and Congress Centre (FIL) will serve as the official event location, situated in the vibrant Parque das Nações district.
“(Lisbon) sits at the intersection of cultures and trade relationships that are fundamental to our value chain, and it has a coffee culture as authentic as the city itself,” said Yannis Apostolopoulos, CEO of the SCA. “This is the type of environment where the most transformative thinking thrives.”
SCA Introduces Master of Specialty Coffee Program
The Specialty Coffee Association has announced the global launch of their Master of Specialty Coffee program, which they call “the highest professional distinction in coffee.”
“These are the people the world will want to hear from,” the SCA wrote in a press release. “The Master of Specialty Coffee will be the most knowledgeable, most credentialed, and most rigorously assessed coffee professionals on earth.” Eligible candidates must hold all SCA Skills Diplomas plus a current Q Grader License. Applications for the first cohort will open in late 2026, with the inaugural cohort beginning in 2027.
Coffee Equipment Pros Opens Fully Electric Roastery Showroom in Texas Hill Country
Coffee Equipment Pros (CEPros) has announced the opening of its new 2,100-square-foot roastery and showroom facility in Spicewood, Texas, just outside Austin in Texas Hill Country. A defining feature of the new showroom is its commitment to fully electric roasting and post-roast operations—a vision the company calls the “Roastery of the Future.”
“This is where roasting is headed,” said Rick Davis, founder and CEO of CEPros. “Electric, efficient, precise—and designed for the realities of modern roasteries. We wanted to build a space that reflects that future.”
Researchers in China Are Insulating Walls With Coffee Grounds
Adding to the growing list of ways that used coffee grounds are being upcycled, researchers at China’s Shenyang Agricultural University (SAU) have found a way to turn them into an insulating material: a more eco-friendly option than the petroleum-based products like styrofoam or spray foam commonly found in walls.
“This approach not only improves material performance but also contributes to a circular economy,” said study co-author, Seong Yun Kim. “By turning waste into a functional product, we can reduce environmental burdens while creating new opportunities for sustainable materials.” Read the full story here.
Subscribe and More!
As always, you can enjoy your own copy of Barista Magazine by subscribing or ordering an issue. Long live physical media!
Support Barista Magazine and show your love with a Membership.
Signup for our weekly newsletter.
Join us at Camp Coffee Shop Aug. 10-13 in Napa, California.
Read the June + July 2026 Issue for free with our digital edition.
