Our recurring round-up of the latest specialty-coffee industry news.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Featured image by Joshua Earle
News from Coffee Nonprofits Grounds for Health + International Women’s Coffee Alliance
On October 1, the first International Coffee Day recognized by the United Nations, the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) announced the launch of its new logo. “The familiar IWCA woman, lifting a coffee bean overhead, carries forward from our original logo. She lifts the bean the way women in coffee have lifted this network since 2003,” the organization shared in the announcement.
Fellow coffee nonprofit Grounds for Health celebrated its 30th anniversary last month at an event hosted at Royal Coffee‘s The Crown venue in Oakland, Calif. The event brought together dozens of supporters, including Peet’s Coffee and green coffee importer Balzac Brothers. “We are proud supporters of Grounds for Health, whose focus on women’s health and cancer prevention echoes our own commitment to responsible sourcing, sustainable practices, and community wellness,” said Minni Forman of Peet’s.
Starbucks Faces Lawsuits Over False “Sugar-Free” Claims
Coffee giant Starbucks is currently facing a proposed class-action lawsuit, accusing the company of false-advertising in regards to its “sugar-free” protein lattes and matcha-based drinks. The plaintiffs, who are consumers from California, Washington, and New York, allege that several of the company’s “sugar-free” protein drinks did, in fact, contain 13-21 grams of sugar, which came from the milk in the beverages. Read more on the story here.
Central American Coffee Premiums Hit Three-Year High Amid El Niño-Linked Drought
Devdiscourse reports that, following severe drought linked to El Niño, premiums for arabica from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua have climbed to around three-year highs. Similarly, Honduras and Guatemala are already forecasting production declines of 7% and 10%, respectively, for 2026/27.
StoneX Acquires Colombian Coffee Exporter Integra
Early this month, StoneX Group Inc. signed an agreement to acquire Colombian coffee trader Integra. Founded in 2015 by Manuel Rueda, Integra operates a coffee processing mill near Medellín in the Antioquia region of Colombia. Said Manuel Rueda about the acquisition: “Joining StoneX gives our business the capital, platform, and global reach to grow well beyond what we could achieve on our own. We’re keeping our team and our origination model intact while gaining direct access to end-user clients around the world.”
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