For centuries, matcha was a Japanese ritual, a ceremony that prized patience and restraint. Now matcha has become something else entirely: a bright green shorthand for wellness, virality, and conspicuous consumption. Japan’s matcha exports have nearly tripled in the last decade. TikTok has been driving billions of views and fuelling reported supply shortages. Much of matcha’s appeal rests on perception: the colour green signals health and wealth.| Coffee Intelligence
Decaf used to be the butt of industry jokes – “death before decaf” stickers still appear at trade-show booths – but who’s still laughing? Decaf’s share of US coffee consumption climbed by 33% from 2024 to 2025, according to the NCA. Meanwhile, Swiss Water’s Q2 2025 revenue jumped 56% to CAD $67.7m. Colombian EA decaf demand is clogging trade routes and stretching global plant capacity.| Coffee Intelligence
BARISTAS are enjoying their moment in France, Spain, and some Eastern European countries. Where the UK once served as the...| Coffee Intelligence
In 2025, leveraged buyouts (LBOs) have become the lifeblood of global food and beverage deal-making. From the UK and US to South Korea and Colombia, coffee shops are being swallowed up by private equity – one leveraged buyout at a time. In the UK, public debt hit 95.8% of GDP in early 2025 – opening the doors for a PE transformation of its coffee landscape. As scale is increasingly trumps artisanship, local cafés and specialty outfits are becoming portfolio assets.| Coffee Intelligence
The coffee industry is undergoing a transformation, taking a page out of the fashion world’s playbook to appeal to a new generation of consumers. Hundreds of RTD coffee products are launched every year in both the US and Europe. Coffee is chasing fashion-style seasonal product "drops" and limited edition collections. 83% of consumers want new RTD flavours – driving coffee toward endless choice and constant reinvention.| Coffee Intelligence
Influencers are turning online clout into offline coffee spaces – and Gen Z is showing up. With 74% of Gen Z valuing real-world experiences over digital ones, influencer cafés are emerging as the new social hubs. Chamberlain Coffee expects to hit $33 million in 2025 – proof that going offline is the next big move for digital-first brands. Gen Z is flocking to these curated and reimagined “third places” that are part coffee shop, part content studio.| Coffee Intelligence
For years, China’s coffee market was hailed as a rising force, with annual consumption growing by 15%, vastly outpacing the global average of 2.2%. China’s coffee boom continues, but CoE demand is shifting. Luckin and Cotti’s rapid expansion is fuelling mass-market coffee, leaving ultra-premium lots for a niche few. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan are snapping up CoE coffees as China’s specialty scene pivots to trendy, hybrid drinks.| Coffee Intelligence
Colombia’s coffee industry, long celebrated for its exceptional green coffee exports, is witnessing a strategic shift as traders venture into specialty coffee retail. Rising costs and shrinking margins are driving a shift from green coffee exports to domestic retail. Specialty cafés showcase Colombian coffee culture and foster innovation and sustainability.| Coffee Intelligence