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
CEO Brian Niccol, leading Starbucks’ turnaround plan, unveiled sweeping changes to the Starbucks experience. This new strategy targets better pricing and convenience, and premiumisation and nostalgia at the same time. Meanwhile, Luckin Coffee is gearing up for US entry with $2 coffee options.| Coffee Intelligence
The global coffee trade witnessed a remarkable shift in 2023 as Chinese imports of Brazilian coffee tripled within a year. This has set the stage for Chinese coffee chain Luckin Coffee recently entering a MoU with the Brazilian government. This is a strategic partnership that will help consolidate market power for both countries.| Coffee Intelligence
Starbucks just reported it has drastically cut its full-year revenue growth forecast. The iconic US coffee chain's shares have plunged by 16%, with key market declines in the US and China. Fierce competition in both markets will make it hard for Starbucks to recover without a significant pivot.| 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
Black Sheep Coffee, known for championing specialty robusta in an industry that prizes arabica, recently reported a 227% year-on-year surge in iced beverage sales. The reason? matcha. Gen Z is driving demand for health-forward, photogenic drinks – and matcha is the poster child. From Japanese ritual to café essential, matcha’s transformation is rewriting the coffee shop playbook.| Coffee Intelligence
Few sectors are as globally enmeshed – and as politically exposed – as coffee. In recent weeks, Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on coffee imports have sent shockwaves through the industry. Arabica prices recently surged to $4.30/lb – only to later drop 60 cents amid tariff panic. Trump’s reciprocal tariffs (and the subsequent pause) is reshuffling global sourcing, including for coffee. However, uncertainty is the real tax – and few can afford it.| Coffee Intelligence
In January 2025, La Colombe Coffee Roasters – a brand once synonymous with craft, purity, and café authenticity – launched a limited-edition Strawberry Mocha Draft Latte. RTD coffee brands are ditching origin stories for seasonal drops, wellness claims, and curated aesthetics. There were over 200 new RTD products launched in Europe in 2023 alone. Canned coffee is being reimagined as lifestyle merch – not just a beverage.| 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
The European Union’s recent decision to delay the enforcement of its landmark European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) has set the record straight on whether plans will go ahead or be scratched. EU coffee imports hit €21.9 billion in 2022, underscoring that compliance is non-negotiable. Looking to cocoa and palm oil offers the coffee industry a roadmap for smarter EUDR preparation.| 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
