Author: Qahwa World

In celebration of International Sushi Day, Sushiyaki Dubai, the contemporary Japanese hotspot nestled in Souk Madinat Jumeirah, is inviting diners to indulge in its specially crafted signature sharing platters. Designed for those who appreciate bold flavors, convivial moments, and the freshest high-quality ingredients, these platters offer a vibrant tour through Japanese culinary favorites.

From meticulously rolled makis to delicate sashimi slices and flame-grilled yakitori skewers, Sushiyaki’s offerings are curated to showcase the best of its menu. Guests can gather and savor these communal experiences throughout the day.

Sushi Day Highlights:

1. All-Day Sharing Platters:

   • Combo Yakirolls (AED 360): A diverse selection of Sushiyaki’s signature maki rolls.

   • Combo Moriawase (AED 490): The ultimate sushi experience, featuring a chef-curated mix of makis, sashimi, and nigiri.

2. Lunchtime Specials (Available 12pm – 5pm):

   • Lunch Moriawase (AED 250): A refined midday spread including makis and nigiri.

   • Lunch Yakitori (AED 240): A selection of grilled skewers prepared robata-style.

“International Sushi Day is the perfect occasion to share the essence of our culinary philosophy,” says a representative for Sushiyaki. “Our sharing platters embody the spirit of togetherness and highlight the quality and vibrancy of Japanese cuisine we bring to Dubai.”

About Sushiyaki:
Sushiyaki, the latest venture by Food Fund International (FFI), opened its doors in December 2023 in the heart of Souk Madinat Jumeirah. It aims to redefine Japanese dining by seamlessly blending traditional flavors with cutting-edge innovation. From exquisite sushi to irresistible yakitori, Sushiyaki offers an unparalleled experience in an ambiance of modern elegance – where culinary excellence meets an Eastern state of mind.

About Food Fund International (FFI):
Developed over 14 years ago by Chairman Costa Tomazos, whose F&B journey began in the 1970s in South Africa, FFI is a family-owned business. It has built a global portfolio of home-grown restaurant brands focused on recruiting the best talent to deliver high-quality and inspirational food concepts.

Download images HERE

Plan Your Visit:

• Address: Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Waterfront, Dubai, UAE

• Phone: +971 4 451 9170

• Email: [email protected]

• Operating Hours: Monday – Sunday, 12:00 PM – 12:00 AM

• Website: www.sushiyaki.ae

• Instagram: @sushiyaki.dxb

Celebrate Sushi Day at Sushiyaki Dubai and discover the art of shared Japanese dining.

Global coffee prices surged to a record $3.45 per pound—the highest since trading began in 1973—as Brazil’s unprecedented drought devastates crops for the second straight year. The crisis has triggered coffee shortages, forced brands to downsize packages, and pushed retail costs up by over 20% in major markets.

Why Are Coffee Prices Rising So Sharply?

• Brazil’s “Double Drought” Disaster: The Minas Gerais region, which produces 40% of Brazil’s arabica coffee, has seen 40% lower yields due to extreme heat and water shortages (Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council).

• Vietnam’s Robusta Freeze: Vietnam, the world’s biggest robusta coffee supplier, has halted exports after depleting reserves, worsening the global coffee supply crunch.

• Climate Chaos Worsens Shortages: El Niño has disrupted harvests in Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala, where excessive rains and disease have cut output by 10-15%.

How Coffee Shortages Are Affecting Consumers

• Shrinkflation Hits Coffee Aisles: Major brands like Folgers, Lavazza, and Nestlé are selling 15-20% less coffee per bag while keeping prices the same.

• U.S. Coffee Prices Jump 22%: Ground coffee now averages $10.99 per pound, up from $8.99 last year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

• Specialty Coffee at Risk: Independent cafes warn of 30-40% higher wholesale costs, forcing price hikes or smaller servings.

Will Coffee Prices Keep Rising? Experts Weigh In

• “This is not temporary—it’s a new reality.” — Vanusia Nogueira, International Coffee Organization (ICO)

• Rabobank predicts high coffee prices for 5+ years due to slow farm recovery and climate risks.

• Starbucks warns investors of “sustained cost pressures” in latest earnings report.

The Bigger Picture: Climate Change & Coffee’s Future

With Brazil’s drought expected to continue through 2026 (World Weather Inc.), analysts say coffee inflation could persist until 2027-2028, when new drought-resistant crops may ease shortages.

In a quarter marked by volatility in global coffee markets, Coffee Holding Co., Inc. (NASDAQ: JVA) has reported strong financial performance for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025. The company achieved a 22% year-over-year revenue increase and returned to profitability, posting earnings of $0.11 per share—up from a slight loss in the same quarter last year.

Despite headwinds such as surging green coffee prices, delayed margin recovery, and contractual losses on a key wholesale account, Coffee Holding maintained a stable gross margin of 19%. The company also succeeded in reducing its selling and administrative expenses, a move that signals improved operational efficiency and potential for sustained margin growth in future quarters.

“Our ability to grow revenue while improving cost efficiency demonstrates the strength of our business model,” said Andrew Gordon, CEO of Coffee Holding Co. “Even with pricing pressures and a challenging macro environment, we’ve positioned ourselves for long-term profitability.”

A key contributor to the company’s growth was the implementation of strategic price adjustments in response to early 2025’s rapid rise in arabica coffee prices, which surged over 25% in just three weeks. Although these increases took time to reflect in financial results, the full impact is now materializing and is expected to support margins moving forward.

Another factor shaping the company’s strategy was speculation in April about potential tariffs on imported coffee. While the market reacted with a sharp price decline, Coffee Holding used the opportunity to expand its inventory at lower prices, gaining cost advantages that are expected to provide a competitive edge in the months ahead.

In addition, the company’s acquisition of Empire Coffee Company—rebranded as Second Empire—is already exceeding expectations. Losses from this unit were halved compared to the previous quarter, and sales have rebounded to pre-decline levels. Coffee Holding now anticipates that the acquisition will become earnings-accretive by the end of the next quarter.

In a milestone decision, the company announced the reinstatement of its annual dividend—33% of net earnings—marking the first dividend issuance in years. The move reflects growing confidence in free cash flow and overall financial stability.

Founded in 1971, Coffee Holding Co. is one of the few vertically integrated coffee companies in the United States, serving retailers and wholesalers through a portfolio of eight proprietary brands and a diversified range of coffee products. The company also imports green coffee from major producing countries, supplying small roasters and specialty cafés across the U.S. and Canada.

As the global coffee industry continues to navigate fluctuating prices, trade policies, and evolving consumer behavior, Coffee Holding Co.’s latest results offer a compelling case of resilience and adaptability—qualities that many industry stakeholders are closely watching.

Global coffee prices saw a modest rebound on Friday following new multi-week lows, as traders engaged in pre-weekend short covering while market fundamentals presented a complex mix of bearish and bullish signals.

Market Snapshot

July arabica coffee (KCN25) rose by +1.50 cents (+0.43%) and July robusta coffee (RMN25) gained +34 points (+0.77%), reversing earlier losses. Arabica futures touched a two-week low, while robusta prices dipped to a seven-month low before staging a mild recovery.

Despite Friday’s gains, coffee prices have remained under pressure over the past five weeks due to favorable harvest conditions and expectations of increased output from key producers.

Brazilian Harvest Update

Brazil’s ongoing harvest continues to weigh on prices. According to Cooxupe, the country’s largest coffee cooperative and exporter, 13.7% of the 2025/26 harvest is complete, nearly identical to last year’s 13.6% at this time. Meanwhile, Safras & Mercado reported that 35% of the national harvest is finished as of June 11, including 49% of the robusta crop and 26% of the arabica. Persistent rainfall in arabica-growing regions, particularly in Minas Gerais, has slowed progress. Somar Meteorologia reported 23.4 mm of rain in Minas Gerais during the week ending June 7—207% above the historical average.

Inventory and Export Dynamics

On the inventory front, ICE-monitored arabica stocks stood at 846,291 bags as of Friday, down slightly from a recent 4.25-month high of 892,468 bags recorded on May 27. Robusta inventories fell to a three-week low of 5,184 lots on Thursday, providing limited support for robusta prices.

Meanwhile, export data from Brazil offered a bullish counterpoint. Cecafe reported that green coffee exports in May fell 36% year-over-year to 2.8 million bags, driven by logistical delays and tighter supply.

Vietnam’s Volatile Outlook

Vietnam’s robusta sector remains under stress. The 2023/24 crop dropped 20% due to drought, yielding just 1.472 million metric tons—the lowest in four years. Exports have also declined sharply, with 2024 volumes down 17.1% y/y and January–May 2025 exports falling 1.8% to 813,000 MT. The Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association recently cut its 2024/25 production estimate from 28 million to 26.5 million bags. However, USDA projections for 2025/26 forecast a 7% rebound to 30 million bags.

Global Production and Deficit Projections

According to the USDA’s December biannual report, global coffee production in 2024/25 is expected to rise by 4.0% year-over-year to 174.86 million bags, including 97.85 million bags of arabica and 77.01 million of robusta. Despite this increase, global ending stocks are projected to fall by 6.6% to a 25-year low of 20.87 million bags.

Looking further ahead, commodities trader Volcafe anticipates a global arabica deficit of 8.5 million bags in 2025/26—wider than the 5.5 million bag shortfall in 2024/25—marking the fifth consecutive year of global supply shortages.

Conclusion

While near-term market sentiment remains pressured by ample supply and favorable weather in Brazil, structural deficits in arabica and declining robusta output in Vietnam could provide longer-term support. Investors continue to monitor weather patterns, harvest pace, inventory levels, and export flows for signs of volatility in the months ahead.

Nescafé, Nestlé’s leading coffee brand, announced that it sourced 32% of its coffee in 2024 from farmers implementing regenerative agriculture practices—exceeding its 2025 goal of 20%.

The achievement is part of the company’s long-term sustainability roadmap, the “Nescafé Plan 2030,” launched in 2022 to support farmers transitioning to environmentally friendly methods that boost productivity, lower costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to Nestlé’s June 12, 2025 statement, these practices helped reduce emissions by 20% to 40% per kilogram of green coffee beans in 2024.

The company now aims to source 50% of its coffee from regenerative agriculture by 2030, as part of broader efforts to cut its overall carbon footprint.

Regenerative practices promoted by the program include optimizing fertilizer use to improve soil health and reduce carbon emissions, planting cover crops to boost biodiversity and minimize agrochemical reliance, and restoring farmland through native tree planting to enhance carbon capture and water management.

Nescafé emphasized that the program not only supports climate goals but also improves farmer livelihoods and strengthens communities. Social initiatives such as child protection and human rights monitoring are integral parts of the brand’s supply chain responsibility.

Coffee remains one of the world’s most widely traded agricultural commodities. However, climate change poses a growing threat to its future. A study by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) warns that by 2050, up to 97% of currently viable coffee-growing land in key regions may become unsuitable. The bulk of coffee’s carbon footprint—estimated at 75% to 91%—originates before the beans leave the farm, driven by land use, deforestation, fertilizer application, and processing methods.

“Farmers are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of these regenerative practices, as shown by the rising adoption rates,” said Axel Touzet, Head of Nestlé’s Coffee Strategic Business Unit. “This motivates us to continue working with our partners, suppliers, and farmers in our sourcing regions.”

Starbucks is inviting coffee enthusiasts to apply for a new, globe-trotting position focused on storytelling, travel, and digital content—offering a salary of up to $136,000 per year.

The company is currently looking for two individuals—one current employee and one external applicant—to become what it calls “Global Coffee Creators.” These creators will spend a year visiting selected Starbucks locations worldwide, documenting the brand’s culture, coffee origins, and customer experiences through engaging social media content.

Why This Role Stands Out

As social media continues to shape consumer behavior, brands are investing more in influencer-style marketing. The global influencer industry, valued at over $32 billion in 2025, shows no signs of slowing down. Starbucks’ latest move aligns with this trend, targeting content-savvy individuals who can blend creativity with a love for coffee.

Position Highlights

The one-year contract offers a competitive annual salary ranging from $80,100 to $136,000. Although the job is remote, frequent international travel is a core requirement. Chosen candidates will be expected to visit at least 10 Starbucks destinations around the globe, capturing the local vibe, people, and unique stories behind each store.

According to the company, applicants must:

• Be 18 years or older

• Live in the United States

• Have a valid passport

• Hold a high school diploma or equivalent

• Demonstrate strong skills in video creation, editing, and social media engagement

How to Apply

Interested individuals must submit a TikTok video using the hashtag #StarbucksGlobalCoffeeCreator, offering their personal perspective and showcasing their storytelling abilities. The application window is open until June 14, 2025, and selected candidates will begin their journey in August 2025.

Company Outlook

The announcement comes as Starbucks undergoes broader organizational changes. Earlier this year, the company restructured parts of its corporate workforce and introduced updates to employee uniforms, aiming to streamline operations and strengthen brand identity.

Looking Ahead

This creative role is part of Starbucks’ wider push to engage with younger, digitally connected audiences. The selected Global Coffee Creators will not only promote the brand but also serve as storytellers for its international community.