Author: Qahwa World

India Cuts GST on Coffee to 5% in Landmark Tax Overhaul

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New Delhi, September 4, 2025 (Qahwa World) – The Indian government has announced a sweeping reform of its Goods and Services Tax (GST), slashing rates on coffee and other food products from 12%–18% down to just 5%. The decision, taken during the 56th GST Council meeting chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, marks one of the most significant tax changes since the GST system was introduced in 2017.

The reform simplifies India’s indirect tax structure into two main slabs—5% for essential and merit goods, and 18% as the standard rate—alongside a new 40% rate for de-merit goods such as tobacco and luxury items. The reduced rates, including the cut on coffee, will take effect from September 22, 2025, coinciding with the Navratri festival.

Coffee Industry Among Key Beneficiaries

Coffee has been placed in the merit category, meaning products that previously attracted 12% or 18% GST—such as roasted beans, instant coffee, and other processed coffee items—will now be taxed at only 5%.

Industry experts expect this move to have a ripple effect across the entire coffee value chain:

  • Growers and processors are likely to benefit from stronger domestic demand, as lower retail prices could encourage greater consumption.

  • Retailers and cafés may see a boost in sales volumes, with increased affordability improving consumer access to both mainstream and specialty coffee.

  • Consumers will directly benefit from reduced prices, especially as food and beverage costs have risen sharply in recent years.

A Broader Economic Push

The decision is part of a wider strategy aimed at easing the cost of living, stimulating consumption, and simplifying India’s tax regime. Alongside coffee, the rate cut covers other everyday items including chocolates, butter, ghee, sauces, noodles, and packaged snacks.

“This rationalisation is designed to make GST simpler, more transparent, and more consumer-friendly,” Finance Minister Sitharaman said after the council meeting, stressing that the two-slab system will also reduce compliance burdens for businesses.

Looking Ahead

India—already one of the world’s largest producers of Arabica and Robusta—is expected to see a surge in domestic coffee consumption following the tax cut. Analysts suggest the move could help narrow the cultural gap between tea and coffee, while further boosting India’s vibrant café culture and specialty coffee sector.

The GST overhaul signals a structural shift in India’s economic policy, and for coffee, it may represent the beginning of a new chapter where affordability fuels greater appreciation of the drink across the country.

Return of Elite GESHA Coffee from El Salvador Celebrated with a Stylish Event in Tallinn

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Tallinn, September 4, 2025 (Qahwa World) – Coffee People marked the grand return of the legendary GESHA coffee to the Estonian market with a special celebration at the Chin Chin wine bar in Tallinn’s Kalamaja district.

Given the uniqueness of GESHA, it was brewed using the Chemex method and served in champagne glasses, alongside espresso for comparison. Guests enjoyed coffee tastings, food pairings, and a special GESHA pairing with Blanc de Noir champagne. The event was hosted by well-known actress and musician Kristel Aaslaid, with music by DJ Olavi Lõpp.

Originating from Ethiopia, GESHA is a variety derived from the Typica coffee tree. The cultivar is known for its low yields and demanding cultivation, requiring patience, space, and precision, but rewarding growers with exceptional cup quality. Coffee People first introduced GESHA to Estonia in 2017. For this occasion, Salvadoran farmer Emilio López, who grows GESHA in El Salvador, attended the event and shared: “Many farmers are hesitant to take the risk of growing this variety, but when everything goes right, it truly becomes the king of coffee.”

The exclusivity of GESHA is also reflected in its price. It is currently the most expensive coffee on the Estonian market, selling for more than €100 per kilogram, comparable to the price of premium champagne served alongside it during the event.

Coffee People founders Annar Alas and Heili Politanov visited El Salvador last year to meet Emilio López in person and place an order for the new harvest. “After many years of work and anticipation, we are once again ready to share GESHA with you. It is unique not only in its flavor profile but also in the story behind it. Recognized multiple times as the best coffee in the world, I am personally thrilled that it is once again available on the Estonian market,” said Alas.

Coffee Prices Continue to Rise as Global Supplies Decline

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Dubai, 4 September 2025 (Qahwa World) – Coffee prices closed higher on Wednesday amid tightening global supplies, with both arabica and robusta contracts gaining momentum. December arabica futures (KCZ25) rose by +3.30 cents (+0.89%), while November robusta (RMX25) advanced by +55 USD (+1.25%), bouncing back from a recent 1.5-week low.

The International Coffee Organization (ICO) reported that global coffee exports in July dropped -1.6% year-on-year to 11.6 million bags, while cumulative exports for October to July slipped -0.3% to 115.6 million bags. This contraction, combined with falling exchange-monitored inventories, supported the market. ICE-monitored robusta inventories fell to a 1-month low of 6,552 lots, while arabica stocks declined to a 1.25-year low of 686,863 bags.

Concerns about tighter U.S. coffee supplies also added support, as American buyers canceled contracts for Brazilian coffee following the 50% tariffs imposed on Brazilian exports to the U.S. Since Brazil supplies about a third of unroasted coffee to the American market, the move is further tightening availability.

In Brazil, above-average rainfall has eased crop concerns ahead of the crucial flowering period. Somar Meteorologia reported that Minas Gerais, the country’s largest arabica-growing area, received 163% of the historical average rainfall during the last week of August. Meanwhile, the harvest is nearly complete, with Cooxupé, Brazil’s largest cooperative, announcing that 94.9% of its members’ harvest was done by August 29, while Safras & Mercado estimated the national harvest at 99% complete as of August 20. Despite this, export data reflects a slowdown, with Brazil’s Ministry of Trade reporting that July unroasted coffee exports plunged -20.4% y/y to 161,000 MT, and exporter group Cecafé noting that green coffee shipments fell -28% y/y to 2.4 million bags, including a -49% drop in robusta exports.

Vietnam, the world’s leading robusta producer, continues to face drought-related challenges. Production for the 2023/24 crop fell -20% y/y to 1.47 MMT, the smallest in four years, while 2024 exports declined -17.1% y/y to 1.35 MMT. The Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association has revised its 2024/25 production outlook downward to 26.5 million bags, though the National Statistics Office reported a +6.9% y/y increase in January–July 2025 exports, reaching 1.05 MMT.

Looking ahead, the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service projects that world coffee production in 2025/26 will climb +2.5% y/y to a record 178.7 million bags. This includes a -1.7% decline in arabica output to 97 million bags and a +7.9% increase in robusta to 81.6 million bags, with ending stocks expected to rise +4.9% to 22.8 million bags. However, trader Volcafé forecasts a global arabica deficit of -8.5 million bags for 2025/26, deeper than the -5.5 million bag deficit recorded in 2024/25, marking the fifth consecutive year of arabica shortfalls despite stronger robusta production.

“Polpanorte”.. Brazil’s #1 Açaí Brand Begins Its Middle East Launch from Dubai

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DUBAI, 4 September 2025 (Qahwa World) – Brazil’s number one açaí brand, Polpanorte, is set to make waves in the Middle East with its debut in the UAE. The brand, founded in 1995 in Japurá, Brazil, is best known for its signature açaí, followed by frozen fruit pulps and creamy sorbets.

Polpanorte’s reputation for quality has reached far beyond Brazil, winning customers across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Now, the UAE’s thriving coffee and café industry is ready to welcome this iconic brand.

What is Açaí?
Açaí is a type of dark purple berry that grows on the açaí palm in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil. It is widely recognized as a “superfood” thanks to its richness in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins, and is commonly consumed in the form of juices or frozen bowls mixed with fruits and nuts. Its high nutritional value has made it a favorite choice among health-conscious consumers and athletes around the world.

A Global Brand with Brazilian Roots

Polpanorte’s story began as a small family business serving local communities. Over the years, it expanded rapidly, investing in innovation and state-of-the-art facilities, including a new 20,000 m² industrial plant in Benevides in 2021. The introduction of its creamy, flavorful açaí in 2015 positioned Polpanorte as a market leader. And now in 2025, the brand has landed on the shores of the UAE, opening a new chapter in showing what quality açaí should taste like in the region.

Factories in both Benevides and Japura have a combined production capacity of 160 tons of açaí per day. With this, Polpanorte became the largest açaí producer in Brazil a few years ago. The brand is also present in more than 20 countries, including Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

Why the Middle East?

The GCC is a hub for culinary innovation and cultural diversity. With residents and tourists indulging in specialty coffee shops and juice bars daily, the market is ideal for superfoods like açaí. Healthy dining is not just a trend here, it has become a lifestyle. Whether it’s a post-workout smoothie, a weekend brunch, or a quick coffee stop, açaí has become a go-to option, loved by the local and expatriate population alike. Polpanorte’s vegan and halal-certified products are tailored to meet the needs of this diverse audience.

Beyond the Bowl

Polpanorte products are versatile and can be used in desserts and beverages, while cafés across the GCC will mainly use the açaí for bowls and smoothies blended or served with fruits, peanut butter, and other add-ons. This flexibility makes it a strong partner for café owners and even consumers at home eager to innovate and create something unique.

Polpanorte’s Promise

“From the Amazon rainforest to Dubai, our mission is to bring authentic flavors and healthy choices to every table,” says a Polpanorte spokesperson. “The UAE’s café culture is dynamic, and we are excited to be part of it.” Very soon the products will be available in leading retail locations in the UAE too.

A member of the Zeppone Group, Polpanorte has two factories in Japurá, Paraná, and Benevides, Pará, and sells over 130 products at approximately 40,000 points of sale in Brazil through more than 80 distributors, which helps maintain its national leadership.

ICO: Coffee Prices Hit Historic Surge as Exports Decline

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Dubai, September 3, 2025 (Qahwa World) – The International Coffee Organization (ICO) in its August 2025 report revealed unprecedented shifts in the global coffee market, with the ICO Composite Indicator Price (I-CIP) rising by 14.6% to 297.05 US cents per pound – its highest level since 2024 and 24.3% higher year-on-year. At the same time, the report highlighted that global green coffee exports continued to contract for the sixth consecutive month, underscoring the dual pressure of soaring prices and shrinking supplies.

Historic Price Surge
According to the ICO, all coffee groups recorded strong gains. Robusta led the surge with a 19.1% increase to 199.13 US cents per pound, while Colombian Milds, Brazilian Naturals, and Other Milds rose between 12% and 14%. Futures prices also jumped sharply, with New York contracts up 13.6% and London contracts up 18.2%, signaling broad-based upward momentum.

Market Drivers
The report identified multiple factors fueling the rally:

  • The United States’ 50% tariff on Brazilian coffee, slowing down commercialization.

  • Brazil’s government support through the Funcafé fund, allocating BRL 6.8 billion (USD 1.29 billion) to finance the 2025/26 harvest.

  • Reports of lower bean density in Brazil despite large screen size, reducing crop estimates.

  • European roasters stockpiling ahead of the EU’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) deadline in December 2025.

  • A minor frost in Brazil damaging up to half a million bags.

  • Roasters increasing long positions in futures markets to hedge against further price hikes.

Export Downturn
The ICO report also showed global green coffee exports reaching 10.3 million bags in July 2025, down 0.7% from July 2024. South America posted the steepest decline (-18.5%), driven by Brazil’s 28.6% fall in shipments.

Regional Contrasts

  • Asia & Oceania exports surged by 22.7%, led by Vietnam (+29.4%) and Indonesia (+20.4%).

  • Africa’s exports rose 4.4%, with Uganda (+51.4%) and Ethiopia (+12.5%) as key contributors.

  • Mexico & Central America posted a moderate increase of 7.2%.

Looking Ahead
The ICO emphasized that the combination of rising prices and falling exports places the global coffee market in a volatile phase. With the EUDR coming into effect by year-end and climate-related risks looming over major producers, coffee is set to remain one of the most vulnerable agricultural commodities to both economic and environmental shocks.

Roasted Arabica Coffee Contains Natural Compounds That Fight Diabetes

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Dubai, September 3, 2025 (Qahwa World) – A new scientific study has revealed that roasted Arabica coffee beans contain natural compounds with powerful blood sugar–lowering effects, stronger than the widely used antidiabetic drug acarbose.

Researchers successfully identified three novel diterpene esters, named Caffaldehyde A, B, and C, which showed significant inhibition of the enzyme α-glucosidase, a key factor in blood sugar regulation. In addition, three more diterpenes with similar effects were discovered, reinforcing coffee’s role as a functional food with health benefits beyond basic nutrition.

Coffee as a Functional Food

Functional foods are those that contain biologically active compounds providing added benefits such as antioxidant protection, neuroprotection, lipid regulation, and blood sugar control. Coffee is not only one of the most consumed beverages worldwide but also one of the most economically valuable crops.

More than 70 diterpenes have been documented in coffee so far. Among them, kahweol and cafestol stand out for their anticancer and antidiabetic properties. However, roasted coffee remains chemically complex, making the discovery of new active compounds a challenging yet essential task.

Research Methodology

The research team employed advanced techniques combining Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) with Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). This innovative approach enabled faster detection of bioactive molecules while reducing solvent use, making the process more efficient and eco-friendly.

Findings

The diterpene extract was divided into 19 fractions. Fractions 9–13 exhibited the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, leading to the discovery of three novel compounds – Caffaldehyde A, B, and C. These were structurally confirmed and shown to lower blood sugar effectively.

Additionally, three other compounds were identified: magaric acid, octadecenoic acid, and nonadecanoic acid, which also showed promising inhibitory activity.

Conclusion

This discovery demonstrates that roasted Arabica coffee beans are more than a daily beverage – they are a rich source of natural compounds with strong therapeutic potential. The identification of six novel compounds represents a significant step in understanding coffee’s health role and opens the door for developing innovative nutritional and medical approaches to diabetes management.

As coffee continues to hold its place as a cultural and economic staple, it also reveals itself as a functional food with the potential to support better public health and inspire further natural treatment research.

illycaffè Acquires 80% of «Capitani»

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Dubai, September 3, 2025 (Qahwa World) – Italian premium coffee brand illycaffè has announced the acquisition of an 80% stake in Capitani, a Como-based manufacturer of single-serve capsule coffee machines for the home market.

The move is part of illycaffè’s strategy to strengthen its European supply chain and reduce reliance on non-European suppliers, as the global coffee sector faces mounting pressures from soaring green coffee prices and new tariffs on exports, particularly to the United States, the company’s second-largest market after Italy.

CEO Cristina Scocchia emphasized that the investment in Capitani reflects illycaffè’s ongoing transition from a traditional coffee roaster to a holistic systems company. She said: “The geopolitical context, trade barriers, tariffs, and rising raw material costs are significant challenges, but we have chosen to continue focusing on Made in Italy and innovation, investing in our country and strengthening the Italian production chain.”

Founded in 1979, Capitani specializes in designing and producing single-serve coffee machines primarily for the home market. The company operates a 43,000 sq ft production facility in Solbiate con Cagno and has been a long-standing supply partner for illycaffè. In 2024, Capitani generated revenues of approximately €20 million.

Under the deal, set to close in October 2025, the Capitani family will retain a 20% stake. The new partnership aims to double Capitani’s revenues within five years by leveraging synergies, industrial efficiency, and innovation capabilities.

illycaffè reported record revenues of €630 million in 2024, up 6% year-on-year, with net profits rising 42% to over €33 million and EBITDA up 19% to €110 million.

In the first half of 2025, the company posted an 11% increase in revenues compared to the previous year, reaching €319 million (~$370 million). However, illycaffè expects slower growth of 7–10% in the second half due to record-high coffee costs and the newly introduced 15% tariffs on European coffee exports to the US.

For illycaffè, acquiring Capitani is a pivotal step in reinforcing domestic production and protecting the Italian identity of its products. By combining Capitani’s industrial expertise with illycaffè’s global reach, the partnership is set to boost competitiveness in the fast-growing European capsule coffee market, where at-home consumption continues to expand rapidly.

Brazil’s Coffee Paradox: Global Prices Drop While Local Costs Surge

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Dubai, September 3, 2025 (Qahwa World) – While global coffee prices are falling due to heavy rainfall in Brazil and the near completion of the harvest, consumers in the world’s largest producer and exporter are facing the opposite reality: higher prices for roasted and instant coffee in the domestic market.

December arabica futures fell 3.44%, while November robusta dropped 3.28% to a one-week low. Weather data from Somar Meteorologia showed that Minas Gerais, Brazil’s largest arabica-producing region, received 10.1 mm of rain in the week ending August 30 – 163% of the historical average.

Meanwhile, Cooxupé, Brazil’s biggest coffee cooperative, reported that its members’ harvest was 94.9% complete as of August 29. Safras & Mercado confirmed that Brazil’s 2025/26 harvest was 99% finished by August 20, with robusta fully harvested and arabica 98% complete.

In contrast, roasters 3 Coracoes and Melitta announced fresh price hikes in Brazil starting September 1. 3 Coracoes raised roasted and ground coffee prices by 10% and instant coffee by 7%, while Melitta increased prices by 15%. These hikes follow earlier rises: 11% in January and 14.3% in March by 3 Coracoes, and a 25% increase by Melitta last December.

This creates a striking paradox in Brazil’s coffee market: while international prices are easing thanks to favorable weather and ample harvests, local consumers are paying more, driven by climate volatility, a 50% U.S. tariff on Brazilian coffee imports, and rising raw bean costs.

Global arabica prices have already climbed more than 20% this year after a 70% surge in 2024. With tariffs in place, U.S. roasters have been tapping existing stockpiles, adding further pressure.

The Brazilian Coffee Industry Association (ABIC) noted a brief drop in retail prices in August as futures eased from record highs, but warned that the trend would reverse once tariffs took effect — and that reversal is now underway. Major roasters are struggling to balance costs as consumers shift toward cheaper supermarket brands.

Looking ahead, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects global coffee production to rise 2.5% in 2025/26 to a record 178.7 million bags. Yet trader Volcafe forecasts a widening global arabica deficit of 8.5 million bags — the fifth straight year of shortages. This contradiction — falling global prices alongside rising domestic costs in Brazil — sets the stage for continued turbulence in the coffee market.

Brazil Estimates Coffee Export Losses at $196.5 Million

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Cecafé: Brazilian coffee exporters lost nearly $200 million in July 2025

Dubai, September 3, 2025 (Qahwa World) – Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer and exporter, has faced severe challenges due to disruptions in its port infrastructure. According to the Brazilian Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafé), total exporter losses in July 2025 amounted to $196.5 million.

Cecafé reported that overloaded and strained port facilities caused massive delays and forced changes in shipping routes. As a result, more than 598.7 thousand 60-kg bags of coffee could not be shipped in July. The average value of a bag was $385.4, while the longest idle period reached 35 days. In total, exporters lost the equivalent of 1.1 billion reals ($196.5 million), and shipments to the global market fell by 27%, dropping to 164 thousand tons.

Beyond logistical problems, Brazilian farmers also faced prolonged frosts. Experts warned that these unfavorable weather conditions triggered stress flowering, which could negatively impact not only the 2025 harvest but also next year’s production.

The disruptions in Brazil and Vietnam have already intensified pressure on the global coffee market. In New York, arabica prices rose to a two-month high in July, while in London, on November 27, the January futures price for robusta reached $5,547.5 per ton (+7.55%), setting a record since at least January 2008, according to ICE Futures.

Luza Baiguzina, Associate Professor at IMES, previously warned that difficulties with exports from Brazil and Vietnam could push coffee prices in Russia up by as much as 20% in 2026.

New GCP Guidance Sets Global Path for Regenerative Agriculture in Coffee Production

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Dubai, September 3, 2025 (Qahwa World) – The Global Coffee Platform (GCP) has unveiled its long-anticipated RegenCoffee Guidance, a comprehensive framework designed to align the global coffee sector around regenerative agriculture. Developed over six months with input from farmers, industry leaders, NGOs, and sustainability experts, the new guidance provides a common language and clear roadmap to ensure the future resilience of coffee production.

A Sector-Wide Shift Toward Regeneration

Regenerative agriculture is increasingly recognized as an essential response to climate change, ecosystem degradation, and the economic challenges facing millions of coffee farmers. After years of volatility and pressure on farmers, the need for coordinated solutions has never been greater. Global Coffee Industry Faces Deepening Crisis as Production Struggles to Meet Surging Demand.

Unlike traditional sustainability approaches, regenerative agriculture emphasizes improving and restoring natural resources—particularly soil, water, and biodiversity—while boosting the long-term profitability of farming systems.

The RegenCoffee Guidance defines regenerative coffee farming as a holistic, outcome-focused approach. Its goal is to ensure that coffee production enhances ecosystem services, increases resilience against climate risks, and creates more stable livelihoods for farming communities.

“The threat to sustainable coffee production is real, but so is the opportunity,” said Annette Pensel, Executive Director of the Global Coffee Platform. “By embracing regenerative agriculture in partnership with coffee farmers and governments, the industry can address these challenges while building a pathway to farmer prosperity and supply resilience.”

Four Core Impact Areas

The GCP framework outlines four impact areas that serve as the foundation for regenerative coffee:

  • Improved soil health – restoring fertility, organic matter, and resilience.

  • Better water quality and availability – conserving and managing water resources more efficiently.

  • Enhanced biodiversity with reduced pesticide risks – creating healthier ecosystems through agroforestry, shade-grown systems, and integrated pest management.

  • Resilient farmer livelihoods – strengthening incomes, reducing volatility, and enabling adaptation to climate change.

These outcomes are supported by practical, farmer-centric examples such as cover cropping, intercropping, organic amendments, wastewater management, and optimized fertilization practices. Importantly, the guidance is not prescriptive; rather, it provides adaptable pathways that farmers can tailor to their specific landscapes and contexts.

Economic and Environmental Impact

According to a TechnoServe study cited in the guidance, transitioning to regenerative coffee production could deliver profound benefits across the sector. The study estimates that:

  • An investment of $4 billion over seven years would be required to scale adoption.

  • More than 3.2 million smallholder farmers could see income increases of up to 62%.

  • Coffee exports in seven key countries could rise by 30%.

  • Greenhouse gas emissions from coffee farming could fall by 38% across 2.7 million hectares.

“This investment case is not only positive but compelling,” noted Paul Stewart, Global Coffee Director at TechnoServe. “It demonstrates that regenerative practices can simultaneously improve farmer incomes, enhance biodiversity, and reduce carbon emissions.”

Guarding Against Greenwashing

One of the main goals of the RegenCoffee Guidance is to create sector-wide alignment that prevents confusion and mitigates the risks of “greenwashing.” By setting common definitions, principles, outcomes, and indicators, the framework provides credibility and clarity for companies, governments, and consumers.

RegenCoffee also aligns with wider circular economy efforts that aim to make coffee production more sustainable. Circular Economy: Is the Coffee Industry Ready for a Sustainable Shift?.

Scaling regenerative agriculture will require overcoming financial and policy barriers at national and international levels. Barriers to Circular Coffee: How the Industry Can Overcome Financial and Regulatory Challenges.

“This outcome reflects the value of broad collaboration and practical support for all stakeholders,” said Jeremy Lefroy, Chair of GCP’s Technical Committee. “It ensures that the sector can continue—or begin—the necessary steps toward a regenerative coffee future that is consistent, informed, and aligned.”

Looking Ahead

The launch of the RegenCoffee Guidance marks the first phase of a multi-step process. Future phases will integrate regenerative principles into the Coffee Sustainability Reference Code, adapt them to local farming realities, and establish mechanisms for transition financing.

By-products of coffee farming can also play a vital role in sustainability when integrated into regenerative systems. From Bean to Biofuel: How Coffee By-Products are Driving Sustainability in Coffee-Producing Regions.

Technological innovation will further accelerate the transition to regenerative and sustainable coffee. The Future of Coffee: How Technology is Brewing a Greener Cup.

Farmers remain at the center of this transformation. As GCP emphasizes, regeneration will only succeed if farmers are empowered with the right tools, financial support, and technical guidance.

“Without healthy ecosystems, there is no future for coffee. Without responsible farming, no prosperity. Without action, no transformation,” said Adriana Mejía Cuartas, GCP Board Chair and fourth-generation coffee grower from Colombia.

A Call to Collective Action

The Global Coffee Platform is now urging all stakeholders—farmers, cooperatives, governments, roasters, traders, NGOs, and financial institutions—to adopt the RegenCoffee Guidance as a shared foundation for action.

Long-term resilience will also depend on how global supply and demand dynamics evolve in the coming years. ICO Market Report – March 2025.

By aligning around a common regenerative vision, the coffee sector can not only safeguard long-term supply but also contribute meaningfully to global climate resilience and food security.

Unity Coffee Launches to Redefine the UK’s Self-Serve Coffee Market

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Dubai, 2 September 2025 (Qahwa World) – Scott Martin, the entrepreneur who pioneered the UK’s self-serve coffee sector, has returned with a bold new venture, Unity Coffee, which aims to disrupt the market through digital-first innovation, premium quality, and fairer value.

The brand is rolling out this month across the United Kingdom, targeting retail, travel, leisure, and education venues. With a plan to install more than 500 units in the next two years, Unity Coffee positions itself as a challenger brand ready to compete directly with industry giants.

Built on a FinTech platform, Unity Coffee is the first self-service coffee concept of its kind, offering customers a seamless mobile-first journey. Consumers can order and pay through the brand’s dedicated app while benefiting from agile pricing, real-time promotions, and personalized loyalty rewards. The machines are designed to ensure consistency across a wide menu that includes espresso, specialty coffee drinks, matcha, and hot chocolate, with both dairy and plant-based milk options.

“The coffee-to-go market has let customers down for years with overpriced drinks and tired, repetitive experiences,” said Martin. “Unity Coffee is leading a new movement, delivering exceptional coffee at fairer prices through smart technology, dynamic loyalty, and instant rewards. We’re going to take on big coffee and give the power back to the people.”

Martin is no stranger to innovation. In 1998, he co-founded Coffee Nation, which quickly grew to nearly 900 machines and captured almost half of the UK’s self-serve market. The company was acquired by Whitbread in 2011 for £59.5 million ($77.3 million) and rebranded as Costa Express. Under Martin’s leadership, the network expanded to 14,000 machines before becoming part of Coca-Cola’s £3.9 billion ($5.4 billion) acquisition of Costa Coffee in 2019.

Unity Coffee has secured backing from investors with strong expertise across hospitality, retail, manufacturing, and packaging, ensuring both financial strength and operational insight. Martin himself continues to advise on other innovative ventures, including UK specialty coffee group Grind, self-serve solutions firm BoxBar, and Singapore-based Crown Digital, the developer of the robotic barista concept ELLA.

The launch of Unity Coffee comes at a time when self-service technologies are gaining renewed attention across global retail. With its FinTech foundation, wide product range, and consumer-first approach, the brand is positioning itself not just as a coffee provider but as part of a broader digital transformation in the coffee-to-go sector.

Nut Milks in Coffee: Healthier, But Do They Match Dairy’s Taste?

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August 28, 2025 – (Qahwa World) – The coffee world has long been familiar with debates about dairy versus alternatives, but a groundbreaking study from South Korea has now provided the most detailed comparison yet of how nut-based milks perform in espresso drinks. The findings reveal that while cow’s milk remains the preferred choice for taste and texture, nut milks—particularly when roasted—offer unique health advantages and the potential for future innovation in coffee beverages.

Background: The Rise of Plant-Based Milks

Growing concerns over lactose intolerance, cholesterol, and the environmental footprint of dairy farming have fueled global demand for plant-based milk alternatives. Almond, cashew, hazelnut, and walnut milks have emerged as popular options, often promoted for their nutritional value and lower environmental impact. Yet little scientific research has explored how these nut milks behave when combined with coffee, particularly in terms of sensory appeal and chemical composition.

This new study, conducted by researchers at Dongguk University in Seoul and published in Scientific Reports, set out to fill that gap. The team prepared espresso-based beverages using roasted Brazilian arabica coffee and each of the four nut milks, in both roasted and unroasted forms, then compared them against traditional cow’s milk coffee.

The Science Behind Nut Milks in Coffee

The researchers examined multiple factors:

  • Fatty acid composition

  • Antioxidant activity

  • Volatile compounds (aroma contributors)

  • Particle size and viscosity

  • Color and browning index

  • Sensory evaluation by trained tasters

Roasting nuts before milk preparation had a profound impact. Oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids—all beneficial unsaturated fatty acids linked to heart health—rose significantly in roasted nut milks. These drinks also exhibited higher antioxidant activity and polyphenol content, key markers associated with reduced oxidative stress in the body.

On the flip side, nut-based coffees tended to have larger particle sizes and higher viscosity compared to cow’s milk, factors that influenced mouthfeel and overall smoothness.

Volatile Compounds and Aroma Profiles

Gas chromatography identified 33 volatile compounds across the samples. Cow’s milk coffee stood out for floral and sweet notes such as furfuryl acetate and 5-methyl furfural, while nut milks contained more aldehydes and pyrroles, compounds characteristic of nutty aromas.

For example, almond milk coffee showed high levels of benzaldehyde, the chemical responsible for the distinct bitter-almond scent. Cashew and walnut-based versions contained other aldehydes linked to roasted and woody notes. These chemical profiles shaped the sensory outcomes, sometimes creating bitterness or lingering aftertastes that reduced preference scores.

Sensory Results: Dairy Still Dominates

Seventeen trained panelists evaluated all beverages for sweetness, bitterness, texture, nuttiness, and overall acceptance. Cow’s milk consistently ranked highest for sweetness, creaminess, and general preference.

Among the nut milks, cashew milk scored the highest, followed by almond and roasted hazelnut. Roasted walnut milk was the least favored. The study attributed the lower ratings of nut milks partly to aldehydes that impart undesirable flavors and to textural differences caused by larger particles.

Despite this, researchers stressed that nut milks still show strong promise:

“Nut-based milk coffee demonstrated potential as a health-promoting beverage owing to its high unsaturated fatty acid content and antioxidant effects,” the authors wrote.

Health and Sustainability Advantages

Nutritionally, nut milks have clear advantages. Compared with cow’s milk, they contained:

  • Lower levels of saturated fat

  • Higher levels of unsaturated fatty acids (linked to cardiovascular benefits)

  • Greater antioxidant activity (especially in roasted versions)

From an environmental perspective, the use of nuts in plant-based beverages reduces reliance on livestock farming, which is resource-intensive in terms of water, land, and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Road Ahead: Improving Flavor and Texture

While health benefits are evident, the researchers acknowledged that consumer acceptance remains limited by flavor and mouthfeel. They recommended further work to:

  • Control aldehyde production during processing to minimize off-flavors

  • Conduct additional physical experiments to refine texture and improve creaminess

  • Explore roasting parameters to optimize antioxidant release without compromising taste

These steps, they argue, could help close the sensory gap between nut milks and cow’s milk, paving the way for a new generation of plant-based coffee beverages that balance health, sustainability, and taste.

A Shift in the Coffee Industry?

The study’s findings come at a time when cafés worldwide are diversifying their menus with oat, soy, and nut milks to cater to vegan and health-conscious consumers. While dairy still dominates, particularly in espresso-based drinks, this research signals that the future of coffee could include more scientifically engineered plant-based options that rival dairy not only in nutrition but also in flavor.

For coffee lovers, that could mean healthier cappuccinos and lattes without sacrificing the sensory experience that makes café culture so irresistible.