Coffee Intelligence

As costs rise across the sector, these operators are well positioned to capture high-frequency, convenience-driven consumption – not by replacing #coffeeshop culture, but by competing alongside it. intelligence.coffee/2026/03/chines…

Chinese #coffeechains are expanding into #Europe with a model built on speed, scale, and aggressive pricing. intelligence.coffee/2026/03/chines…

We spoke to Hugh Kelly, Sales Manager at @ONACoffee, to explore whether clarity, #hospitality, and simpler menus may become the next competitive advantage as #specialtycoffee continues to scale. intelligence.coffee/2026/03/coffee…

With around 70% of US #coffeedrinkers adding milk, sugar, or cream to their coffee, familiarity still dominates consumer behaviour – and when ordering requires explanation, many customers simply retreat to familiar choices. intelligence.coffee/2026/03/coffee…

Specialty #coffeemenus have become increasingly complex, often filled with processing methods, varietals, and detailed flavour descriptors, potentially alienating customers who just want a ‘normal’ #cupofcoffee intelligence.coffee/2026/03/coffee…

As automation and methods such as pre-batched #espresso gain traction, the debate is exposing a deeper divide: are customers paying for visible craft, or for quality delivered by any means? intelligence.coffee/2026/03/the-dr…

Efficiency has moved from backstage to centre stage in #specialtycoffee – but not without friction. intelligence.coffee/2026/03/the-dr…

Heleanna Georgalis, General Manager of Moplaco Trading PLC, explores what’s driving this change – and what it means for the future of origin relationships. intelligence.coffee/2026/03/why-mo…

#Origin marketing in #specialtycoffee is shifting. Polished brand decks and curated storytelling are giving way to more direct, personal communication from producers themselves. intelligence.coffee/2026/03/why-mo…

Darleen Scherer, Founder of Black Sheep Coffee Collab, explores where this shift came from – and where it might go in the future. intelligence.coffee/2026/02/the-mi…

#Matcha’s rise in the Western market has been fast, visual, and unmistakably #GenZ-driven. But the way it is being consumed today sits far from its traditional roots. intelligence.coffee/2026/02/the-mi…

Margaret Ross, food & beverage product strategy and product #development consultant, breaks down the trend, looking at both risks and #opportunities for the segment. intelligence.coffee/2026/02/altern…,

Walk through any #food #tradeshow or scroll a few minutes on LinkedIn and a pattern emerges: #coffee without coffee, chocolate without cocoa, dairy without cows, and sugar without sugar. intelligence.coffee/2026/02/altern…

André Eiermann, Global Product Manager Coffee at Melitta Professional Coffee Solutions, explains when #trends make sense for coffee #businesses, and when they don’t intelligence.coffee/2026/02/divers…

For consumer brands, trends arrive like tides. Some lift all boats, while others swamp those who aren’t ready. In #coffee, #matcha, #RTD, and functional options are clearly having a moment. intelligence.coffee/2026/02/divers…

Karl Weinhold, PhD Candidate in Development Studies at the Universidade de Lisboa, discusses how #crisis framing affects commodity pricing. intelligence.coffee/2026/02/do-hea…

For much of the past three years, #commodities have been making headlines: #coffee prices “soaring,” cacao facing “structural collapse,” and #olive oil becoming “liquid gold.” intelligence.coffee/2026/02/do-hea…

Nico Herr from Mountain Harvest, Kosta Kallivrousis from Age of Coffee, and Phil Robertson from Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters and Hoopla Donuts discuss the nuances of #specialtycoffee #differentiation. intelligence.coffee/2026/02/the-my…

Specialty #coffee bags often promise radical difference – woman-owned, regenerative, youth-led, competition grade – yet the coffee beans often come from the same farms, the same harvests, sometimes even the same lots. intelligence.coffee/2026/02/the-my…

Rohith Ram, Cafe Director at KABIN NYC, explores the idea of integrating more traditional #hospitality practices into specialty #coffee, and what this can achieve. intelligence.coffee/2026/01/intent…

Looking back, #specialtycoffee has long defined itself by what it has rejected. For a long time, #tableservice was out and queues, counter ordering and a studied informality were in. intelligence.coffee/2026/01/intent…