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We are launching our subscription campaign

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MILAN – Comunicaffè International is launching its subscription campaign for 2022-2023. The annual subscription rate is unchanged since 2015 at 260 euro. A paying account gives you access to all the resources on our website without limitations. You can pay using your paypal account and our address info@comunicaffe.com, or with a wire transfer.

Payment details for the wire transfer

Bank: Widiba Bank Italy

IBAN CODE: IT32J0344216000000001262485

BIC (SWIFT)  WIDIITMM

Payment must be made to order of Angela Hysi the publisher of Comunicaffè International.

Please take note that:

  • Our bank can accept orders from your bank only in Euro.
  • Payment must be made to our account in the net amount without deductions.
  • All bank transfer costs, including the fees of the intermediary and beneficiary bank, shall be borne by the sender.

Brazil: Conab raises its official estimate for CY2025/26 by 2.4% to 56.54 million bags (+4.3%)

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Conab
Conab logo

MILAN – CONAB has revised upwards by 2.4% its estimate for Brazil ‘s 2025/26 harvest, which ended last September. The National Supply Company (CONAB) is a public company under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply – MAPA. According to is fourth official estimate –released yesterday, Thursday 4 December 2025 – production reached 56.5 million bags, up 4.3% from 2024/25. This is Brazil’s third largest harvest ever, second only to those of 2018 and 2020.

This time, Conab has revised on the upside both Robusta and Arabica figures. Arabica production is now pegged at 35.7631 million bags, down 9.7% compared to 2024/25. Robusta production is estimated at a record 20.7722 million bags, up 42.1%.

While there was a slight decline (-1.2%) in productive area, to 1.85 million hectares, overall productivity increased by 5.5% to 30.4 bags/ha.

Arabica productivity fell by 8.4% to 24.1 bags/ha. Robusta productivity surged by 42.3% to almost 56 bags/ha.

Arabica

In addition to being affected by an off-year in the two-year production cycle, the Arabica crop was penalised by periods of drought and intense heat, which further reduced its potential.

Added to this, the area under production contracted by 1.5%, to 1.49 million hectares.

In Minas Gerais, the largest producing state, the Arabica harvest was 25.17 million bags, a decline of 9.2% compared to 2024/25. In São Paulo, the second-largest producer of Arabica coffee, production declined by 12.9% to 4.7 million.

In Espírito Santo, production fell by 18.2% to 3.289 million. Conversely, positive trends were seen in Bahia (+2.5%) and Paraná (+10.9%).

Robusta

In Espírito Santo, the largest Robusta producer, production of this variety increased by 43.8% to reach 14.2 million. Even more significant increases were seen in Bahia, where Robusta production grew by 68.7% to reach 3.29 million and productivity hit an impressive 70 bags/ha.

Growth was more modest in Rondônia, where production reached 2.32 million, marking a 10.8% increase on the previous year.

Below is a summary of Conab’s estimate (click on the table to enlarge)

(source: Conab)

Between January and October, Brazil exported around 34.2 million bags of coffee, which is a 17.8% decrease compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services.

The decline is primarily attributable to the sharp reduction in domestic stocks following record shipments in 2024, when 50.5 million bags were shipped.

EU deforestation law: Council and Parliament reach a deal on targeted revision

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EUDR delay
Photo by Hans Bijstra from Pixabay

STRASBOURG, France – Yesterday, 4 December 2025, the Council’s presidency and the European Parliament’s representatives reached a provisional political agreement on a targeted revision of the EU regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR). The aim is to simplify the implementation of the existing rules and postpone their application to allow operators, traders and authorities to prepare adequately.

Following concerns from member states and stakeholders about the readiness of companies and administrations, as well as about technical issues related to the new information system, the co-legislators supported the Commission’s targeted simplification of the due diligence process.

The co-legislators also removed the ‘grace period’ initially proposed by the Commission for large and medium companies, opting instead for a clear extension of the application date for all operators until 30 December 2026, with an extra six-month cushion for micro and small operators.

Main elements of the agreement

The mandates of both institutions were highly similar in postponing the application of the regulation and introducing further simplification measures, focusing on reducing administrative burdens while preserving the objectives of the regulation.

Under the agreement, the obligation and responsibility to submit the required due diligence statement will fall exclusively on the operators who first place the product on the market. The co-legislators have agreed that only the first downstream operator in the supply chain will be responsible for collecting and retaining the reference number of the initial due diligence statement, rather than passing it on further down the chain.

The simplified declaration for micro and small primary operators was also clarified. These operators will only submit a one-time simplified declaration and will receive a declaration identifier, which will be sufficient for traceability purposes.

Furthermore, both co-legislators underlined the importance of ensuring continued exchange with experts, stakeholders and all relevant operators on the implementation of the EUDR. This should take place within the existing framework of the Commission expert group multi-stakeholder platform on protecting and restoring the world’s forests.

Both institutions also agreed to require competent authorities to report significant IT system disruptions to the Commission to ensure the smooth functioning of the system, but with flexibility to minimise administrative burdens.

In an effort to further reduce administrative burden, the co-legislators also agreed to remove certain printed products (such as books, newspapers, printed pictures) from the scope of the regulation, reflecting the limited deforestation risk associated with these items.

The European Commission has been tasked by both co-legislators with conducting a simplification review and presenting a report by 30 April 2026. The report should evaluate the impact and administrative burden of the EUDR, particularly for smaller operators, and indicate ways to address the identified issues, including through guidelines and improvements to the information system. The report should, where appropriate, be accompanied by a legislative proposal.

Next steps

The provisional agreement will now have to be endorsed and formally adopted by both institutions before entering into force, replacing the current EUDR.

Background

The regulation on deforestation-free products entered into force in June 2023 with the aim of ensuring that certain commodities, such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, oil palm, rubber, soya and wood, and their derived products placed on or exported from the EU market have not caused deforestation or forest degradation.

Its main provisions were initially due to apply from 30 December 2024. Following concerns raised by member states, third countries, traders and operators about readiness, an initial one-year postponement was adopted in December 2024. Asa result, the current EUDR becomes applicable as of 30 December 2025.

The new amendment, proposed by the Commission in October 2025, responds to continuing implementation challenges, in particular the need to ensure the effective functioning of the EU information system and alleviate administrative burdens for smaller operators.

Probat expands presence in Southeast Asia with new service base in Singapore

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probat
Probat expands its presence (image provided)

EMMERICH, Germany – Probat, a global leader in end-to-end food processing solutions, has set up a new service base in the city-state of Singapore to stimulate growth in the coffee and food industries throughout Southeast Asia. This strategic expansion will ensure that customers across the region benefit from comprehensive, local support throughout the entire lifecycle of their processing machinery.

Located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, the recently opened PROBAT Service Southeast Asia hub highlights the company’s dedication to providing outstanding service and operational efficiency across the region. The service center provides a wide range of solutions, including technical support, maintenance, and sales and management of spare parts, ensuring customers experience uninterrupted operations and reliable support for their coffee and food processing needs.

“In order to maintain our competitive edge in Southeast Asia, it was essential that we established a local point of contact for all service needs. Managing business expansion from a distance simply is not viable. By providing on-demand, localized services, we not only reduce costs but also create new opportunities for growth through maintenance and spare parts sales,” says Stephane Sene, PROBAT Service Southeast Asia’s Managing Director, explaining the rationale behind this expansion.

Reflecting PROBAT’s dedication to customer success, Udo Schulte Lünzum, General Manager of PROBAT Service GmbH, states: “Our goal is to be a reliable partner for our customers in Southeast Asia, supporting them every step of the way to ensure their success. By establishing a local service hub, we make access to services, and spare parts faster and easier, allowing our customers to focus on what matters most: growing their business.”

With this new service hub, PROBAT continues to set the standard for reliability, innovation, and customer-centric solutions, helping businesses across Southeast Asia and the world achieve operational excellence and sustainable growth.

For more information about PROBAT Service Southeast Asia click here.

About Probat

Probat has been a pioneer in developing innovative solutions for the coffee industry for more than 155 years. Through strategic acquisitions in food processing, enhanced technology exchange within the group and continuous expansion of its global service network, Probat has established itself as a leading one-stop shop for the food processing sector. As well as designing and manufacturing machinery, Probat plans and implements turnkey industrial plants, environmental technologies, and advanced control solutions with integrated smart data management.

With around 1,200 employees in Germany and at subsidiaries in Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, Scotland, the Netherlands, and the United States, Probat combines global reach with local presence. Active in over forty countries, the company ensures its expertise and experience are always within reach for customers worldwide.

 

Trieste Coffee Experts returns with a full schedule of case studies, December 6-7

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Coffee Megatrends (image provided)

TRIESTE – The 8th edition of Trieste Coffee Experts – conceived and organized by the Italian artisan roasters Bazzara – is a summit dedicated to the coffee industry professionals in Italy with the aim to connect the various segments of the supply chain with a systemic approach.

The return of Trieste Coffee Experts

Since 2014, this biennial event has brought many of the key players in the coffee supply chain to Trieste, with the goal of encouraging connection and fostering the development of ideas and concrete solutions to overcome the sector’s most pressing challenges.

In the latest edition, dating back to 2023, titled “Future Coffee: Innovation & Sustainability” these important topics were addressed by leading experts in the field. With a packed schedule of case studies, the great success of the summit paved the road to its highly awaited next edition.

The forthcoming two-day summit will take place on December 6th and 7th 2025 at the Savoia Excelsior Palace in Trieste, with the title “Coffee Megatrends”. Prominent change-makers, leveraging their own expertise, will face the forces that are revolutionizing the entire supply chain: speculation, artificial intelligence, sustainability, innovation, and many more.

This year’s event holds important news: two new formats will enrich the carefully crafted programme. The “General States of Coffee” brings together Italy’s main coffee associations for a collective debate and the “Think Tank Torrefattori” invites the representatives of renowned coffee roasteries from Italy – from North to South – to talk about the challenges they are facing and share their unique points of view.

Proved to be a highly strategic event for the entire sector due to the hot topics and unique contributions, the Trieste Coffee Experts is a pillar of Bazzara’s cultural initiatives spreading coffee culture across Europe and beyond with books, events and courses. Discover more about the summit on https://triestecoffeexperts.it/.

Former Nestlé Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe relinquishes Chairman Emeritus title

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Nestlé AI
Nestlé logo

VEVEY, Switzerland – Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, former Nestlé Chairman, has informed the company’s Board of Directors that he has decided to relinquish his title of Chairman Emeritus, as Nestlé begins a new chapter with new leadership.

Honoring Peter Brabeck-Letmathe’s distinguished career, Nestlé’s Chair of the Board, Pablo Isla, said: “Peter is one of those individuals whose vision and commitment have left an unforgettable mark on our company.

As Chairman Emeritus he continued to follow the company’s evolution with genuine interest, and I am certain Peter will remain a valued friend of Nestlé.”

Peter Brabeck-Letmathe began his journey with the Nestlé Group in 1968, serving in numerous key leadership positions, including Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.

After leaving his official role in 2017, he continued his association with the company as Chairman Emeritus. With the 159th Annual General Meeting on April 16, 2026, this honorary title will conclude.

JDE Peet’s prices EUR 600 million senior unsecured notes issue

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JDE Peet's shares
Jde Peet's logo

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands – JDE Peet’s, the world’s leading pure-play coffee company, today announced it has priced EUR 600 million of senior unsecured notes (the “Notes”). The Notes will be issued on 11 December 2025 and will consist of a EUR 600 million Floating Rate Note due December 2027, priced at 3M EURIBOR + 70bps.

The Notes will be issued under JDE Peet’s N.V.’s EUR 5 billion Debt Issuance Programme and are expected to be listed on the Euro MTF market of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

Proceeds from the issue will be used for general corporate purposes, including the refinancing of upcoming debt maturities.

About JDE Peet’s

JDE Peet’s is the world’s leading pure-play coffee company, serving approximately 4,400 cups of coffee per second in more than 100 markets. Guided by the ‘Reignite the Amazing’ strategy, they are focusing on brand-led growth across three big bets: Peet’s, L’OR, and Jacobs, alongside a collection of 9 local icons. In 2024, the company generated total sales of EUR 8.8 billion and employed a global workforce of more than 21,000 employees.

Holistic Roasters and Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee partner to launch world’s first biodynamic decaf

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Holistic Roasters Swiss Water
(photo provided)

MONTREAL, Canada – Holistic Roasters, a leading Demeter-certified coffee roaster, announced the launch of its Biodynamic® Décaf, a new product developed in partnership with Swiss Water® Process. This launch marks a significant milestone, ensuring that consumers dedicated to regenerative and toxin-free lifestyles can now enjoy a clean, in-house roasted decaf free from chemical solvents, aligning with both brands’ uncompromising standards for purity and sustainability.

Commitment to clean coffee and regenerative agriculture

The new Biodynamic Décaf directly reflects the mission of Holistic Roasters to use coffee as a force for positive change. The green coffee used in Biodynamic Décaf is regeneratively grown in Honduras by the Demeter-certified producers of the 18 Conejo Farming Collective, beginning its life in living, self-sustaining ecosystems where soil vitality is prioritized.

With more than a decade of specialty coffee experience, our role as a Demeter certified roastery enables us to work toward enriching soil vitality, protecting biodiversity, and ensuring integrity through complete, origin-to-cup control. This commitment guarantees that every certified Biodynamic and Organic coffee bean is grown using regenerative, toxin-free practices, supporting farming communities resulting in a healthier, more transparent cup for the consumer.

“For years, health-conscious coffee lovers have had to choose between a clean, chemical-free cup and the rich flavor of specialty coffee,” said Pete Currie, Sales & Marketing Manager at Holistic Roasters. “By partnering with Swiss Water® Process and the 18 Conejo Collective, we’ve bridged that gap. We aren’t just removing caffeine from our Biodynamic Coffee; we are preserving the vitality of the soil and the integrity of the coffee.”

Purity guaranteed: The Swiss Water partnership

The decision to partner with the renowned Swiss Water® Process was driven by an uncompromising commitment to quality and transparency. The Swiss Water® Process uses only water, temperature, and time to remove 99.9% of the caffeine gently and safely, making it the best chemical-free method for the highest-quality Biodynamic green coffee beans. This partnership ensures the decaffeinated product adheres to the same rigorous standards as the company’s caffeinated Biodynamic coffees, which are all third party lab-tested for contaminants, including mold, mycotoxins and heavy metals.

“As the original chemical free decaffeination method and the first to be certified organic, we have always pushed boundaries when it comes to sustainability,” said Mike Strumpf, Senior Director of Coffee at Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee. “Our process shines with high quality coffees, so it’s exciting to partner with Holistic Roasters to bring forward this exceptional decaf and help drive this movement focused on clean choices without compromising quality.”

Biodynamic Décaf is now available in the U.S. and Canada, and can be purchased exclusively through the Holistic Roasters website at Biodynamic Coffee, as well as select retailers.

5 to go, Romania’s largest coffee chain, taps into fuel station network for strategic growth

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5 to go
5 to go X OSCAR (image provided)

BUCHAREST – Romanian coffee brand 5 to go announces a strategic partnership with the national gas station network RO concept OSCAR, marking a significant step in expanding into high-traffic, complementary sales channels.

While 5 to go is the largest coffee chain in Eastern Europe and the most popular franchise in Romania, RO concept OSCAR is the gas station franchise developed by OSCAR Downstream, Romania’s largest Romanian-owned oil company and one of the country’s most dynamic gas station networks, with over 90 locations nationwide. This partnership lays the foundation for a long-term collaboration between two strong Romanian brands, both deeply rooted in local values and entrepreneurship.

The collaboration officially began on December 1, 2025, and today, the concept We serve 5 to go coffee with love is already implemented in the first two RO concept OSCAR stations, out of the nine selected for the pilot project. This initiative marks the first large-scale integration of 5 to go in the fuel station segment, where previously only a limited selection of the brand’s retail products was available.

This new direction reflects 5 to go’s vision of constant innovation and its commitment to being present wherever consumers need energy, comfort, and quality coffee to keep up with their dynamic lifestyle.

“We wanted a partnership that would make 5 to go coffee accessible in gas stations — places where stopping can mean not just necessity, but also a moment of relaxation with a coffee you enjoy. It’s a new step toward accessibility for consumers who are always on the move, looking for quick, high-quality solutions with great value for money. I appreciate the openness of the OSCAR Downstream team, and I’m glad this collaboration brings added value to both brands. The first two RO locations are just the beginning of a larger project we will develop together,” said Radu Savopol, co-founder of 5 to go.

Through this collaboration, 5 to go and RO concept OSCAR are laying the foundation for a partnership with strong growth potential, given the extensive RO gas station network developed over the past 8 years — a network recognized for its high standards in infrastructure, services, and fuel quality.

In the first two RO stations where the “We serve 5 to go coffee with love” concept has been implemented, customers have access to a self-service coffee machine, co-branded cups, and a selection from the classic 5 to go menu, including Espresso, Americano, Cappuccino, Flat White, Caffè Latte, and tea.

The partnership marks the strategic alignment of two strong Romanian brands that share common values — sustainability, efficiency, and customer-centricity — and aim to transform fuel stations into modern, multifunctional spaces. Going beyond their traditional fueling role, these stations will offer customers a complete and elevated experience.

About 5 to go

5 to go was founded in 2015 and has now surpassed 650 open locations, making it the largest coffee chain in Eastern Europe and the most popular franchise in Romania. Radu Savopol and Lucian Bădilă are the founders of 5 to go, the pioneers of the innovative single-price concept for all products sold in Romania’s HoReCa market.

Under the slogan “Smile, there’s coffee!”, the coffee chain offers consumers a warm and friendly space where coffee takes center stage. The coffee used is a blend of three origins, 100% Arabica, with an intense and complex aroma. Since the number 5 represents the structural element of the brand, the 5 to go team offers customers five main reasons to return to any of the chain’s cafes: taste, professionalism, speed, variety, and lifestyle.

About OSCAR Downstream

With over 24 years of history, OSCAR Downstream is Romania’s largest petroleum company with 100% Romanian capital, ranking among the top 5 players and serving an annual portfolio of over 5,000 clients from key industries such as transportation, construction, manufacturing, and agriculture.

Its gas station network includes 120 strategically located stations nationwide: 28 company-owned stations dedicated to B2B clients under the OSCAR Drive brand, positioned along major commercial routes, and over 90 franchise gas stations under the RO concept OSCAR brand for B2C clients, launched in 2017.

Additionally, there are more than 2,900 OSCAR–DIESELPoint on-site stations (a concept introduced for the first time in Romania by OSCAR Downstream in 2004, allowing fuel delivery directly at the client’s location).

ecozy launches the next-gen Brezzano Elite 4-in-1 smart espresso machine

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ecozy
The Next-Gen Brezzano Elite 4-in-1 Smart Espresso Machine — Your Personal Barista at Home (photo provided)

FULLERTON, Calif., USA – ecozy, a leader in innovative home appliances, proudly introduces the next-generation Brezzano Elite 4-in-1 Smart Touchscreen Espresso Machine. Built to deliver barista-quality results at home, the Brezzano Elite combines advanced BaristaSense Technology with an intuitive guided touchscreen designed for every skill level—even complete beginners—acting like a personal barista to guarantee precise extraction and rich flavor in every cup.

From convenient cold brew to full-bodied espresso or classic Americano, the Brezzano Elite lets you effortlessly brew your favorite coffee and enjoy a truly personalized coffee experience.

The ecozy SmartVista Interactive Touch Screen redefines home coffee brewing. Its sleek, compact design fits seamlessly into your coffee corner, becoming a visual centerpiece in any kitchen.

The intelligent interface elevates the experience beyond standard knob-and-button machines, offering a fully guided and intuitive workflow. A vibrant full-color display shows brewing progress, machine status, and real-time prompts (portafilter selection, coffee dose, and grind size), helping you master the full spectrum of café-style drinks step by step.

4-in-1 Brewing with BaristaSense Technology

The Brezzano Elite offers four versatile brewing modes—Espresso, Cold Brew, Americano, and Over Ice—to meet different coffee preferences. It also comes with an easy-to-clean steam wand that creates rich, velvety milk foam for lattes and cappuccinos. Plus, it can switch to manual mode, allowing coffee lovers to explore customized flavors and make each cup to their own taste and style.

Brezzano Elite ’s main features:

  • Consistently Premium Espresso: Powered by exclusive BaristaSense Technology, the Brezzano Elite combines smart on-screen guidance with dual Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) sensors and automatic pressure regulation for stable temperature and accurate extraction. It can brew up to ten consecutive high-quality espressos, each topped with rich crema and a nutty, chocolatey aroma.
  • Cold Brew Ready in 37 Seconds: Unlike machines that use a shared hot–cold water line, the Brezzano Elite features a separate cold-water pathway and uses low-temperature, high-pressure extraction to release the coffee’s natural fruity aroma—delivering cold brew with dense foam and a silky-smooth taste in just seconds.
  • Multi-Flavor Americano: In this mode, the machine provides Classic, Rich, and Lungo presets, each driven by dedicated extraction programs and tailored pressure curves—not just simple water-ratio adjustments. Paired with an Americano-specific portafilter, the machine achieves precise extraction and a clean, fully developed flavor profile. Add ice and switch to Over Ice mode for an instant iced Americano.

One-Touch Auto Clean with a 500-brew reminder

With its self-cleaning function, the Brezzano Elite stays hygienic and ready for smooth brewing anytime. After approximately 500 brews, the indicator light automatically turns on to remind you to run the cleaning program—making routine maintenance easy and worry-free, so you can stay focused on brewing and bringing out the best in your coffee.

Rosso Coffee Roasters selects Zoku’s Built for Netsuite Counter Service Solution

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Rosso Coffee Roasters
Zoku logo

WASHINGTON, D.C., MD, USA — Zoku, a leading provider of unified commerce solutions and food service, today announced that Rosso Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee company based in Canada, has selected Zoku’s Counter Service solution to provide enterprise visibility and alignment in operations.

Zoku’s solution package includes Zoku Point of Sale (POS) with integrated Kitchen Display System (KDS), and its robust Cloud Integration platform for commerce.

The solution is designed to address Rosso’s current system limitations in terms of system availability, fully utilizing and extending NetSuite’s capabilities and ensuring that store and counter operations run in direct alignment with the enterprise, rather than as a separate, disconnected POS system.

Beyond facilitating fast counter service via POS and efficient order management via KDS, Zoku’s powerful commerce integration platform is connecting Rosso’s entire sales ecosystem.

This includes their Shopify store, mobile app ordering, and loyalty program, allowing Rosso to operate with consistent data, centralized reporting, and unified customer management across all physical and digital channels.

Zoku Unified Commerce platform also provides Rosso with crucial flexibility in selecting hardware and payment processing options, while tailoring specific workflows to meet the unique, fast-paced needs of the modern Food & Beverage industry.

The implementation is planned to be completed in January 2026, establishing Rosso Coffee Roasters with a unified, cloud-hosted foundation ready for scalable growth.