Share your coffee stories with us by writing to info@comunicaffe.com.
MILAN, Italy – From compostable packaging to smart automation, coffee is evolving between refined tastes and sustainable supply chains: here are the voices of those driving change, looking ahead to Host 2025. There’s a scent of transformation in the air within the coffee world. While offering a good cup was enough in the past, today, research, technology and environmental responsibility are needed to win over an increasingly attentive and demanding consumer.
Sustainability and innovation have become the key words to harness the growth of a sector that, according to a recent study by Businesscoot, is worth more than 5.2 billion euros in Italy alone and will reach 6.13 billion in 2030, sustained above all by the focus on premium solutions.
It’s companies who are shaping this evolution: they are rewriting the future of coffee with their investments. “The industry is driven by three main macro-trends: quality, sustainability and innovation. And quality is no longer just about the experience in the cup, but extends to the entire supply chain,” begins Marco Schiavon, CEO of Caffè Borbone.
“There is also a growing focus on sustainable solutions and customized proposals that respond to new market needs. This is why we invest not only in quality, for example in research and development to offer blends with a superior organoleptic profile, but also in sustainability, particularly in packaging.”
The pivotal role of technological innovation is confirmed by Julius Meinl as well: “Advanced technologies, such as low-emission roasters or process automation, contribute significantly to sustainability and innovation,” adds Andreea Postolache, Global Sales Director.
“We also invest in solutions that improve the consumer experience, such as new technologies for coffee preparation and storage, as well as the introduction of compostable capsules and research into environmentally friendly packaging. One example is our line of certified organic and Fairtrade blends that combine taste, traceability and social responsibility.”
In turn, Iacopo Bargoni, CEO of Le Piantagioni del Caffè, emphasizes the challenges: “We are in a complex phase: rising green coffee prices translate into a higher cost for the consumer. To remain relevant, coffee will have to take on a higher value, including symbolic value. A systemic renewal is needed, involving every stage: from regenerative agriculture to sustainable packaging to more equitable models of collaboration between producers and roasters. A transformation of the business model as a whole is needed.”
If roasters – from the players to the small businesses of excellence – are experiencing a quantum leap, it is also due to the support of technology solution providers such as Goglio Group, a leading packaging systems manufacturer. “Two phenomena are evident in the current landscape: the stabilization of the portioned capsule market and the growth of coffee beans,” concludes Elena Demo, Product Manager Coffee.
“Sustainability and recycling-oriented design are also topical, especially in view of the imminent approval of the new Packaging and Packaging Disposal Regulation (PPWR). The coming months and years will be crucial for coffee roasters, and Goglio is ready to support them with a full range of materials and machines that meet the basic requirements of the new European regulation.”
In this dynamic context, Host 2025, organized by Fiera Milano from 17 to 21 October, confirms itself as a no-miss reference for the entire coffee supply chain. As part of the exhibition, SIC – Salone Internazionale del Caffè will present trends, technologies and innovations not only in the exhibition itinerary, but also in a dense schedule of events in which the long-awaited return to Milan of the World Barista Championship stands out: the prestigious international event will see the world’s best baristas compete in high-level competitions, offering visitors another unique opportunity for updating and networking.
To date, more than 1,600 exhibitors have already registered for Host 2025.
