Join us for our recurring round-up of the latest specialty-coffee industry news.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Featured image by Joshua Earle
Millie Bobby Brown Releases Ready-to-Drink Iced Lattes
Florence by Mills Coffee, owned by “Stranger Things“ actress Millie Bobby Brown, recently released its ready-to-drink (RTD) iced lattes, which will be available exclusively on Walmart.com. “My schedule is always on the go, but I can’t go without my iced latte—so I wanted to create something that is the perfect creamy, delicious, and naturally sweetened pick-me-up for any time of day,“ Millie says.
Gen Z’s Hack for Cheaper Coffee: Instant Coffee Sales Spike in Recent Years
Gen-Z TikTok creators are fueling a spike in instant coffee sales, sharing budget-friendly recipes that use it in place of espresso. Data by Nielsen shows that instant coffee sales rose by 24% over the past two years, with spending increasing fastest amongst Gen Z consumers.
Independent Coffee Technicians Form Historic Trade Co-Operative: Service Layer Technician Co-Op
Members of the Service Layer, an affinity group for specialty-coffee equipment technicians, have formed the Service Layer Co-Op: a cooperative that will focus on recruitment, technician education, strategic vendor partnerships, and demonstrating the benefits of buying equipment though member technicians. The cooperative will also create in-person and virtual educational opportunities to improve the average quality of work in the trade.
Egro Presents New Features of their MoDe Superautomatic Machine
Swiss coffee equipment company Egro recently introduced new features on their MoDe Superautomatic Machine, including the new automatic iSteam Pro steam wand, a Quick Restart function, and new fridge configurations, in addition to a wide variety of new software functions. Learn more about the device’s new features here.
Cup of Excellence (CoE) and Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) Partner with V-Auction as Their Official Auction Platform
In March, Cup of Excellence (CoE) and Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) announced their partnership with V-Auction, part of the Vollers Group, as their official auction platform. Starting with the Nicaragua competition winners on June 19, 2025, all auctions for award-winning CoE coffees and any other ACE-sponsored auctions will be hosted on V-Auction’s platform.
”This collaboration ensures a seamless, exceptional auction experience and, in addition, supports the exploration and execution of additional programs that can enhance long-term gains for both farmers and buyers,” says ACE Executive Director Erwin Mierisch.
ROEST Launches P3000 Automated Production Roaster
Oslo, Norway-based company ROEST has launched their first automated production roaster, the P3000, designed to deliver high-volume precision roasting in a small footprint.
“We’ve spent the past several years perfecting the P3000, bringing everything we’ve learned from our award-winning sample roasters into the world of production roasting,” says Trond Simonsen, CEO of ROEST. “We call it the ultimate overachiever because it’s not just a roaster; it’s a precision tool that empowers businesses to roast smarter, faster, and with unparalleled consistency.”
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