Weekly Coffee Briefing: Costa Rica’s Crop Outlook Weakens, Roanoke’s Coffee Sign May Shine Again

Daily Coffee News Staff | November 6, 2026

This week’s stories point to pressure and possibility across the coffee business: Costa Rica’s harvest estimates have slipped, while companies and industry groups are building new tools, expanding chains and reshaping operations. Subscribe to DCN’s newsletter for more industry news, and find current openings at CoffeeIndustryJobs.com.

Coffee growing in Costa Rica. Daily Coffee News photo by Nick Brown.

Weather trims Costa Rica’s harvest outlook

The Costa Rican coffee institute, ICAFE, has cut regional harvest estimates by 10% to 15% as heat and uneven rainfall disrupt crop development. The estimate comes from a CR Hoy report, also covered by The Tico Times.

ICAFE agronomic deputy manager Miguel Barquero said erratic rain disrupted fertilization and reduced the quality and weight of green coffee destined for export. These are cuts to earlier estimates, not a confirmed year-over-year production drop. That distinction matters: the latest outlook marks a reversal from an earlier USDA forecast for modest production growth, but the figures don’t yet establish how the harvest will compare with last year.

New tools for producer records and farmer data

Rainforest Alliance has launched an EUDR Producer Report for certified coffee and cocoa producers. It packages existing farm geolocation data, deforestation risk assessments and legality information into a report producers can download and share with potential buyers. The records can be shared separately from transactions on Rainforest Alliance’s traceability platform, giving producers a way to present documentation without tying each disclosure to a transaction.

Meanwhile, Oakland-based Fair Trade USA has received a $600,000 grant from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation. The money will support an AI-powered platform that combines climate, market and farm information. The project extends work begun with a dashboard introduced alongside Colombian coffee farmers this year; the available details don’t spell out how the new platform will use AI or what farmers will be able to do with its recommendations.

Growth plans meet tougher operating decisions

Black Rifle Coffee Company reported third-quarter revenue of $108 million, up 7.3%, while its net loss widened to $8.7 million from $1.2 million a year earlier. The company also plans to close 12 company-operated coffee shops and has signed an agreement to sell its Manchester, Tennessee, roasting facility to a manufacturing partner. Revenue growth and a larger loss make for a mixed quarter; the figures alone don’t explain the reasons behind the facility sale or shop closures.

Dutch Bros delivered a stronger growth profile: the drive-through chain reported third-quarter revenue of $549.8 million, 29.8% higher than a year ago, and net income of $37.2 million, up from $27.3 million. It opened 48 shops during the quarter, bringing its total to 1,273, and aims to open about 250 more in 2027. That target puts expansion at the center of its next year; how quickly the chain can sustain that pace isn’t clear from the announcement.

At Delta, British Columbia-based Swiss Water, decaffeination volumes rose 16% in the third quarter. Revenue increased 5% to C$65.9 million, while net income climbed to C$937,000 from C$216,000 a year earlier.

Machines, competitions and new retail shelves

Consumers may be more willing to change coffee equipment than their satisfaction scores suggest. Consulting firm Kearney says 71% of surveyed U.S. consumers would consider switching their primary coffee machine type within two years, despite generally high satisfaction with their current setups. Its coffee machine industry report draws on research with more than 2,500 coffee drinkers in six countries. Openness to switching signals room for brands to compete, though the survey figure doesn’t tell us how many people will actually buy a different machine.

Podium Coffee Club, a U.S. subscription service, has introduced the free Podium Index, which ranks American roasters by their results in five competitions: the U.S. Roaster Championship, two Golden Bean competitions, the Good Food Awards and the Global Coffee Awards. The index adjusts for the competition and how recent a result is, so the ranking reflects more than a simple tally of finishes.

Redondo Beach, California-based Beach City Coffee has placed its canned Cold Brew for the Coast in all 14 Southern California Bristol Farms stores. The rollout is the product’s first retail placement.

A landmark sign, and a shifting equipment market

In Roanoke, Virginia, the Historical Society of Western Virginia is trying to bring the H&C Coffee sign back to life. Its campaign aims to raise $430,000 to restore the sign, which has been dark for about four years. At the campaign’s announcement, $129,113 had been raised, according to Cardinal News. The remaining gap is substantial, but the early contributions show that the project has already drawn local support.

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ICYMI

Here are several DCN stories from the past week that are worth catching up on:

Hundreds of Cuppers to Help Build a Kenya Coffee Flavor Atlas

Organizers plan to convene 300 professional cuppers in Nairobi to taste more than 500 coffee samples from 34 counties. They expect the resulting sensory data to inform a public Kenya Coffee Flavor Atlas in 2027… read more

Kraft Heinz Selling North American Coffee Business for $650 Million

Kraft Heinz has agreed to sell its North American coffee business, including Maxwell House, Gevalia and five other brands, to One Rock Capital Partners for $650 million. Kraft Heinz will keep a 30% non-controlling stake. The deal is expected to close in mid-2027, subject to regulatory approval and other conditions… read more

Keurig and Luckin Report Growth Amid Coffee Market Shifts

Keurig Dr Pepper and Luckin Coffee both posted quarterly growth alongside pressure in parts of their coffee businesses. KDP’s overall sales rose largely because of its JDE Peet’s acquisition, while its existing U.S. coffee business grew 2.7%. Luckin’s revenue increased 17% and net income rose 45.4%, even as sales at established stores declined… read more

Keurig Must Face Antitrust Claims Over Coffee Pods, Judge Rules

A federal judge has allowed several antitrust and false advertising claims against Keurig Green Mountain to move toward trial in a 12-year-old single-serve coffee market dispute, while dismissing other claims. Plaintiffs say the company unlawfully protected its market position and kept pod prices artificially high… read more

Popular San Francisco Coffee Company Closes Both Cafes After Landlord Disputes

Outset Coffee, a three-year-old San Francisco specialty coffee company, shut both cafes after separate disputes with landlords. One case led to a $200,196 default judgment against Outset-related companies; another ended with a court-ordered eviction from its downtown location… read more

Bodum Recalls 5.9 Million French Presses After Burn Reports

Bodum USA recalled about 5.9 million French press coffee makers after 70 reports of glass carafes breaking during use, including 48 reports of burns. Eight models sold in the United States from 1974 through October 2026 are covered… read more

Kerry Opens Massive Roasting and Extraction Plant in Pennsylvania

Kerry, a global taste and nutrition company, has opened a 48,600-square-foot roasting and extraction plant near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The site can roast 22 million pounds of coffee each year and also handles hot and cold extraction, concentration, blending and packaging for coffee ingredients… read more

Have a question, comment or news tip? Reach DCN’s editors. To get more coffee industry coverage, subscribe to the DCN newsletter.

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