Get up to speed with the latest coffee market intelligence from the World Coffee Portal research team. Plus, upcoming Global Coffee Institute (GCI) events, webinars and key dates for your calendar
Our inaugural report on the North American coffee shop market was fascinating to put together. For example, we were able to track the sustained near double-digit annual growth of Mexico over the previous half-decade, due to a combination of international chain expansion such as Starbucks, McCafé and Tim Hortons, as well as homegrown success from the likes of Caffenio, Cielito Querido Café and Sede Café.
I was also struck by the density of branded chains across relatively small Caribbean islands – Aruba for example (population 100,000) already has five Dunkin’. Alternatively, for those who want to keep it local, there are even more outlets available of homegrown chain Santos Coffee with Soul.
Our latest findings indicate we’re approaching several tipping points in the USA. The generational shift of preference away from filter coffee and towards espresso-based beverages has been underway for some time, and while filter coffee still polls top in terms of consumption, it seems not for much longer. Interestingly, in Canada, the same shift is happening, but at a far slower pace of change.
Year-round iced beverage consumption and the scale of drive-thru format usage are not new phenomena in the USA either, but the fastest expanding chains are all in on these concepts and facilitating renewed popularity. 7 Brew Coffee nearly doubled its outlet presence in a single year to reach over 850. Dutch Bros Coffee is one of only six concepts in the region to achieve over 1,000 stores and just added another 200.
The report identifies 900 individual branded chain concepts operating across 27 different markets in the region. If you’re interested in the report, you can download the brochure here, or please get in touch with me directly for more information.
Latest Global Coffee Institute (GCI) Updates
If you are interested in the North American market, now is the time to be a GCI member. On 14 October, the research team will be presenting a one-hour Key Findings Debrief of the report with a Q&A opportunity, and we’ll also be updating our Brand Tracker feature this month to include the latest market sizing data for the USA, Canada and Mexico. As always, you’ll be able to view the top 20 brands for each of the last five years, with outlet counts, annual growth rates and more.
The sixth and final Trend Report of the year is due for release in November, and it might be the best yet. We’ll be focusing on Gen Z consumers, investigating whether there is something specific among this generation’s purchasing habits that marks them apart compared to younger generations’ behaviours of the past.
If you’re not a member and would like to join the Global Coffee Institute, please contact me to arrange access.
Upcoming World Coffee Portal reports
The research team is already working hard on Project Café Middle East 2027, due for release in November. Our biennial focus on the MENA region will cover 20 different markets and contain dedicated sections of consumer research for both Saudi Arabia and the UAE. With trading conditions across many markets more difficult than in years past for a variety of reasons, we’ll be investigating what the future might entail.
Our final report in December is the expanded Project Café Global 2027, which for the first time will include market sizing for all territories not covered in Project Café reports over the course of the past year, namely East Asia, South America, South Asia, Africa and Oceania.
We have now announced our upcoming report lineup for 2027. It features 12 reports in total, one release per month, and includes a new series of Insight reports focused on the major trends affecting the coffee industry. The team is most looking forward to our first-ever dedicated report on South America, with consumer research from Brazil.
You can view the brochure for all upcoming reports here.
Any Other Business
I will be in Berlin 24-26 November representing World Coffee Portal at the European Coffee Symposium 2026, alongside my colleagues Ellie Hackett and Mark Logan.
There’s nothing quite like the intensity of the Meet the Buyer day, and the COHO Expo never disappoints. Do say hello if you’re attending!
