World Coffee News, January 9th 2025

Coffee & Tea Trends: Health Insights, Market Shifts, and Sustainable Innovation

From nutritional considerations around matcha to global coffee market shake-ups and promising sustainability research, here are three stories shaping conversations across the beverage world this week.

Low Iron? You May Want to Skip the Matcha Latte

Iron is essential for good health, yet the human body cannot produce it on its own. While matcha is often celebrated for its antioxidant content, new research suggests it may interfere with iron absorption.

Two compounds found in matcha—polyphenols and phytic acid—can reduce the body’s ability to absorb iron. Interestingly, both substances are also known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, highlighting the nutritional trade-offs involved rather than a simple “good or bad” conclusion.

For people with low iron levels or anemia, timing matcha consumption away from iron-rich meals may help minimize its impact.

Read more:
Daily Coffee News

Coffee Market Shake-Ups May Push Roasters into New Frontiers

Major shifts in global coffee consumption patterns are encouraging roasters to rethink where and how they grow.

Between 2022 and 2024, coffee consumption across the EU27 remained largely flat, according to the European Coffee Federation. In contrast, China has surged ahead, reaching 87,505 branded coffee outlets and overtaking the United States as the world’s largest branded café market.

Meanwhile:

• Indonesia is set to surpass Japan as the world’s fifth-largest coffee consumer
• India’s coffee industry is expected to double in value by 2030

These emerging specialty coffee markets offer valuable lessons for established roasters—particularly in community-driven growth, localization, and adapting to rapidly evolving consumer tastes.

Read more:
Perfect Daily Grind

New Research Finds Spent Coffee Grounds Can Help Clean Water

Researchers continue to uncover innovative ways to reuse spent coffee grounds, revealing their impressive sustainability potential.

Past studies have shown that activated carbon made from used coffee grounds can absorb harmful chemicals such as bentazone from contaminated water. This adds to a growing list of applications for coffee waste, including biofuels and even 3D-printing materials.

With an estimated 16 to 66 million tons of coffee waste sent to landfills each year, such innovations could play a meaningful role in reducing environmental impact while addressing water pollution.

Read more:
Sprudge

Photo by Anna Urlapova