Does coffee keep you up at night? Scientists say no (despite this author’s lived experience). Plus, Ethiopian coffee ceremonies could gain UNESCO recognition, and South Koreans shun sugar and favor decaf as the “healthy pleasures” trend hits coffee.
‘Ethiopia Seeks UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Status For The Coffee Ceremony’ – via Sprudge
Coffee originated in Ethiopia, and the drink remains an important part of the country’s culture. This importance is embodied by the coffee ceremony, a ritualized form of preparing and serving coffee that dates back over 1,000 years. Now, the ceremony could be recognized by UNESCO as worthy of inclusion on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which collects and celebrates humankind’s most important cultural elements.
The announcement was made during Ethiopian Coffee Culture Day, held in Addis Ababa in February, Zac Cadwalader reports for Sprudge. Traditionally performed by women in both Ethiopia and Eritrea, the coffee ceremony is an intricate ritual that involves roasting green beans over an open flame. The coffee is then ground and brewed three times using a jebena, a traditional clay pot, and served to guests over several hours. Coffee ceremonies are held in diaspora coffee shops around the world, allowing customers to participate in this ritual.
Supported by the Ethiopian Heritage Authority and Warka Coffee, the aim is to achieve cultural heritage status, thereby recognizing the importance of the ceremony itself. At the same time, Cadwalader writes that organizers hope to establish Ethiopian coffee as more than a commodity and “further cement Ethiopia’s place in the global coffee network.”
“The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is not merely about drinking coffee; it is a deeply rooted tradition that brings people together, fosters understanding, and strengthens community ties,” Latifa Aba Biya, head of the Jima Town Culture Office, said at the event. “We are delighted to see such enthusiastic participation in this important step towards international recognition.”
Distinct from the conservation of historic sites and monuments, intangible cultural heritage is UNESCO’s way of celebrating and preserving humanity’s customs, traditions, folklore, and knowledge. Receiving cultural heritage status can be a complicated, years-long process; if successful, the Ethiopian coffee ceremony would join Arabic and Turkish coffee on UNESCO’s list.
Read more on the move to enshrine Ethiopia’s coffee ceremony here.
‘Why Instant Coffee Could Be Added to EUDR – and Implications for Industry’ – via Food Navigator
For years, the European Union has been working to advance legislation to ban imports of commodities linked to deforestation. However, the process has been complicated, and the legislation, known as the EUDR, has been delayed twice. The regulation has drawn criticism from affected industry actors, who say the process for proving their products do not contribute to deforestation is onerous and confusing.
Unless another delay is implemented, the EUDR will come into force at the end of 2026, and coffee is one of the commodities that the law would impact—well, most kinds of coffee.
For reasons nobody can quite explain, the EUDR does not cover instant coffee. An unnamed coffee trade expert chatted with Food Navigator’s Flora Southey and told the outlet that instant’s omission is most likely down to human error. “I understand instant coffee had been missed by mistake,” they said. “The Commission has recognised that and is going to add it – because it’s a big, glaring omission.”
Unless resolved, the omission of instant coffee could create a weird loophole. In theory, a coffee company could source deforestation-linked coffee, process it into instant outside the EU, and then import the finished product without technically violating any rules. “If you’re a big-name company, with processing operations closer to the coffee source, you could export packaged products into Europe – and sidestep the regulation,” the expert said.
Asked for comment by Food Navigator, the European Commission wouldn’t confirm whether or not instant coffee will be added to the EUDR. However, in February, Euractiv reported that the EC is considering “targeted tweaks” to the regulation that would involve adding instant coffee.
“It definitely makes sense for it to be included,” the expert said. “If you set a rule for coffee, but the customs code only covers the raw product, well, the coffee is still coffee.”
Read the full story on the instant coffee loophole here.
‘Young Consumers Swap Sweet Sodas and Coffee for Low-Sugar, Decaf ‘Healthy Pleasures’ – via Korea JoongAng Daily
In the U.S., many coffee shops make their money on sugary iced drinks, and chains have begun to incur the government’s ire for selling them. But in South Korea, it’s becoming trendy to spurn sugar—and caffeine—in favor of decaf and zero-sugar beverages.
Younger consumers in Korea are switching from caffeinated coffee and sugary sodas to tea, functional beverages, and decaf as part of a new trend called “healthy pleasure.” Based on prioritizing health while still enjoying food and drink, the trend has led to a drop in soda and instant coffee sales. Sales of tea and zero-sugar beverages, on the other hand, have gone up.
The drop in caffeine consumption has impacted Korea’s coffee industry. In 2018, the country imported 1,740 tons of decaf beans; last year, that number surged to 10,040 tons. Starbucks Korea reported that its decaf beverage sales in the first quarter of 2025 were up 31% compared to the same period in 2024.
The “healthy pleasure” trend began around 2022 and is being driven, at least in part, by social media: “I saw on YouTube that because people drink beverages every day, sometimes several cups a day, even cutting back a little on sugar or caffeine can make a big difference,” Park Jin-woo told Korea JoongAng Daily. “There are plenty of drinks on the market now that taste good and are also healthier, so whenever possible I choose decaffeinated coffee or zero-sugar drinks.”
Read more on the ‘healthy pleasures’ trend here.
More News
‘U.N. Officially Designates Oct. 1 International Coffee Day’ – via Daily Coffee News
‘Coffee Prices Stay at Record Despite Drop in Market for Beans’ – via Bloomberg
‘Coffee Equipment Giant Bunn Acquired by Ali Group’ – via Daily Coffee News
‘Volcafe North American Operations Consolidated’ – via Global Coffee Report
‘Ryan Coogler Is A Full-Blown Coffee Nerd’ – via Sprudge
‘USDA Report Projects Growth of Brazilian Specialty Coffee Despite Market Whiplash’ – via Daily Coffee News
Is Coffee Good For You?
We’ve all been there: too much coffee, or coffee too late in the day, means a sleepless night. But what if we told you that the idea that caffeine keeps you awake at night is all nonsense, and caffeine doesn’t actually impact sleep all that much? Well, that’s what a new study claims.
A group of researchers in Sweden examined the coffee consumption habits and sleep health of more than 25,000 participants aged 50-64. The study, published in PLOS One, found that most reported good sleep quality, despite 88% enjoying one or more cups of coffee each day.
In fact, low coffee intake was associated with poorer sleep quality, whereas high intake was associated with better sleep quality. People who consumed more coffee had fewer nighttime awakenings, less trouble falling asleep, and awoke early less often.
The authors suggest that regular coffee consumption might lead to long-term biological adaptation to caffeine—a theory that completely contradicts this writer’s personal experience. As with many other similar studies, their research relied on self-reported data, with participants describing their own coffee and sleep habits, while the timing of coffee intake was not considered. Nonetheless, “these results indicate that coffee may be less impactful on sleep habits than previously thought,” the authors wrote.
Beyond the Headlines
‘More Restaurants Are Becoming All-Day Cafes’ by Amber Gibson
