NCA Next Gen

It's official: Coffee is healthy! We are thrilled to share that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has officially redefined “healthy” to include coffee! According to the new guidelines released on December 19th, coffee with fewer than five calories per 12 ounces is now recognized as a healthy beverage. This aligns with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend calorie-free beverages including coffee coffee as part of a healthy diet. This milestone decision affirms the NCA’s ongoing efforts to support our members and the broader coffee community by promoting science-backed health benefits of coffee. For more information on the FDA’s final rule and NCA’s exclusive research on U.S. coffee consumers, read the full press release: https://lnkd.in/e27z2yD7

🌟 Exciting Opportunity for Coffee Professionals Under 40! 🌟 Are you passionate about coffee and ready to take your career to the next level? The National Coffee Association (NCA) is now accepting applications for the Next Gen Council, Events Committee, and Communications Committee! This is your chance to: ✅ Build your professional network ✅ Collaborate with like-minded coffee industry leaders ✅ Develop valuable skills to grow in your career If you're an NCA member under 40, we encourage you to apply and become part of a dynamic community shaping the future of coffee. 🗓 Deadline to apply: January 31 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/eKCHWCUH Let’s make an impact together! 💼☕ #CoffeeIndustry #NextGenCoffee #Networking #ProfessionalDevelopment

As we plan for the next chapter of Next Gen events, we want to hear from you!

For our latest entry in the NCA Next Gen Spotlight series, we had the pleasure of hearing from Helena Huguley, Green Coffee Trader at Volcafe Specialty Coffee, to get her take on the trade side of coffee. Helena shared valuable insights and career advice for those interested in getting involved in the coffee industry. Q: What's something about coffee trading that is not commonly known, but you wish everyone knew about? A: The value that exporters/importers deliver in the supply chain, and the huge challenge, risk, and effort taken to deliver on time and as per quality expectations. I believe that the trade has a clear and straightforward objective: to serve as a reliable partner to both farmers and roasters. This role is often of the quiet but important facilitator. A role that has faced immense challenges in recent years from massive supply chain disruptions, market fluctuations, and continuous logistical complexities. Even with recent challenges that are often seemingly stacked against us, we continue to strive to serve as the best partner and connector in the coffee supply chain.  Q: How do you see sustainability in the coffee industry evolving in the next few years? A: Unfortunately, sustainability has often become a synonym for compliance, not impact. Most times, sustainability requires a long-term commitment, but the day-to-day of the business and the desperate need for ROI forces us to be short-term focused. Sustainability requires investment (training, capex, overall support, etc.), and these investments are the ones that are taken out from budgets when COGS (cost-of-good-sold) rise considerably. I think in the next few years we will see how satellite technology, AI, and machine learning will bring  improvements in how companies focus their sustainability efforts. Hopefully leading to more intentional investments and real impact. Q: What career advice would you offer someone who wants to get involved in commodities/coffee trading? A: Be aware of your expectations and make sure most of them are aligned with what the industry has to offer. Understand you are working on something that is grown at scale, and by millions of families (normally poor and with less access to tools, capital, education, etc. than you), and take this into consideration when trading. Take care of your supply as much as you are trying to care for your demand. Thanks, Helena, for all your insights! #NationalCoffeeAssociation #NCA #NextGen #coffee #NextGenSpotlight #GreenCoffee #CoffeeTrading #sustainability #CareerAdvice

Thanks to everyone who were able to attend last week’s webinar, “Leadership Leaks: 3 Ways Your Leadership Habits Cost You Key Talent and Why It Matters!” This webinar dove deep into the future of leadership, talent retention, secession planning, employee development, and more. We’d like to extend our deepest gratitude to Leslie Beale, PCC, JD, CEO of Profusion Strategies, who shared insights gained through her wealth of experience building, leading, and developing teams to help National Coffee Association members learn how to practice strategies that will sustain talent within their organizations, setting them up for success now and into the future. 🙌 For those that missed it the first time, NCA members can access the recording on demand here.  https://lnkd.in/ex3zqQbk #NationalCoffeeAssociation #NCA #webinar #coffee #specialtycoffee #leadership #talentacquisition #data #coffeebusiness

For this installment of our NCA Next Gen Spotlight series, we reached out to Tim Cox, Account Director at Franke Coffee Systems. Tim provided us with fascinating coffee insights and shared the impact that the NCA Next Gen has had on his professional journey. Q: Are there any trends changing the landscape of coffee consumption in our generation? A: I don’t think the top trend I see impacting coffee drinking in our generation is going to surprise anyone: cold coffee beverages. Many major retailers are now selling more cold beverages than hot, with some seeing up to 75% of their sales mix comprised of cold beverages. What’s more, cold beverages are no longer seasonal, with close to half of consumers reporting that they continue to order cold coffee beverages even in the winter months.   Millennials and Gen Z consumers, two groups comprising a growing proportion of the coffee consumer base with increasing purchasing power to boot, are leading the shift in the coffee culture, and I certainly don’t see it slowing down anytime soon. Q: How is the rise of home brewing/roasting impacting the equipment manufacturing industry? A: The shift toward a greater proportion of coffee being brewed and roasted at home accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. While a good deal of consumption has shifted back out of the home post-pandemic, at-home consumption continues to remain significantly elevated. I believe this will impact retailers more than coffee equipment manufacturers. While the growth of home machine sales has returned to normal, home preparation remains high.  Retailers will now need to offer beverages that are harder to replicate at home, meaning more creative drink builds, innovative techniques, seasonal flavors, unique LTOs, and novel experiential touches. For many customers, out-of-home consumption will need to be earned by offering flavors and experiences they can’t make on their own. Ultimately, I see this leading to some exciting changes in coffee menus at large. Q: How has your involvement with NCA Next Gen impacted your career or relationship with the industry? A: My NCA Next Gen membership has brought me in touch with many folks within the industry that I may never have met otherwise. What I love about this organization is that it includes coffee professionals from different segments of the industry, business functions, and roles. Everyone you meet in an organization like NCA Next Gen has something unique to offer. In addition to great networking opportunities, these relationships can add depth and broadness to one’s knowledge of the industry and help us all grow as professionals. Thanks, Tim, for sharing your knowledge and experiences! #NationalCoffeeAssociation #NCA #NextGen #coffee #NextGenSpotlight #Commodities #Manufacturing # #Trends #HomeBrewing #ColdCoffeeBeverages

🎉 Save the Date! 🎉 The National Coffee Association Next Gen invites you to an unforgettable evening at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo! 📅 Date: Friday, March 7th, 2025 ⏰ Time: 6:30 PM CST Join us for a night of networking, entertainment, and celebrating the vibrant coffee community in a true Texas setting. Stay tuned for more details—don’t miss this exciting event! #NCA #NextGen #HoustonRodeo #CoffeeCommunity #NetworkingEvent

Thank you to all who attended last week’s webinar, “What’s Next in Office Coffee Service”! This webinar provided great insights into the changing landscape of office work and the subsequent evolution within the OCS segment. 💡 A round of applause for our presenter, Jennifer Mapes Christ, Manager of Food & Beverage Research, Packaged Facts and Manager of Consumer Research with The Freedonia Group, who gave us insights and trends to enable OCS operators to keep up with this rapidly changing space within the coffee industry. 🙌 For those that missed it the first time, NCA members can access the recording on demand here. https://lnkd.in/e3A5FVis This webinar was sponsored by Newco Enterprises. Learn more at newcocoffee.com #NationalCoffeeAssociation #NCA #webinar #coffee #specialtycoffee #OCS #officecoffee #hybridwork #coworking #workfromhome

The office landscape in 2024 looks quite different than it did just a few years ago and, along with this changing environment, Office Coffee Service has had to evolve as well. Just what does OCS look like today? Is traditional office work making a come-back? How does OCS fit into co-working models – or even at home officing? Have you ever heard of “coffee badging”? ☕ The upcoming National Coffee Association’s webinar, “What’s Next in Office Coffee Service?” will answer these questions and more. 💡 In this webinar, presenter Jennifer Mapes Christ, Manager of Food & Beverage Research, Packaged Facts and Manager of Consumer & Commercial Research at the Freedonia Group, will provide data-driven insights and trends to help brew up success in a changing – and challenging – OCS business climate. 💼 If you provide Office Coffee Service, enjoy it as an amenity at your place of work, or are simply curious about this segment of the coffee industry, be sure to tune in at 1:00pm EST on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Register here today! https://lnkd.in/e3A5FVis This webinar is sponsored by Newco Enterprises. Learn more at newcocoffee.com #NationalCoffeeAssociation #NCA #webinar #coffee #specialtycoffee #OCS #officecoffee #hybridwork #coworking #workfromhome

For this installment of our NCA Next Gen Spotlight series, we had the opportunity of connecting with William Troy IV, Assistant Vice President at Brown Brothers Harriman. William offers valuable insight into the banking industry and the impact the NCA NextGen has had on his professional journey. Q: What are the hot topics in your industry that you are paying attention to? A: Increasingly complicated freight markets and recent commodity price volatility are hot topics because they affect our clients the most. They particularly affect our clients in the coffee industry, which remains one of BBH’s most important industries. I haven’t been doing this for long, but I remember a time when volatility was rare. It’s a different world today and volatility seems to be the new normal. We’re focused on proactively working with our clients to navigate heightened volatility of all kinds. Q: What's something about the banking industry that is not commonly known, but you wish everyone knew about? A: We’re not just number crunching in suits and ties all day (thankfully). The best part of my job is that it’s supposed to be hands-on. As a commodities bank, we are a tiny part of the global commodities industry. We work with people who own businesses and dedicate their lives to moving goods around the world. We often get our hands dirty and visit warehouses, ports, factories, and farms. Q: How has membership in NCA NextGen impacted your career or relationship with the industry? A: My involvement in NCA NextGen has impacted my career and personal relationships in such a positive way. I’ve worked at BBH for just over 5 years and have always had some exposure to the coffee industry. But it wasn’t until I joined the NCA NextGen that I really got a fuller dose of the industry and its people. In the last 6 months, I’ve spent much more time with people in the coffee industry – on trips, at conferences, happy hours, offices, and over Zoom. I always heard that it was true, but I’ve experienced firsthand how welcoming a group the coffee industry is, made up of genuine, fun, and smart people who are open to building relationships. I’ve garnered a more meaningful appreciation for an industry that almost everyone in the world relies on (sometimes multiple times a day!). Thanks William, for sharing your insights! #NationalCoffeeAssociation #NCA #NextGen #coffee #NextGenSpotlight #GreenCoffee #Commodities #Banking #Trends