The German coffee industry is currently facing a paradox: Green coffee prices have reached a historic high—generally a welcome development, as it can translate into better incomes for farmers in producing countries. Yet, at the same time, discount coffee chains styled after China’s “Luckin Coffee” are rapidly multiplying in German cities. The German Roasters Guild (Deutsche Röstergilde), representing the country’s medium-sized coffee roasters, warns of dangerous displacement competition and potential job losses in the sector.
