Coffee Discourse is Becoming Increasingly Sensationalised
For paid subscribers: What happens when the melodramatic language of social media and political discourse begins to impact how we discuss the coffee industry.
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A newsletter about coffee—its culture, politics, and how it connects to the wider world.
The Hyperreality of Specialty Coffee
Well-funded startups mimic the aesthetics and language of specialty coffee. Giant multinationals cosplay community. Companies chase trends created by social media. It all points towards coffee's growing hyperreality.
Trump’s Tariffs Leave the Coffee Industry Facing an Uncertain New Era
Onerous and erratic tariffs have upended the coffee trade, incentivising loopholes and workarounds. Collectively, these changes herald an uncertain new era for the global coffee industry.
The Coffee Industry Will Regret Embracing Generative AI
Coffee professionals and brands are increasingly adopting generative AI. But should an industry that prides itself on authenticity and sustainability really be embracing such a destructive tool?
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Coffee Discourse is Becoming Increasingly Sensationalised
For paid subscribers: What happens when the melodramatic language of social media and political discourse begins to impact how we discuss the coffee industry.
Coffee Contamination
For paid subscribers: It turns out that coffee’s impact on the environment continues after we drink it.
The Coffee Smuggler of Boca Raton
For paid subscribers: A tale of international intrigue, bank fraud, and coffee smuggling from the 1980s that sounds like an episode of Miami Vice.
Coffee and Climate
2024 Was a Warning
The past year of climate shocks and surging coffee prices has felt portentous. Without significant investment and industry cooperation, coffee’s future seems increasingly uncertain.
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Disposable Coffee Cups?
Single-use coffee cups are choking the planet. From discounts to levies to bans, solutions are out there—but changing consumer behaviour is the bigger challenge.
Coffee, Sustainability, and Shifting Perceptions
As the climate crisis comes for coffee, new ideas are needed. But some solutions are already out there—we just need to recognize and embrace them.
Connecting the Dots: Inside the 2023 Coffee Barometer
A conversation with the landmark report's lead author Sjoerd Panhuysen.
Coffee & Politics
Coffee’s Soft Power Shift
The United States has long been at the centre of the global coffee industry. But as policies shift under the Trump administration, that dominance is under threat.
A Fundraiser for Gaza Hopes to Wake Up the Coffee Industry
For 18 months, the coffee industry has remained mostly silent about the ongoing destruction of Gaza. A new fundraiser hopes to raise money—and jolt the industry awake.
Travel Warnings and Detainments Cast a Shadow Over America’s Biggest Coffee Trade Show
Amidst the U.S. government’s crackdown at the border and a raft of anti-trans legislation in Texas, some coffee professionals are skipping the Specialty Coffee Association’s Expo in Houston.
Musk and Trump’s ‘Plutocratic Coup’ Could Upend the Coffee Industry
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are bulldozing the U.S. government. While nothing is certain, the impact on the coffee industry is already significant.
Corporate vs Specialty Coffee
Forget Starbucks—Yemeni Coffeehouses Are the Real Third Places
While Starbucks tries to return to its coffeehouse roots, a new wave of cafes spreading across the United States show how to really build a welcoming third place.
We’re All Trying To Find the Coffee Company Who Did This
Big brands love to bemoan the plight of coffee farmers without acknowledging their role in creating that plight.
Embrace, Extend, Extinguish … Espresso?
How a Microsoft business strategy from the ’90s explains Starbucks’ new cortado—and the general flattening of modern coffee culture.
Corporate Philanthropy Will Not Save the Coffee Industry
Coffee companies love to fund projects that look good in press releases and impact reports. However, corporate philanthropy is mostly a shield to deflect criticism, protect power, and avoid regulation.
Coffee Unions and Labour
The Next Step in the Coffee Union Wave? Building Global Solidarity
Workers at Blue Bottle Coffee, acquired by Nestlé in 2017, have unionised. Now, they’re building international solidarity with the conglomerate’s union in Colombia.
Starbucks Workers in Chile Show that Winning a Union Contract Is Possible
In the U.S., Starbucks workers continue to fight for a union contract after years of roadblocks and retaliation. The struggle seems endless—but organisers in Chile offer a vision of what can be achieved.
There Is No Such Thing as an 'Unskilled’ Coffee Job
Baristas and other hourly coffee workers are undervalued and underpaid—but they are far from unskilled, despite what the pernicious stereotypes suggest.
Where Are All the British Coffee Unions?
While a wave of coffee unionising washes over the United States, across the pond there’s barely a ripple. Why is that?
Coffee Sustainability
The Cynical Evolution of Coffee Substitutes
We used to grudgingly turn to coffee alternatives in times of turmoil. Now, however, there is a new breed of venture capital-backed substitutes, with a more antagonistic relationship to coffee.
Coffee, Sustainability, and Shifting Perceptions
As the climate crisis comes for coffee, new ideas are needed. But some solutions are already out there—we just need to recognize and embrace them.
Connecting the Dots: Inside the 2023 Coffee Barometer
A conversation with the landmark report's lead author Sjoerd Panhuysen.
Upcycled Coffeewashing
Putting coffee grounds into shoes and luxury watch straps isn't sustainable—it's a distraction.
Interviews
Coffee Conversations: Barista Education with Rachel Apple
The consultant and educator discusses her coffee background, how she became an educator, and the upcoming Level Up event for baristas.
Coffee Conversations: Stuart Freedman on Photographing the Indian Coffee House
The photojournalist and author discusses his experiences capturing the essence of India’s oldest and largest coffee chain, as well as its legacy and importance as a resistance to brands like Starbucks.
Coffee Conversations: The Joy of Blends with Tony Konecny of Yes Plz
The third wave veteran discusses his blending philosophy, why blends are still overlooked by many in the industry, and taking a culinary approach to coffee.
Coffee Conversations: Ana Vizcaino on Battling Climate Change in Guatemala
The owner of Finca Esperanza and Two Birds Coffee talks about the challenges of growing coffee during the climate crisis, the price surge, and what it all means for the future of coffee in Guatemala.
Coffee History
The Long and Complicated History of Coffee Smuggling
Smuggling has been a part of coffee since the beginning, and continues in many forms today. In the process, it reveals much about the industry’s power structures.
Ballad of the Indian Coffee House
Despite evolving tastes and increased competition, India’s oldest and largest coffee chain—a communist-founded, worker-owned cooperative—is still going after 70 years.
Camp Coffee, Colonialism, and the Evolution of a Brand
How a 19th century Scottish instant coffee brand has adapted, evolved, and survived.
Weird Coffee
A Short Lexicon of Coffee Buzzwords
Coffee is filled with buzzwords that lack agreed-upon definitions: slightly woolly terms like “Sustainable,” “Ethical,” even “Specialty.” Companies use them constantly to sell more coffee—but what do these words actually mean?
The Cynical Evolution of Coffee Substitutes
We used to grudgingly turn to coffee alternatives in times of turmoil. Now, however, there is a new breed of venture capital-backed substitutes, with a more antagonistic relationship to coffee.
The Graveyard of Coffee Kickstarters
There are a lot of coffee gadgets on Kickstarter. Some are successful, others less so. This is the story of the latter.
Coffee and Technology
Coffee's Tech Dystopia
Technology is deeply embedded in the coffee industry, from loyalty apps to blockchain traceability platforms. But is that a good thing?
The Graveyard of Coffee Kickstarters
There are a lot of coffee gadgets on Kickstarter. Some are successful, others less so. This is the story of the latter.