A newsletter about coffee—its culture, politics, and how it connects to the wider world.
The $10 Latte is Coming—But Who Will Buy It?
A complex web of pressures, from climate change to tariffs, are pushing up coffee prices. But the industry has a challenge: How to communicate necessary price rises to consumers without scaring them off.
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?
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.
Latest
Bonus Coffee Buzzwords
For paid subscribers: deleted scenes from last week's lexicon. Musings on the words "Sustainability", "Specialty", and the old-school buzzwords like "Artisan" and "Gourmet".
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 Q Grader Changes Cause Confusion and Consternation
It's the Coffee News Roundup: Week Ending April 25th
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
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.
Rudy Giuliani and Our Uneasy Fascination with Celebrity Coffee Brands
Today, there are more celebrity coffee companies than ever. But as Rudy Coffee has demonstrated, that might not be a good thing.
Coffee, Community, and a Year of Silence
The coffee industry loves “community”, but it doesn’t always love the solidarity that the word signifies. Nowhere is this more obvious than in its reaction—or lack thereof—to the genocide in Gaza.
Corporate vs Specialty Coffee
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.
Starbucks and the Myth of the Third Place
Starbucks wants to be known as a community gathering space, even after morphing into the ultimate convenience-focused coffee chain. But was it ever truly a third place in the first place?
Equity Crowdfunding and the Democratisation of Coffee Investing
While many specialty coffee companies turn to venture capital to fuel their growth, others are going in the opposite direction: utilising equity crowdfunding to share ownership with their communities.
Coffee Unions and Labour
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?
Private Equity vs. the Coffee Workers
Big money pours into specialty coffee with one goal: wealth extraction. But as soon as things go wrong, workers are the first to suffer.
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: 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 Conversations: Morgan Eckroth on Judging Coffee Competitions
The 2022 U.S. Barista Champion and social media star on taking a break from competing, becoming a judge, and what it’s like being on the other side of the clipboard.
Coffee history
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
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.
Why is Beanless Coffee?
Coffee-less coffee is marketed as the sustainable solution to the climate crisis. But is it? And what about the farmers who will be left behind?