Deeply researched articles exploring all the ways coffee connects to politics, history, and culture—delivered direct to your inbox
After Years of Union Avoidance, External Pressure Is Building on Starbucks
Nearly five years since the first Starbucks location unionised, contract negotiations are still dragging on. Can external pressure from shareholders and human-rights campaigners make a difference?
What Would a ‘Super’ El Niño Mean for Coffee?
Meteorologists are predicting that an exceptionally strong El Niño will likely form in 2026. If past events are any indication, the impacts on coffee could be profound.
Attack of the (Coffee) Drones
Tech CEOs and other prognosticators have described drones as the future of coffee delivery for more than a decade. Why haven’t they materialised yet?
Latest
Starbucks vs the Union: A Tale of Three CEOs
For paid subscribers: From Howard Schultz’ hostility to the relatively more amenable Laxman Narasimhan and through to Brian Niccol’s current intransigence, Starbucks' response to its union over the years has mirrored the CEO’s position.
Non-Coffee Companies in Japan are Growing Coffee in Greenhouses. Why?
It's the Coffee News Roundup: Week Ending June 19th
Scrutinising the Coffee Industry's Sustainability Progress
It's the Coffee News Roundup: Week Ending June 12th
Will Sky High Retail Coffee Prices Ever Come Back Down?
For paid subscribers: retail coffee prices have soared in recent years, driven by climbing commodity costs and tariff stupidity. Some of those pressures have now started to ease, and yet retail prices continue to rise. Will they ever come down?
Whatever Happened to IBM’s Coffee Prediction Drone?
For paid subscribers: Eight years ago, the media got very excited about a patent for a drone that could monitor and deliver coffee to the those it deemed under-caffeinated. It never became reality—why not?
Coffee & Politics
Jeffrey Epstein’s Coffee Ties
The release of millions of Jeffrey Epstein's emails uncovered volumes of sordid information. They also revealed more banal details—like his coffee habits.
Community vs. Complicity: How Coffee Shops Have Responded to ICE's Minnesota Onslaught
Independent coffee shops are speaking up for their neighbours and saying no to ICE in their stores. Some big coffee brands, however, have taken a different approach.
How To Save Coffee: Lessons From the Degrowth Movement
Coffee is increasingly at risk from the climate crisis, and corporate-driven incremental change won’t save it. The theory of degrowth offers hope for a better world and a fairer coffee industry.
The Moral Cost of Dubai’s Coffee Boom
The coffee scene in Dubai is thriving, and the city is set to welcome the Specialty Coffee Association’s World of Coffee event next month. But underneath the glitzy facade and marketing buzz lies a moral quagmire.
Coffee and Technology
In the Age of Coffee Automation, What Happens to Baristas?
Coffee companies are going all in on automation. We’re told that it improves efficiency, cuts costs, and yields a better product. But what does it mean for the baristas whose labour these automations displace?
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?
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.
Corporate vs Specialty Coffee
Community vs. Complicity: How Coffee Shops Have Responded to ICE's Minnesota Onslaught
Independent coffee shops are speaking up for their neighbours and saying no to ICE in their stores. Some big coffee brands, however, have taken a different approach.
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.
Coffee and Climate
The Coffee Industry’s Petroleum Problem
As the Hormuz Strait blockade and its cascading consequences lay bare, coffee is still profoundly reliant on petroleum and its byproducts.
How To Save Coffee: Lessons From the Degrowth Movement
Coffee is increasingly at risk from the climate crisis, and corporate-driven incremental change won’t save it. The theory of degrowth offers hope for a better world and a fairer coffee industry.
Regenerative Agriculture: Climate Solution or Yet More Coffeewashing?
As the climate crisis intensifies, regenerative agriculture could play a key role in sustaining and strengthening the global coffee industry. That is, if it can escape becoming just another corporate sustainability buzzword.
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.
Coffee Unions and Labour
How Union Contracts Protect and Empower Coffee Workers
As well as improved pay and benefits, a ratified union contract offers coffee workers power in an often-exploitative industry.
In the Age of Coffee Automation, What Happens to Baristas?
Coffee companies are going all in on automation. We’re told that it improves efficiency, cuts costs, and yields a better product. But what does it mean for the baristas whose labour these automations displace?
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.
Interviews
Coffee Conversations: Hanan Wazwaz on Opening a Palestinian-Salvadoran Cafe in Minneapolis in the Current Moment
The co-founder of Sip of Silk discusses opening a coffee shop and trying to both celebrate her heritage and support her community amidst an ongoing terror campaign by the federal government.
Coffee Conversations: Biggby's Bob Fish on Challenging Corporate Coffee’s Status Quo
The co-founder of the chain Biggby Coffee talks about building a successful company with hundreds of franchised locations, only to switch to a new way of doing business—one that prioritises more than just growth and profit.
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.