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.
Promotions and buy-one-get-one deals are (understandably) popular with Starbucks customers, but less so with workers. Long queues, complicated orders, and understaffing are causing staff to (understandably) quit in frustration.
Researchers are researching whether robusta can grow at high altitudes, potentially as a way to replace or augment arabica crops that are struggling due to the climate crisis. (There is a conversation to be had about mitigation vs adaptation in coffee, but that’s for a longer piece I think.)
Starbucks put a lot of effort into promoting their new drink the Oleato last year (that’s the olive oil latte, if you somehow forgot). Howard Schultz was especially keen, as he was the one who came up with the idea. As it turns out, Schultz also part-owns the olive oil company that has made millions supplying Starbucks.
Read more on all these stories, and some new coffee health research, over at Fresh Cup Magazine:
I'm the creator and writer of The Pourover. Based in Scotland, I have over a decade of experience in the specialty coffee industry as a barista, roaster, and writer. Ask me about coffeewashing.
Fionn Pooler
