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.
Why does Starbucks insist on antagonizing its core customer base?
Many college campuses serve Starbucks—Gen Z is, after all, fueling Starbucks continued growth—but now some students are urging their universities to ditch the company over its anti-union tactics. “This can happen on any university campus, with any affiliate of Starbucks, and it will happen if they continue to union-bust,” said Nick Wilson, a Cornell student and former Starbucks worker.
Plus, Cxffeeblack is raising funds for its barista exchange program, and Dean from Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee is retiring and the company is becoming a worker-owned co-op.
Read the full Roundup over at Fresh Cup Magazine:
I’ll be back this Friday with a new feature, but until then it’s goodbye from Merlin:
A newsletter about coffee—its culture, politics, and how it connects to the wider world.