Cooperative Coffees Argues for Climate Justice

Cooperative Coffees Impact Manager Melissa Wilson Becerril penned a reflective piece this week on the organization’s climate-related efforts. “Independent smallholder coffee producers are part of the solution to climate change, not the cause,” Becerril wrote. “We believe the industry’s status quo, based on a linear, extractive model, needs to shift to a regenerative, participatory framework.”

Jonathan Morris Offers Perspective on Prices

While the mainstream media in the United States continues to warn of higher consumer coffee prices, coffee historian Jonathan Morris this week offered a more balanced view for consumers, outlining the basics of green coffee price discovery while suggesting that this might be a good time for deeper reflection on the underlying challenges facing the coffee industry.

Volcafe Names Raphaelle Peinado Sustainability Director

Green coffee trader Volcafe announced the appointment of Raphaelle Peinado as Sustainability Director, starting Sept. 1. Peinado will work in concert with Volcafe’s parent company, ED&F Man Commodities, in implementing the group’s sustainability strategy.

Starbucks Sold $1.77 Billion in Unclaimed Gift Cards

Among the interesting findings from Starbucks’ Q3 earnings report this week was that the company has sold $1.77 billion in unclaimed gift cards, a 9% increase from this time last year.

Qima Coffee and ACE Announce Sixth ‘Best of Yemen’ Auction

Qima Coffee and the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE) announced details of the sixth Best of Yemen green coffee auction, taking place Oct. 8. This year’s auction will spotlight Yemen’s unique climate and its significant impact on the region’s coffee.

New York Times Food Desk Tries Celebrity Coffees

A group of folks from the New York Times food desk recently tackled celebrity coffee, tasting roasts from seven prominent celebrity-led coffee brands. The testing team offered generally meaningless tasting notes such as “not bad” and “pretty bland.” The highest-scoring coffee by a wide margin came from Jimmy Butler’s Bigface.

Snoop Dogg Behind New Amsterdam Coffee Shop ‘Smoke Weed Every Day’

Speaking of celebrities marginally involved in coffee, Snoop Dogg this week announced the opening of his new business, S.W.E.D., an acronym for “smoke weed every day,” a new coffee shop in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Snoop previously co-launched the INDOxyz coffee brand but departed from that business soon after.

Gemilai Launches New Home Espresso Machines

Chinese coffee equipment brand Gemilai launched three new home espresso machine models this week, the G3005E, G3005H, and G3007L. Each of the machines is equipped with a 15-bar pump.

Diamond Brew Launches Instant ‘Brewless’ Coffee Line

A new Chicago-based company called Diamond Brew launched this week, promising to “redefine the way coffee enthusiasts enjoy their daily cup.” The company is offering freeze-dried soluble products, describing it as “brewless coffee.”

James Coffee Co. Launches Glass Jar Exchange Program

San Diego-based James Coffee Co. has introduced a glass jar exchange program aimed at reducing single-use plastic waste. For a one-time deposit, patrons receive their beverage in a glass jar, which can be returned for a new drink without an additional deposit.