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Roast Magazine Launches “The Inside” Guide to Portland, Oregon
As coffee professionals all over the world are heading to Portland, Oregon, next week, Roast has launched “The Inside,” an insider guide to the city. Currently available in digital format with copies available at the doors to the show, “The Inside” includes a roundup of all the best spots for coffee and food in the city, interviews with local coffee pros and some helpful tips on navigating the weekend. Find a digital copy here.
Nonprofit Go Fund Bean Hosting Coffee Prom on Expo Sunday Night
The hourly-worker-supportive nonprofit Go Fund Bean is hosting its first ever in-person fundraising event, called Coffee Prom, in conjunction with the forthcoming SCA Expo in Portland, Oregon. Taking place Sunday, April 23, at the historic McMenamin’s Crystal Ballroom, the Prom will feature dinner, dancing and a silent auction. The minimum donation is $20, and the suggested donation is $40. Donations include dinner. More info and a limited number of tickets are available here.
Gems of Araku (India) Private Coffee Auction Coming in May
The 15th iteration of the Gems of Araku private green coffee auction is scheduled to take place May 24. The auction program, led by former Cup of Excellence head judge Sherri Johns, will feature 20 microlots and six nano lots of high-end specialty coffees through the Sensible Coffee auction platform. More information and sample sets are available here.
Registration for SCA Educator Summit in Busan Now Open
The Specialty Coffee Association has announced that registration is open to SCA Authorized Trainers for the inaugural Educator Summit, which will be held in Busan, South Korea, May 31 and June 1. The conference will provide coffee trainers with the opportunity to learn about the latest coffee research and training techniques.
Algrano Publishes Report on Impact of Direct Trade Model
Switzerland-based green coffee platform provider Algrano has published their first impact report, using eight years of data to asses the impact of the company’s “direct trade” platform. Among the findings was that 77% of all coffee was traded within ongoing roaster-producer relationships in 2022, which is 50% growth from 2019. Algrano is an online coffee marketplace that allows for direct communication between producers and roasters. The company has just launched sales to roasters in the United States.
Knock Releases New Edition of Feld47 Grinder
Scottish manual coffee grinder company Knock has released a new edition of its Feld47 grinder. The plastic-free, 47-millimeter conical burr Feld47 is now machined from solid aluminum with a precision ground steel shaft. Its redesigned lid and longer crank arm are fixed for a sturdier drive, and its lid and catch cup are now held snug by magnets and a threaded connection. Pre-orders for small-batch production runs are open on the company’s website. The company last year released a similarly refined version of the Aergrind grinder.
Coava Coffee Roasters Closing Downtown Portland Cafe
Portland, Oregon-based Coava Coffee Roasters announced on Instagram that the company’s downtown shop will be closing. The post cited incidents of “extreme violence and criminal activity” that have made staff and customers feel unsafe. “We cannot continue operation here as we cannot ensure the safety of our team and customers,” the company wrote. The location at 1171 SW Jefferson Street had been open since 2017.
Blue Bottle Closing its Second-Oldest San Francisco Cafe
A reporter at SFGate discovered a sign on the door of Blue Bottle Coffee‘s 15-year-old cafe in San Francisco’s Mint Plaza announcing the shop’s closing at the end of this week. It’s the Oakland-born coffee company’s second-oldest San Francisco location, although the Nestle-owned company maintains dozens of U.S. retail locations in California, New York, Boston, Washington D.C. and Chicago. The sign described the decision to close the Mint Plaza cafe as “very difficult.”
Etkin 2-Cup Dripper Heads to Kickstarter
Certified SCA trainer and inventor of the Etkin 8-cup dripper Michael Butterworth has introduced a 2-cup version of the dripper, now on Kickstarter. The Etkin Design product has a doubled-walled, flat-bottomed design and is made of Turkish porcelain. According to the projected timeline, Kickstarter backer orders are expected to be filled in June.
Latte Art Factory Announces Dhan Tamang as Brand Ambassador
Barista and latte art champion Dhan Tamang is now a brand ambassador for Latte Art Factory. In the role, Tamang will help with the company’s marketing strategy and product development, as well as represent the brand at exhibitions and trade shows. Latte Art Factory offers an SCA award-winning machine for frothing and steaming milk.
Scooter’s Coffee Announces Bill Black as Chief Community Officer
Bill Black is the new chief community officer for drive-through specialty coffee chain Scooter’s Coffee. Black has been the Nebraska-based company’s chief marketing officer for the past five years. The new role will focus on the franchise-focused company’s philanthropy programs. Scooter’s Coffee has nearly 700 stores in 29 U.S. states.
International Café and Beverage Show (ICBS) Returns to Malaysia in May
The International Café and Beverage Show (ICBS) will return to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 25-27 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. In addition to hosting the Malaysian National Coffee Championships (MNCC), the event will feature coffee business exhibitors from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, The Netherlands and Italy.
In Case You Missed It
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
SCA cupping “bowls.” Daily Coffee News photo by Nick Brown.
SCA Paper Questions Roles and Skills Associated with Coffee Cupping
A new white paper from the international Specialty Coffee Association makes the case that professional coffee cuppers have evolved to become critical communicators of value. The paper further suggests that the core skills associated with cupping should be formally expanded… Read more
Study: Coffee Consumption May Help Keep Blood Pressure Down
Researchers in Italy have concluded that regular moderate coffee consumption may contribute to lower blood pressure markers associated with arterial stiffening and cardiovascular disease… Read more
Kruve’s Newest Creation is a Three-Spouted Latte Art Pitcher
Canadian specialty coffee glassware and accessories maker Kruve has revealed its latest product, a three-spouted milk-steaming pitcher called Create… Read more
Wisconsin Startup Octane Coffee Debuts Fully Automated Drive-Through
A Waukesha, Wisconsin-based startup called Octane Coffee has established a high-tech, fully automated drive through coffee location that is decidedly built for speed… Read more
Former D.C. Coffee Shop Owner Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Fraud Scheme
The former owner of Washington D.C.-area specialty coffee shop Caffe Aficionado has been sentenced to 10 years in prison following an identity theft and fraud scheme… Read more
Nonprofit Wildflyer Coffee Flies East Into Saint Paul
Minneapolis-based specialty coffee purveyor and youth-focused nonprofit Wildflyer Coffee has expanded into a second location, called Wildflyer East, in Saint Paul… Read more
Dilla Coffee Fills Dallas with Quality Ethiopian Beans and Brews
A new family-run coffee company called Dilla Coffee has cut the ribbon on a production roastery and retail store in Dallas, selling coffees grown by extended family members in Ethiopia… Read more
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