Welcome to DCN’s Weekly Coffee News. Keep up with all the latest coffee industry stories and career opportunities by subscribing to DCN’s newsletter. Tell our editors about your news here.
Hellmann’s press photo showing NFL quarterback Will Levis applying mayonnaise to a muffin top.
Mayo-in-Coffee NFL QB Also Douses a Muffin Top
NFL quarterback Will Levis, a rookie with the Tennessee Titans, has “scored” a lifetime supply of mayonnaise from the Unilever brand Hellman’s. Levis’s viral habit of putting mayonnaise in his coffee earned him the lifetime reward, according to the company. In a press photo, Levis can be seen doing something even more kinky: applying generous squiggles of creamy mayonnaise to what appears to be a berry muffin.
ICO Director Vanúsia Nogueira to Speak at IWCA Convention
International Coffee Organization Executive Director Vanúsia Nogueira is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at the upcoming International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) convention, taking place Oct. 16-22 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
NotCo Launches Plant-based NotMilk Barista Liquid for Coffee
Alternative Foods Maker NotCo has launched NotMilk Barista, a coffee-centric formulation within its NotMilk line of plant-based consumable liquids. According to the company, the blend was generated with the assistance of AI, and includes a mixture of oat and pea. It is designed to froth, steam and foam like traditional cow’s milk.
Alt Milk Maker Planting Hope Acquires Business Assets of Argo Tea
Canadian food tech company Planting Hope, the parent company of the Hope and Sesame alt milk brand, has acquired certain business assets of Chicago-based Argo Tea. Including supplier agreements with foodservice firms and at least eight cafes, the assets were acquired from Golden Fleece Beverages, Inc.
Starbucks Opening Tech Innovation Center in China
International coffee giant Starbucks is planning to open an “Innovation and Tech Center (SITC)” in Shenzhen, China, next month. The company says the research and retail hub will “accelerate the digitization of Starbucks retail operations and omni-channel business in China by leveraging the power of data analytics, modeling and decision-making to drive operational excellence and create new experiences centered around people and coffee.”
Toby’s Estate Comes to UAE
Australian-born coffee roasting company Toby’s Estate is opening its first outpost in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through a licensing deal with Kuwait-based Pinnacle Group. The U.S.-licensed arm of Toby’s Estate rebranded to become Partners Coffee in 2019.
3W Research Launches a Decaf Coffee Index
An online startup called 3W Research has launched the inaugural Decaf Coffee 100 Index, a guide to roasted decaffeinated coffee products that is broken down by decaffeination methods, including sugar cane ethyl acetate (E.A.), Swiss Water Process, and Mountain Water process. According to the creators, the list involved extensive tasting and research, with no free samples taken. It is available as an Excel file for $5.99.
Catahoula Coffee Launches Jason Becker Not Dead Yet Blend
Richmond, California-based coffee company Catahoula Coffee is now selling “Jason Becker Not Dead Yet,” a special fundraiser blend with proceeds supporting care for Richmond native Jason Becker, who has ALS (a.k.a. Lou Gehrig’s disease). Becker was a child guitar prodigy, eventually playing in David Lee Roth’s solo band.
[Note: This story has been updated. An original version incorrectly stated that Catahoula Coffee was based in Richmond, Virginia. The company is based in Richmond, California.]
Stumptown Exits Portland Ace Hotel Shop for Newer Development
Portland, Oregon-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters will open a new cafe on the ground floor of the recently completed 11W Building, a 25-story mixed-use tower at SW 11th Avenue and SW Washington Street. In conjunction, the company’s existing cafe at the Ace Hotel, located just around the corner on SW Harvey Milk Street, will close. The new cafe is planned to open late fall of this year.
Ellianos Coffee Partners with Etienne Brothers for Energy Line
Florida-based coffee chain Ellianos Coffee has teamed up with Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. and University of Florida running back Trevor Etienne to launch a line of flavor boosters for energy drinks called the Ellianos Edge. The Gator and Jag “flavors” will be available in the Gainesville and Jacksonville markets.
New from CoffeeIndustryJobs.com
- Packaging Manager – Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
- Product Commercialization Manager – Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
- Food Safety Coordinator– Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
- Assistant Plant Manager – Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
- Quality Assurance Supervisor– Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA
- Specialty Coffee Roaster/Production – Kaffe Magnum Opus
- Lead Coffee Roaster / Production Assistant – First Choice Coffee
In Case You Missed It
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
In Queens, Multimodal is Configured to Help Roasting
Less than a year-and-a-half after a fire destroyed the former Regalia Roasting Collective in the New York City borough of Queens, the coffee co-roasting concept has been reshaped with a new name and new location just one block away… Read more
World Coffee Research Launches Public Database for Arabica Fingerprinting
World Coffee Research (WCR) late last week announced the launch of a publicly available database designed to make genetic fingerprinting of arabica coffee varieties more accessible… Read more
Study: Coffee Grounds Can Make Concrete 30% Stronger
A group of Australian engineers have devised a method to make concrete 30% stronger by adding spent coffee grounds that might otherwise be destined for landfills… Read more
Bellwether Commits to 100% Living Income Pricing by 2025
Electric coffee roasting machine maker Bellwether Coffee has announced a commitment to living income pricing throughout its green coffee supply chain by the end of 2024… Read more
Heavy Water Coffee Roasters Puts Its Weight Into First LA Shop
Following several years of roasting for wholesale and direct-to-consumer buyers, Los Angeles-based Heavy Water Coffee Roasters recently waded into retail coffee service… Read more
Two Decades In, New York’s Coffee Labs Roasters Opens Second Shop
Twenty years after opening their first shop in Westchester County, New York, the owners of the trailblazing coffee company Coffee Labs Roasters are celebrating the opening of a second shop… Read more
With Huge New Roastery, Conscious Cup Coffee Has Growth in Mind
Illinois-based Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters is intently focused on refining its operations through a new coffee roastery and training facility in Crystal Lake… Read more
Comment