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.
Press photo
Press Coffee Bars Coming to Sprouts Market Locations
Phoenix-based Press Coffee Roasters and grocery chain Sprouts Farmers Market have announced that Press coffee bar locations will be opening in four Sprouts stores in Scottsdale. The two companies piloted a Press bar concept in October 2022 in Phoenix. Press Coffee was founded in 2008 and opened its current roastery and flagship cafe in Phoenix in 2019. All four of the new bars will be open by the end of February 2024, according to Press.
Vietnam Coffee Semi-Annual Report Predicts Production Drops
The USDA’s latest semi-annual report on the Vietnam coffee sector estimates a drop in production for market year 2023/24 due to unfavorable weather conditions due to climate change and El Niño. The authors also reduced the estimated production for 2022/23 due to rising temperatures and farmers turning to more profitable fruit trees.
Indonesia Coffee Report Suggests Sharp Drop in Robusta Production
The USDA’s latest semi-annual report on the Indonesia coffee sector forecasts a sharp drop in Robusta production due to unfavorable and hotter weather conditions. The agency predicts a 35% drop in Robusta exports in 2023/24, resulting in increased imports to meet domestic consumption demands.
Starbucks Creating Oversight Committee for Environment, Worker and Community Promises
Starbucks, which continues to call all its employees “partners,” plans to launch a new board committee focused on oversight of “environmental, partner and community impact” initiatives. The company said the committee will help “drive accountability across Starbucks promises.”
Reborn Coffee Signs MOU for $5 Million Plan in Korea
Publicly traded California-based coffee chain Reborn Coffee signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korean company KIB Plug Energy Korea for a planned $5 million investment. According to the U.S. company, the investment would be used to combine coffee service with electric vehicle charging stations.
Seven More Sustainability Schemes Recognized by GCP as Meeting Baseline Equivalent
The nonprofit Global Coffee Platform (GCP) last week named seven separate private coffee-focused sustainability schemes as meeting the organization’s Sustainability Reference Code, which provides a baseline sustainability measure for the coffee industry. The newly approved schemes are Exportadora de Café Guaxupé’s Guaxupé Planet, Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality Program, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe’s NKG Bloom, ofi’s AtSourceV and AtSource+, Racafé’s CRECER, and 3E® by RGC Coffee.
Lavazza Opens London Flagship Store
Italian coffee giant Lavazza has opened a flagship cafe, retail store and restaurant in central London. At 23-24 Great Marlborough Street, the London flagship is designed to highlight the company’s history while also offering immersive coffee and culinary experiences.
Café World Summit Coming to Costa Rica in March
Organizers of the Costa Rican seed-to-cup coffee trade show Café World Summit have announced that the 2024 event will take place March 20-23 at the Costa Rica Convention Center in San José.
Dates Announced for 2024 Triestespresso Expo
Organizers of the Triestespresso Expo in Trieste, Italy, announced that the 2024 iteration will take place Oct. 24-26, 2024. The biennial show last welcomed more than 13,000 guests.
European Coffee Awards Announced
The annual European Coffee Awards were presented at a formal gala in conjunction with World Coffee Portal’s European Coffee Symposium earlier this week. The awards program honored Cosimo Libardo with a lifetime achievement award, while also celebrating several of Europe’s largest coffee chains and equipment suppliers.
New from CoffeeIndustryJobs.com
- Roast Master/ Production Manager – Bunista
- Lead Production Roaster – Asunder Coffee Roasters
- Curated Coffee Expert (Remote) – Curated
- Area Manager – Mercurys Coffee Co.
- Retail Operations Manager – Mercurys Coffee Co.
In Case You Missed It
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
Are Rents Rising in Your Philly Neighborhood? Don’t Blame the Baristas
Baristas who work in specialty coffee shops, along with hipsters more generally, have been referred to as the “shock troops” of urban gentrification — and it’s no different in Philadelphia. These servers of artisanal coffee contribute to economic and demographic changes in neighborhoods in two ways… read more
Swiss Startup Mikafi Reveals the IoT-Driven MikafiOne Electric Roaster
Designed for small-batch commercial applications, the machine comes integrated with an IoT platform designed specifically to ensure quality and improve efficiency for operators in cafe, restaurant, hospitality or office settings… read more
Madison’s JBC Coffee Earns Top Spot in Coffee Review’s Best of 2023
The “Wilson Benitez Pink Bourbon” offering was one of two roasted coffees to receive a Coffee Review all-time-high score of 98 this year (a Gesha-variety coffee from Taiwan’s GK Coffee was the other)… read more
Coffee World Mourns Death of Fedora-Sporting Friend Gianni Cassatini
Almost always wearing a fedora hat made by the Italian brand Borsalino, Cassatini achieved legendary status in the coffee industry in large part through his unbridled enthusiasm and unwavering support for coffee competitions and the baristas taking part in them… read more
Al Liu to Lead Sustainable Harvest’s Expansion of ‘Let’s Talk Coffee’
Green coffee trading company Sustainable Harvest plans to expand its progressive and influential Let’s Talk Coffee event series under the direction of longtime specialty coffee professional Al Liu… read more
Three Questions with Rwandan Coffee Expert Laetitia Mukandahiro
In a sunny yellow room with a large coffee taster’s flavor wheel on one wall and a branded jute bag on the opposite wall, Laetitia Mukandahiro and Uzziel Habimana of the coffee education and export company Ikawa House prepare for their morning cupping session in Kigali, Rwanda… read more
Postscript is a Fresh Addition to San Francisco’s Coffee Scene
A new cafe, specialty food market and juice bar called Postscript is adding to a previously sleepy corner of the Financial District of San Francisco. The new spot notably includes an in-house roasting operation led by Director of Coffee John Laird, formerly of AKA Coffee… read more
Comment