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Weekly Coffee News: Remembering a Bay Area Pioneer + New Academic Certificate

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Texas A&M Launches Academic Coffee Certificate

Texas A&M University is launching an undergraduate certificate in coffee called the Coffee Processing and Quality Certificate. The certificate was designed for students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, but is open to students in all disciplines, according to the university.

Remembering Bay Area Coffee Pioneer Michael McLaughlin

Eater late last week shared the story of Michael “Mike” McLaughlin, a local coffee legend who died in April. The Oakland native was the co-founder of importing company Royal Coffee and longtime head of the eponymous McLaughlin Coffee Roasting Company.

Foxtrot Plans to Reopen After Abrupt Shutdown

After abruptly closing all 33 of its boutique market and cafe locations throughout the United States in April, Foxtrot plans to reopen 12-16 stores with restructured ownership, according to a Dallas Morning News report.

Honduras Cup of Excellence Auction Coming July 11

The 20th Honduras Cup of Excellence competition resulted in 29 winning producers, with coffees heading to auction on July 11. Among seven microlots scoring 90+ was the top lot, a washed-process Gesha coffee from Benjamin Paz Muñoz scoring 91.21.

Cafe Imports Announces Relationship with Colombia’s Genesis Coffee Sourcing

Minneapolis-based green coffee trading company Cafe Imports has announced a business relationship with Genesis Coffee Sourcing, a Huila, Colombia-based producer collective.

Wacaco Introduces a New Minipresso Travel Device

Hong Kong-based coffee equipment maker Wacaco has introduced a new version of its Minipresso, a travel espresso device first launched in 2013, called the Minipresso GR2. The new model, which is 30% smaller, is selling for $59.90.

Vinci Coffee Rolls Out Redesigned Cold Brew Maker

Los Angeles-based housewares brand Vinci Coffee introduced a new model of its electric cold brew maker called the Express 2 Cold Brew. The new machine introduces a new carafe and push-button interface, while selling for $20 less than the original at $59.99.

Dunn Brothers Names Dan Schafer VP of Operations

Minneapolis-based Dunn Brothers Coffee named Dan Schafer as Vice President of Operations. The former operations head at Aromas Restaurant Group and Râko Coffee Roasters, Schafer will help lead an aggressive U.S. expansion plan for the coffee roasting and retail chain. Dunn Brothers was acquired by Gala Capital Partners in 2022.

Ferris Coffee Named Official Coffee of Detroit Lions

The NFL’s Detroit Lions have an official coffee, courtesy of Grand Rapids-based Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. The organizations are planning to jointly release a Lions-themed blend called Honolulu Brew to kick off the 2024 NFL season.

Sodexo Acquires Austin’s Capitol Vending and Coffee

Global foodservice giant Sodexo has acquired Austin, Texas-based vending and office coffee company Capitol Vending and Coffee. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…

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Report: 45% of US Adults Said They Drank Specialty Coffee Yesterday

Consumption of specialty coffee in the United States is on the rise, driven by younger consumers, according to the latest report from the National Coffee Association and the Specialty Coffee Associationread more

European Roasters Call for Delay in EU Deforestation Rules (EUDR)

A consortium of large European green coffee purchasing and roasting companies is asking EU lawmakers to delay implementation of Europe’s new anti-deforestation law… read more

Brazil and China’s Luckin Coffee Signal $500 Million Trade Deal

Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Chinese coffee roasting and retail giant Luckin Coffee signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) this week for a trade deal involving the purchase of approximately 120,000 tons of Brazilian coffee… read more

Brazil Coffee Report: Upward Prediction for Production, Exports and Revenue

Better weather and higher demand for Brazilian coffees — the latter caused by weather-related production shortages in Vietnam and other key countries — is projected to contribute to increased production and exports in the 2024/25 market year… read more

Vietnam Coffee Report: Production Steady, Moderated by Climate Change

Coffee production in Vietnam for the 2024/25 year is forecast to remain steady at approximately 29 million 60-kilogram bags (robusta and arabica combined)… read more

Philadelphia’s OCF Coffee Closing All Shops After Union Push

Citing legal costs associated with a new unionization effort, the owner of small Philadelphia-based specialty coffee chain OCF Coffee House announced the closure of all three locations… read more

Instant Coffee Paste in a Tube is Here

Instant coffee in a tube has arrived, courtesy of a Zurich, Switzerland-based startup called No Normal Coffeeread more

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