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Weekly Coffee News: Caffeine and Tinnitus + Recall in 15 States

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Researchers Say the Association Between Caffeine and Tinnitus Remains ‘Contentious’

A recent meta analysis of academic studies investigated the relationships between 15 commonly consumed foods, including caffeinated coffee, and the incidence of tinnitus, a condition characterized by the perception of sounds such as buzzing or ringing without external stimuli. While fruit, dietary fiber and dairy were all associated with reduced incidence of tinnitus, the outcomes regarding caffeine were less clear. “The association between caffeine intake and tinnitus remains contentious,” the paper states. “Our findings indicate that caffeine has a positive effect on tinnitus incidence. Some suggest that caffeine might effectively decrease tinnitus incidence, possibly because of its anxiety-reducing effects. Conversely, some scholars argue that individuals with tinnitus often experience insomnia, in which caffeine consumption could worsen, thus exacerbating tinnitus symptoms.”

Massimo Zanetti Voluntary Recalls Coffee in 15 Midwest States

Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA just issued a voluntary recall of nearly 700 of its 6- and 12-ounce ground coffee bags under the brand name Our Family. Labeled as Traverse City Cherry Artificially Flavored Decaf Light Roast, the bags were distributed by Grand Rapids, Michigan-based SpartanNash Company to 15 Midwest states. The reason for the recall was due to mislabeling regarding caffeination.

Nomad Coffee & Bakery Owner Dies Unexpectedly

Chris (CJ) Johnson, the owner and head baker of Vermont-based Nomad Coffee & Bakery, died unexpectedly this week. On the company’s Instagram, Nomad’s former owners remembered Johnson for “his generous spirit and big heart,” and his “impeccable choice of music at the cafe.”

Xanadu Coffee Owner Sentenced for Attempted Sex Trafficking with a Minor

Randall Denton, owner of Xanadu Coffee Company in Phoenix, was sentenced to one year in prison for attempted sex trafficking with a minor, a class 3 felony. According to police reports, Denton was arrested outside of an Arizona strip mall after text communications with a (non-minor) police officer who was pretending to be a 14-year-old.

Study: Covid-19 Pandemic Changed UK Coffee Habits For Good

Scottish coffee roasting company Matthew Algie commissioned a survey that involved more than 2,000 people to learn how younger UK consumers’ coffee habits were affected by COVID-19. The research found that Millennials and Gen Z consumers are more willing to experiment with different types of coffee at home, while gravitating towards higher quality and promises of sustainable sourcing.

Westrock Coffee Says Nearly One Third of Americans Seek Health-Conscious Coffee

Arkansas-based business-to-business coffee company Westrock Coffee commissioned a consumer coffee study of its own, finding that nearly one third of U.S. consumers are seeking “healthier” coffee or tea options, beyond just sugar reductions.

Caribou Coffee Launches Amy’s Blend to Benefit IWCA

Minnesota-based Caribou Coffee recently relaunched Amy’s Blend, a bagged coffee that honors the company’s original roast master, Amy Erikson, while benefitting the International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA). From now through June 4, $1 from every bag sold will go to IWCA chapter countries from which the blend’s coffees were sourced.

Pegasus Coffee Names Ryan Rabaca as its new Head Roaster

Bainbridge Island, Washington-based Pegasus Coffee Company recently welcomed Ryan Rabaca as its new head of coffee and roasting operations. Rabaca brings 15 years of coffee industry experience to the role, including the past 10 at Seattle-based Caffe Ladro.

FLO and NatureWorks Introduce Industrially Compostable Coffee Pod

European food packaging conglomerate FLO Group and advanced materials company NatureWorks recently released KEYGEA, a 2.6-gram single-serve coffee pod made from a proprietary biopolymer called Ingeo. The pod product is commercially compostable, according to the companies.

Melitta to Launch CoffeeB Balls via German Grocer

Iconic German coffee and accessories brand Melitta is launching two SKUs in April of CoffeeB “Coffee Balls.” Created by Switzerland’s Migros, CoffeeB is a single-serve brewing system that uses condensed, preground coffee balls. Melitta is releasing ball products through grocery chain Edeka and its affiliated discount chains.

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ICYMI

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

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Roest Launches Pre-Orders for the 3-Kilo P3000 Roaster

Norwegian coffee roasting equipment maker Roest is now taking pre-orders for its long-anticipated 3-kilo-capacity production roasting machine called P3000… read more

Here Are the Winners from the African Fine Coffees Association Competitions

The 21st African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition recently concluded in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, shining a light on some of the finest coffees and most talented baristas throughout the region… read more

New Owners of Corner Bakery Cafe Chain Outline Nationwide Expansion

Two years after filing for bankruptcy, the 34-year-old cafe chain Corner Bakery Cafe recently completed renovations of seven stores while opening new company-operated and franchise locations… read more

Study Explores the ‘Arabica-Like’ Cup Qualities of the Stenophylla Coffee Species

Five years ago, after embarking on a mission to find samples of the coffee species stenophylla in the wild in West Africa, renowned coffee plant scientist Aaron Davis spoke with Daily Coffee News about the species’ potential commercial appeal… read more

La Marzocco Launches New App, Adds GBW and Connectivity Capabilities

Italian espresso equipment maker La Marzocco launched an all-new app last week, replacing separate apps for home and pro/commercial users… read more

Design Details: Fungus-Derived Materials at Broche in Oxford, England

Broche Coffee is a tiny coffee shop in the heart of Oxford, England’s Jericho neighborhood, serving fresh baked goods and high-quality specialty coffee… read more

Study: Workplace Super-Automatic Machines Result in More Cholesterol-Elevating Compounds

Coffee from super-automatic workplace coffee makers may contain significantly higher levels of cholesterol-elevating substances than coffee from home and other commercial brewers, according to new research… read more

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