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Café William press release photo.
Cargo Sailboat Making Second Voyage from Colombia to Canada
Quebec’s Café William announced the second coffee voyage of the TransOceanic Wind Transport (TOWT) cargo sailboat, carrying Colombian green coffee beans to the Port of Rimouski. Coffees coming from the Anei Cooperative are destined for William’s all-electric roastery. William and TOWT partnered for the inaugural coffee-shipping voyage of the TOWT last year, promoting wind power over traditional container shipping vessels.
Warren Buffett’s Son Leads $170 Million Coca-to-Coffee Initiative in Colombia
Warren Buffett’s son Howard Buffett is partnering with Mercy Corps on a massive crop conversion program designed to help more than 11,300 Colombian farming families trade coca plants for coffee. The program is reaching farmers in the regions of El Tambo, Cauca and Catatumbo, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Coffee Prices Surge Nearly $1 as Market Pressures Mount
The ICO’s August report shows coffee prices jumped 14.6% to 297.05 cents per pound — a nearly $1 increase driven by U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods, looming EUDR deadlines and sluggish commercialization.
Nestlé CEO Ousted Over Workplace Romance, Nespresso Chief Takes Helm
Swiss food giant Nestlé fired CEO Laurent Freixe after investigating an undisclosed relationship with a subordinate. The company immediately promoted 25-year company veteran and Nespresso CEO Philipp Navratil to the top role.
NIBL Backs Himalayan Java’s Global Expansion
Nepal’s NIBL Ace Capital has acquired a 28.8% stake in the country’s pioneering specialty coffee brand, Himalayan Java, to fuel international growth, starting with South Asia, according to an announcement from the groups. “This investment reflects our long-standing commitment to help modernize Nepali businesses to compete in the global arena,” said NIBL CEO Shivanth Bahadur Pande.
Wilmington Coffee Fest Brews Up Competition and Community
Downtown Wilmington, North Carolina’s Cargo District will host coffee pros and enthusiasts alike on Sept. 26-27 for cocktail showdowns, latte art throwdowns, coffee tastings and more as part of the Wilmington Coffee Fest. Proceeds will benefit nonprofits.
NY Times Tackles Luckin vs. Starbucks Storyline
The latest in a long string of mainstream news stories framing a Luckin vs. Starbucks clash on U.S. soil comes from the New York Times. “For Starbucks, Luckin’s arrival is an uncomfortable challenge from a company that the Seattle chain, in a sense, helped create,” Times reporter Tim Balk wrote.
Starbucks Jumps on Protein with New Menu
Starbucks locations in the U.S. and Canada are rolling out a new menu of “protein lattes” and “protein cold foams,” featuring multiple flavors and customizations, beginning Sept. 29. According to the coffee giant, protein-boosted milk will give the lattes 27-36 grams of protein per Grande (16-ounce) drink.
Vermont’s Nomad Coffee Finds New Owner After Tragedy
The partners in Burlington, Vermont-based Nomad Coffee have sold the shop to Williston Coffee Shop owner Eric Kelley for an undisclosed sum following the unexpected death of Nomad baker and owner Chris Johnson in March, according to local outlet Seven Days.
Electrolux Relocating French Coffee Equipment Production
The professional division of Swedish appliance giant Electrolux is streamlining its operations, including relocating some of its coffee machine production in France. Electrolux acquired French espresso machine company Unic in 2019.
New from CoffeeIndustryJobs.com
- Quality Assurance Associate — La Marzocco
- Bookkeeper — Crop To Cup Coffee Importers
- Coffee Roaster — Pinup Coffee Co
- Espresso and Maintenance Technician — Amavida Coffee and Trading Company
- Coffee Quality Control Technician — Equal Exchange
- Trading Coordinator II — Covoya Specialty Coffee
- ICE Mechanic – Journey Worker — Kauai Coffee
- Roast Plant Operator — Kauai Coffee
- Mechanical Equipment Shop Supervisor — Kauai Coffee
- Green Coffee Buyer + Roaster — Tinker Coffee Co.
ICYMI
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
How Europe’s Deforestation Law Could Change the Global Coffee Trade
Even outside Europe, big buyers are likely to prioritize beans they can trace to non-deforested plots, potentially dropping small farms that can’t provide plot-level proof… read more
Black Rock Coffee Bar Files for IPO, Seeks to Raise $265 Million
Black Rock Coffee Bar, the drive-thru-focused chain that started as a single stand in Oregon in 2008, officially filed for an IPO, while outlining long-term plans for national store growth… read more
Not All Agroforestry Systems Are Created Equal (or Funded Equally)
Not all agroforestry projects are funded equally, suggests a new comment paper published in Nature Climate Change… read more
High-Quality Greens for a High-Impact Cause at Upcoming Grounds for Health Auction
The annual Grounds for Health green coffee and equipment auction returns Thursday, Sept. 18, giving roasters an opportunity to buy special, traceable coffees while supporting the noble cause of women’s health… read more
Study: Moderate Coffee Drinking May Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
A new long-term study found that drinking one to three cups of coffee per day may be the sweet spot for older adults seeking to prevent cognitive decline… read more
NitroBrew Launches Brix, a Quick Fix for Coffee on Tap
Arizona-based beer and coffee equipment company NitroBrew just rolled out Brix, a compact inline solution for automatically diluting and nitro-infusing coffee concentrate into ready-to-drink cold brews… read more
Study Explores How Nut Milks Stack Up Against Dairy in Coffee
Milk choice has come a long way since the olden times of “third place” cafes, when maybe the most progressive shop in the neighborhood would carry soy milk alongside the gallon jugs of fully hormonized cow’s milk… read more
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