For paid subscribers: A look at what makes coffee health studies so attractive to news organisations and readers, and how such stories also benefit the coffee industry.
Coffee is always in the news, from health studies to novel products to stunt job postings. But what do these “earned media” stories tell us about the motivations behind such coverage?
Welcome to the first Pourover newsletter sent from its new home on Ghost. I finished the process of migrating platforms this week (you can read a bit more about why I moved here) and I've also been working on refreshing the website part of the Pourover. Check it out!
Okay, without further ado, let's get to the news. This week:
Starbucks reversed its policy that let people spend time in its stores without buying anything. As the BBC headline put it: "Buy Something or Leave, Starbucks Says". It's part of a move to make the company "a welcoming coffeehouse again", although it's not clear how making its underpaid baristas kick people out helps in that regard.
A dispute between the co-founders of the Washington, D.C.-based specialty chain Compass Coffee has resulted in a lawsuit in which Harrison Suarez accuses Michael Haft of fraud, breach of contract, and racketeering. Among the highlights is an accusation that Haft used federal pandemic relief funds to invest in Bitcoin.
Negotiations for a first contract between Starbucks and its union have broken down over pay and economic proposals. Starbucks Workers United called the company's proposals "almost laughable", while Starbucks responded that the union's wage demands are "not sustainable". (For reference, as well as some $36 billion in revenue, over the past year Starbucks spent $2.58 billion on dividends and almost $2 billion on stock buybacks.)
For more on all these stories, plus news of how the Los Angeles coffee community has stepped up after the devastating and deadly wildfires, check out the full Roundup over at Fresh Cup Magazine:
Until next week, there's just enough time to check in on Merlin, whom we haven't seen in a while. The old lady is still going (she enjoyed a piece of ham from our local cafe this morning) and here she is being rudely interrupted while having a drink:
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A website and newsletter about coffee—its culture, politics, and how it connects to the wider world.
I'm the creator and writer of The Pourover. Based in Scotland, I have over a decade of experience in the specialty coffee industry as a barista, roaster, and writer. Ask me about coffeewashing.
