Onerous and erratic tariffs have upended the coffee trade, incentivising loopholes and workarounds. Collectively, these changes herald an uncertain new era for the global coffee industry.
For paid subscribers: A tale of international intrigue, bank fraud, and coffee smuggling from the 1980s that sounds like an episode of Miami Vice.
It's been a long year—catch up everything that's happened.
Happy new year! It’s 2024, but before we dive back into the weekly news grind, why not relive the highs and lows of 2023 with a long, hopefully pretty exhaustive rundown of the last year in coffee.
There’s a lot in there, from all the Starbucks union stuff to loads of acquisitions to more climate instability. Plus, was coffee good for us last year? (Answer: mostly! Sortof! Hard to say! Health studies are weird!)
Check out the full piece over at Fresh Cup Magazine:
I’m taking an extra week off so no full article this weekend, but look out for a 2024 update/State of the Pourover newsletter on Friday.
Finally, thanks for reading the Pourover over the last year! I’m excited for what 2024 will bring (kicking off with a couple of big pieces over the next month or so).
Until next week, it’s happy new year from Merlin:
It's the Coffee News Roundup: Week Ending August 22nd
It's the Coffee News Roundup: Week Ending August 15th
A newsletter about coffee—its culture, politics, and how it connects to the wider world.
