Denver’s Amethyst Coffee closed in 2022, two years after raising prices to better compensate staff. But that doesn’t mean the project was a failure—in fact, it still offers lessons for the industry today.
For paid subscribers: What do Naomi Campbell, Tom Brady, Sydney Sweeney, and Ice-T have in common?
Hello and welcome to a rather slow week for coffee news.
At least, the stories that make this Roundup tick. While there are stories, the week was sadly lacking in wacky missives about using volcanoes to roast coffee or the latest drink trend (coffee brewed using hot pineapple water? A French press made of chocolate?)
That being said, there’s always something happening, so we may as well take a look.
After making changes to the way its coffee market operates over the past couple of years, Ethiopia is introducing new production and marketing reforms in a bid to triple the country’s output in the next five years.
Production strategies include replacing and pruning old coffee trees to simulate growth, but it is the marketing reforms that could make all the difference. According to Bloomberg, these will enable farmers to skip some parts of Ethiopia’s notoriously convoluted supply chain and export directly, allowing them to receive more of the profit for their harvest.
Coffee is Ethiopia’s main export, bringing in $866 million in 2017. These new strategies hope to take production from 600,000 tons to 1.8 million tons by 2024, which will hopefully mean a lot more income for farmers, and less incentive to switch to avocados like is happening in Kenya and Tanzania.
Soon you’ll be able to own shares in everyone’s favorite secretive coffee conglomerate.
That’s right, JAB Holdings, owners of Keurig, Peet’s, Intelligentsia, Stumptown, and, er, Kenco, is planning to list its coffee and restaurant divisions on the ol’ stock exchange.
What does this mean? Well, money. Lots of money.
According to the report, going public could bring in billions to be used in additional acquisitions, setting up an even more intense battle with Starbucks and (ugh) Nestlé.
Oh, and speaking of those two…
It’s finally happening. The deal between the two definitely-not-frightened-of-JAB companies to combine their megalomaniacal talents to sell more coffee to confused grocery store shoppers is launching.
The idea, as best it can be understood, is that Nestlé gave Starbucks $7 billion (billion) to let them put the mermaid logo on their capsule coffee whatsits in order to hawk more of them. Apparently Nespresso isn’t attractive enough, so they’re trying to trick people into buying their mediocre coffee by pretending it’s slightly less mediocre.
Seven. Billion. Dollars.
Oh look Starbucks again.
Since Howard Schultz started hinting at a run for president, the backlash against him on social media has been severe to say the least.
The idea of a billionaire corporate centrist running as an independent is anathema to many, especially as he could potentially split the Democratic vote, and Schultz’s proclamations since his announcement have not exactly reassured people.
Starbucks has even had to issue talking points for its poor baristas to diffuse any political talk over the espresso machine.
And now, according to Bloomberg, it could get worse for the coffee behemoth. Talk of a boycott is spreading, leading some investors to bet against the company due to Schultz’s potential candidacy.
It’s worth repeating once again (because it’s funny) the fact that Schultz is incredibly unpopular with both sides, and even with independents.
This is national news.
How is this national news.
Well, it can make you more generous—and generosity has definite psychological benefits, probably. That checks out.
Anyway, a study by Yale researchers has found that people holding hot drinks are more likely to give something to others than those holding cold beverages.
Why would anyone study this, you ask? That is a good question. Maybe researchers at Yale don’t have anything better to do. Or maybe they’re just messing with everyone, to see what nonsensical research we’ll report and discuss.
Hang on, are we the experiment?
Coffee For Overachievers: A Comprehensive Guide To Better Brew by The Wall Street Journal
Coffee Farmers Face Increasing Pressure To Migrate by Dan McQuillan
The Lost Coffee Species: The Story of Coffea Stenophylla by Nick Brown
Until next week, drink good coffee.
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Dec 1, 2016 Coffee At The Movies Episode 3: Looper Dec 1, 2016 Dec 1, 2016
Nov 24, 2016 Coffee At The Movies Episode 2: The Big Lebowski Nov 24, 2016 Nov 24, 2016
Nov 17, 2016 Coffee At The Movies Episode 1: Scott Pilgrim Vs The World Nov 17, 2016 Nov 17, 2016
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