For paid subscribers: Coffee is increasingly used to burnish the United Arab Emirates’ international image. Now it is being supercharged by merging with the popularity of the Dubai chocolate trend.
The coffee scene in Dubai is thriving, and the city is set to welcome the Specialty Coffee Association’s World of Coffee event next month. But underneath the glitzy facade and marketing buzz lies a moral quagmire.
First we had coffee fingerprinting, now we’re getting coffee DNA mapping. Italian scientists have used next-generation technology to discover more about arabica coffee’s genetic complexity—and lack of diversity.
Dunkin’ is being sued for discrimination against the lactose-intolerant, specifically around its non-dairy milk surcharges. The lawsuit says that plaintiffs have been charged between 50 cents and $2.15 extra by Dunkin’ for nondairy milk alternatives, which it says is a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Among other unionizing news, baristas at Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea in my old home of Ann Arbor, Michigan held their union election last week. We don’t yet know the result, but since announcing their campaign in December they’ve had to deal with an owner who told the Michigan Advance that “while she understands the attraction to a union conceptually, she doesn’t believe one is necessary at her stores.” 🤨
I’ll be back on Friday with a new article, but until then it’s goodbye from Merlin, who’s upset about something (probably that I didn’t have any treats):
I'm a coffee writer and creator of The Pourover. Based in Scotland, I have over a decade of experience in the specialty coffee industry. Ask me about coffeewashing. (he/him)
