Demand for coffee is growing, and climate change threatens supply—yet consumers don’t want to pay more. In an intensified and unequal industry, however, someone always pays.
For paid subscribers: One of Howard Schultz’ final acts as Starbucks CEO was inflicting upon us a line of olive oil-infused coffee drinks. He was so confident the Oleato would change the world. It didn’t.
Back in the swing of things with a new Roundup. So what’s been going on?
China’s coffee consumption is growing, as is the number of coffee companies trying to take advantage. This has led to rapid expansion, and “cut-throat competition” according to Reuters.
The Italian brand De’Longhi is forming a super-group of espresso machine brands, combining La Marzocco and Eversys into one “world-class operator in the professional coffee machine industry.”
Delta and Starbucks are going to war with disposable cups, in different ways: Delta is switching to paper-only cups on its planes, while Starbucks will now allow you to bring your reusable cup to the drive-thru. For the planet, you understand.
The quotes this week oscillated between corporate-speak and unchecked honesty. I especially liked this one from a worker at the newly-unionized Hex & Co. board game cafe chain: “There is not a group of people better at organizing than a bunch of nerds.”
If you missed it, my latest somewhat navel-gazing piece looks at the State of the Pourover, and includes the announcement that you can nowbecome a paid subscriberto support my work:
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. It's pronounced Fin (he/him)
Fionn Pooler
