Coffee companies are going all in on automation. We’re told that it improves efficiency, cuts costs, and yields a better product. But what does it mean for the baristas whose labour these automations displace?
A new report looked at how value is distributed along the coffee supply chain. Surprise! There’s plenty of money in coffee, but it mostly stays on the consuming end. (Ashley at Fresh Cup did a great deep dive on the report, which I recommend reading.)
Snapchill, the hot-brewed-then-flash-chilled company that works to brew and can coffee from many big specialty names, issued a voluntary recall over concerns of botulism (although it was mostly a paperwork issue).
Americans love coffee—but they love specialty coffee slightly more. That’s the main takeaway from the specialty-focused analysis of the latest National Coffee Association consumer trends report. “Coffee’s enduring popularity and growth shows that America’s favorite beverage keeps up with consumers’ taste for tradition just as well as it meets changing needs and preferences over time,” said NCA President and CEO Bill Murray in a press release.
Read more about all these stories, plus how coffee is good for you this week (it’s beneficial for those of us who spend most of our day sitting down), over at Fresh Cup Magazine:
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.
Fionn Pooler
