For paid subscribers: What Starbucks’ CEO Brian Niccol’s meeting with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. says about the company’s embrace of coffee’s wellness trend—and the trend’s darker side.
Workers at Blue Bottle Coffee, acquired by Nestlé in 2017, have unionised. Now, they’re building international solidarity with the conglomerate’s union in Colombia.
Did you watch the Oscars last night? I didn’t (too late for me) but I eagerly checked the winners this morning to see which film won Best Picture. Read on to learn why—but first:
The Specialty Coffee Association is shaking up its membership program, switching to a new model which “will focus on providing value and connectivity to the growing international community, enhanced features for companies, and new pricing structure.”
Indonesia and Vietnam are two of the largest coffee growers and exporters but a growth in local consumption means both countries have been importing coffee from Brazil. This increase comes as drought and erratic weather, brought by El Niño and fueled by climate change, impact coffee production in Southeast Asia.
Can coffee predict future Oscar winners? A “study” published last week claimed to be able to tell which movie would win Best Picture based on the number of scenes featuring coffee. Apparently, Killers of the Flower Moon was a shoo-in because it had six coffee appearances, while Oppenheimer stood no chance due to a measly two scenes featuring coffee. Guess which film won last night.
It’s a much-needed update to a story I covered last year, especially in light of some recent union decertifications at Ultimo and Good Karma. Here’s my piece from August:
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
