Chatbots telling us what we want. Robots making our coffee. Baristas reduced to smiling servers. If Starbucks and other brands get their way, this is the future: a frictionless, interactionless, lifeless coffee experience.
The internet is full of warnings about the dangers lurking within coffee, whether it’s mould, mycotoxins, or other contaminants. The truth, however, is far more prosaic.
Why does Starbucks insist on antagonizing its core customer base?
Many college campuses serve Starbucks—Gen Z is, after all, fueling Starbucks continued growth—but now some students are urging their universities to ditch the company over its anti-union tactics. “This can happen on any university campus, with any affiliate of Starbucks, and it will happen if they continue to union-bust,” said Nick Wilson, a Cornell student and former Starbucks worker.
Plus, Cxffeeblack is raising funds for its barista exchange program, and Dean from Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee is retiring and the company is becoming a worker-owned co-op.
Read the full Roundup over at Fresh Cup Magazine:
I’ll be back this Friday with a new feature, but until then it’s goodbye from Merlin:
It's the Coffee News Roundup: Week Ending April 17th
Deeply researched articles exploring all the ways coffee connects to politics, history, and culture—delivered direct to your inbox
