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?
What went on in the world of coffee last week? Well, among other things:
Starbucks’ focus on convenience—mobile orders, drive-thru, delivery—is great for the customer. Or, it used to be. Workers say that a scheduling algorithm is understaffing stores, leading to longer wait times, stressed baristas, and unhappy customers.
As the EU’s deforestation legislation looms ever closer, some countries are more prepared than others. In Ethiopia, the number of farmers and complexities of the country’s coffee system makes geotagging and tracing every lot difficult, leading some buyers to look elsewhere. NGOs and technology companies are experimenting with ways to address traceability concerns along the coffee supply chain, while some Ethiopian cooperatives are experimenting with their own solutions.
Rudy Giuliani’s new coffee venture is already up against it. “America’s Mayor”, bankrupt and facing a $148 million judgement after losing a defamation lawsuit, recently launched a coffee brand in a totally-not-desperate attempt to raise some quick cash. Now, just a couple of weeks after launch, Giuliani’s creditors have subpoenaed the roasting company that supplies Rudy Coffee. Everything’s going great.
Read more on these stories and the rest of the week’s coffee news 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.
