For paid subscribers: From the preposterous tech startup that wanted to roast coffee in space to espresso on the International Space Station, there’s a lot of coffee up there.
Many people visit cafes during the workday—but for those who work nights, good coffee remains woefully scarce. Now, one enterprising Australian is trying to change that.
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 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)
