A complex web of pressures, from climate change to tariffs, are pushing up coffee prices. But the industry has a challenge: How to communicate necessary price rises to consumers without scaring them off.
For paid subscribers: deleted scenes from last week's lexicon. Musings on the words "Sustainability", "Specialty", and the old-school buzzwords like "Artisan" and "Gourmet".
Lots of little stories in the coffee world this week, so I did a speedrun through some of the more interesting ones, including:
A new catalogue of robusta coffees
Vietnamese coffee production falls as farmers look to more profitable fruit
FairWave Coffee Collective is hoovering up more midwestern brands
The Weeknd teams up with Blue Bottle
And lots more, including new (hopefully more sustainable) packaging options and some health news about coffee thickening the macular retinal nerve fiber layer—which is good.
I’m taking a wee break so no article this Friday, but I’ll be back probably next week with a new interview. Until then, here’s Merlin guarding the alley:
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.
