For paid subscribers: A look at what makes coffee health studies so attractive to news organisations and readers, and how such stories also benefit the coffee industry.
Coffee is always in the news, from health studies to novel products to stunt job postings. But what do these “earned media” stories tell us about the motivations behind such coverage?
Starbucks is raising wages—well, sort of. A tiny bit. For some workers. Depending on their tenure. And not all unionized workers will get the same raises as their non-union colleagues. Plus it’s a pretty pitiful amount—at most 5% if you’ve worked at Starbucks for 5 years—especially when you consider the company’s record sales and CEO Laxman Narasimhan’s pay packet of potentially $28 million plus.
A legal-but-shady loophole letting traders at the Intercontinental Exchange reclassify old coffee is about to close, and it could be the reason stockpiles appear to be falling. Get Poirot on the case!
And researchers looked into the effects of coffee and alcohol on sleep, choosing financial traders as their guinea pigs because they consume a lot of both.
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
