Coffee professionals and brands are increasingly adopting generative AI. But should an industry that prides itself on authenticity and sustainability really be embracing such a destructive tool?
Coffee associations unite, as do coffee researchers. It's another bumper edition of coffee news this week—here's a snippet of my full article, which you can read over at Fresh Cup Magazine:
The National Coffee Association teamed up with the Specialty Coffee Association to produce a specialty-specific spinoff of its biannual National Coffee Data Trends report. The big news this time? More survey respondents reported drinking specialty coffee in the past day than regular ol' "traditional" coffee. (It is worth noting that the NCA defines "specialty" as pretty much any coffee that the consumer perceives to be "premium".)
For decades, scientists have been breeding new coffee varieties with the aim of withstanding the ravages of coffee leaf rust, one of coffee's deadliest foes. Now, a team of researchers from across the globe have teamed up for World Coffee Research's new study on how various coffee varieties coped with CLR in real world conditions. The result? While no single variety was completely immune, several exhibited "high resistance" across various research sites.
I love this story, honestly: Baristas, roasters, cuppers, and coffee farmers all have competitions designed to lift up and celebrate their professions. Now, the espresso machine manufacturer Nuova Simonelli has created a new competition, specifically aimed at celebrating a more unsung industry professional: the coffee technician.
Drinking coffee might help you live longer, especially if you take it black. A new study looked at the impact of coffee on all-cause mortality, and found that drinking at least one cup per day was associated with a 16% lower risk of death. However, adding milk and sugar decreased the possible health benefits.
There's lots more, including four separate pieces of unionising news, so check out the full Roundup 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.
Fionn Pooler
Fionn Pooler
