Coffee is increasingly at risk from the climate crisis, and corporate-driven incremental change won’t save it. The theory of degrowth offers hope for a better world and a fairer coffee industry.
Hello, and welcome to the Roundup. Every week, I read all the coffee news and write about the best bits for Fresh Cup Magazine. Then, I summarise those bits for you in this newsletter.
Retail coffee prices remain high despite tariff relief and the C price falling in recent weeks. (Multiple corporate coffee CEOs have said they expect prices to stay high for the foreseeable future.) But high prices haven't yet impacted demand—they've just made people change their coffee-drinking habits. The data backs it up: Lower cost chains like 7 Brew are becoming more popular, while more people are buying beans online and brewing at home.
Collectively we produce upwards of 60 million tons of coffee grounds every year, a lot of which goes to landfill (and often ends up contaminating groundwater). In an effort to avoid this, researchers have looked for various ways to reuse coffee waste: using it to capture emissions or adding it to concrete, for example. The latest attempt comes in the form of water purification: two new studies showed that coffee grounds can be used to filter lead and other toxic heavy metals from contaminated water.
There have also been some odd products made from coffee waste...
A few weeks ago, we found out that Nestlé is considering selling Blue Bottle after eight years. But to whom? Well, now we know at least one potential name: Luckin Coffee, the fast-growing chain that is comprehensively outmanoeuvring Starbucks in China and has already expanded to the U.S. According to Bloomberg, Luckin (and its private equity backer, Centurium Capital) have been eyeing up a number of acquisitions recently, including Costa Coffee and the company that operates % Arabica's Chinese business.
For more on all these stories, plus how Starbucks Workers United has been escalating its pressure tactics by targeting distribution centres (and the company's headquarters), check out the full Roundup over at Fresh Cup Magazine:
Speaking of Blue Bottle, I wrote a feature for Fresh Cup looking at the Blue Bottle Independent Union's campaign, their recent strike action, and what the rumoured sale might mean for the union's future:
(I also interviewed Abbey and Alex a few months ago for a Pourover piece on how BBIU is building solidarity with international Nestlé unions.)
Paid subscribers will receive a bonus article this weekend, but until then I hope you have a safe and restful holiday season. Thanks for reading The Pourover!
And it's goodbye from my friend Angela's parents' kitten, who now has a name (Thomas!) and is taking his role as present inspector very seriously:
Thanks for reading! If you'd like to support my work (and get extra bonus articles) why not become a paid subscriber to The Pourover:
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)
Fionn Pooler
Fionn Pooler
Fionn Pooler
