Starbucks’ MAHA Misstep
For paid subscribers: What Starbucks’ CEO Brian Niccol’s meeting with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. says about the company’s embrace of coffee’s wellness trend—and the trend’s darker side.
Latest news (Page 2)
Bonus Coffee Buzzwords
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".
A Short Lexicon of Coffee Buzzwords
Coffee is filled with buzzwords that lack agreed-upon definitions: slightly woolly terms like “Sustainable,” “Ethical,” even “Specialty.” Companies use them constantly to sell more coffee—but what do these words actually mean?
Coffee Conversations: Stuart Freedman on Photographing the Indian Coffee House
The photojournalist and author discusses his experiences capturing the essence of India’s oldest and largest coffee chain, as well as its legacy and importance as a resistance to brands like Starbucks.
Coffee Q Grader Changes Cause Confusion and Consternation
It's the Coffee News Roundup: Week Ending April 25th
A Fundraiser for Gaza Hopes to Wake Up the Coffee Industry
For 18 months, the coffee industry has remained mostly silent about the ongoing destruction of Gaza. A new fundraiser hopes to raise money—and jolt the industry awake.
Yes, Starbucks Engages in Coffeewashing. But Don’t Let Reactionaries Weaponise It.
For paid subscribers: I’ve written before about Starbucks’ myriad climate issues, but now conservative activist shareholders are trying to weaponise those failings in service of a climate denialist goal.
‘Sustainable’ Airline Coffee Is a Contradiction in Terms
How can supposedly ethical coffee brands pitch themselves as environmentally conscious while partnering with airlines?
