Lucia Bawot’s initiative has helped more than 100 women coffee farmers in Colombia access mental health support. The programme’s success offers a blueprint for the wider 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.
UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage already includes both Turkish and Arabic coffee. The Ethiopian coffee ceremony could soon join them, after the launch of a campaign to have it recognised by the United Nations agency. The UNESCO list celebrates and preserves humanity's more abstract achievements, such as folklore, customs, and knowledge. “The Ethiopian coffee ceremony is not merely about drinking coffee; it is a deeply rooted tradition that brings people together, fosters understanding, and strengthens community ties,” Latifa Aba Biya, head of the Jima Town Culture Office, said.
Yet another delay notwithstanding, the European Union's deforestation regulation is finally going to be implemented at the end of this year. However, in a probable oversight, instant coffee is not covered by the legislation. This means that, theoretically, a company with the right set up could buy and process deforestation-linked coffee into instant outwith the bloc, then import the finished product into the EU without technically violating the law. An unnamed source told Food Navigator that instant's absence was "a big, glaring omission".
According to a new Swedish study featuring more than 25,000 participants, coffee doesn't actually mess with your sleep that much. In fact, the researchers found that lower coffee intake was associated with poorer sleep quality, while those who drank more coffee enjoyed better sleep. (As a bad sleeper who occasionally drinks too much coffee and suffers an even worse night, these results are confounding.)
For more on all these stories, and to find out how the South Korean trend of "health pleasure" is impacting the country's coffee sector, check out the full Roundup over at Fresh Cup Magazine:
If you missed it, why not check out my latest Pourover deep dive: a profile of Lucia Bawot's SANA initiative, which helps women coffee farmers in Colombia access mental healthcare. It's already helped 100+ women, and its success offers lessons for the wider coffee industry:
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
