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?
A slightly delayed newsletter this week, due to Memorial Day in the States (Fresh Cup always publishes on the Tuesday after a holiday) plus the fact that I was driving most of yesterday coming back from a holiday of my own.
Coffea Canephora (a.k.a. robusta) is becoming more and more popular, but it still lags behind arabica in terms of attention to sensory analysis. To tackle this, a team of researchers from Brazil created a robusta-specific flavour wheel. The goal of the new wheel is to standardise aroma and flavour descriptors so farmers and researchers can continue improving robusta’s quality.
Starbucks in South Korea has blocked customers from using the names of presidential candidates in the country's upcoming election when ordering drinks via the mobile app. Customers had been adding political phrases to their orders, forcing baristas to call the slogans out when a drink was ready.
In collaboration with the charity Farm Africa, a community-led project in Ethiopia's Oromia region reforested more than 5,000 acres of land, boosted household incomes by 45%, and increased coffee exports by 70% over the course of three years. “The Forest Coffee project shows that protecting nature doesn’t have to mean sacrificing income,” one participant said. “With ingenuity we can grow profitable new income streams rooted in production methods that restore and protect our ecosystems.”
If you missed it, why not check out my latest article on the looming $10 latte and how specialty coffee can go about communicating price rises to a consumer base that has been taught to undervalue the drink:
Paid subscribers will receive a bonus article this Friday, but until then it's goodbye from a new guest End of Newsletter star, George Puss, who is enjoying the Lake District sunshine:
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
