Coffee Features
A collection of all in-depth coffee features on The Pourover.
Honorary President of Swiss Coffee Trade Association Resigns, Calls for Widespread Change
Coffee industry veteran Walter Zwald has resigned from his honorary role at the Swiss Coffee Trade Association, alleging ethical failures among some of the world’s largest coffee companies and calling for mandatory sustainability standards.
After Years of Union Avoidance, External Pressure Is Building on Starbucks
Nearly five years since the first Starbucks location unionised, contract negotiations are still dragging on. Can external pressure from shareholders and human-rights campaigners make a difference?
What Would a ‘Super’ El Niño Mean for Coffee?
Meteorologists are predicting that an exceptionally strong El Niño will likely form in 2026. If past events are any indication, the impacts on coffee could be profound.
Attack of the (Coffee) Drones
Tech CEOs and other prognosticators have described drones as the future of coffee delivery for more than a decade. Why haven’t they materialised yet?
The Coffee Industry’s Petroleum Problem
As the Hormuz Strait blockade and its cascading consequences lay bare, coffee is still profoundly reliant on petroleum and its byproducts.
On the Unfounded Fears of Coffee Contamination
The internet is full of warnings about the dangers lurking within coffee, whether it’s mould, mycotoxins, or other contaminants. The truth, however, is far more prosaic.
The Coffee Industry Is Unequal. A Marxist Economic Theory Explains How.
Demand for coffee is growing, and climate change threatens supply—yet consumers don’t want to pay more. In an intensified and unequal industry, however, someone always pays.
How Union Contracts Protect and Empower Coffee Workers
As well as improved pay and benefits, a ratified union contract offers coffee workers power in an often-exploitative industry.
In Colombia, SANA is Providing Much-Needed Mental Health Support for Women Coffee Farmers
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.
Jeffrey Epstein’s Coffee Ties
The release of millions of Jeffrey Epstein's emails uncovered volumes of sordid information. They also revealed more banal details—like his coffee habits.
Up All Night: Why the Graveyard Shift Represents an Untapped Coffee Market
Many people visit cafes during the workday—but for those who work nights, good coffee remains woefully scarce. Now, one enterprising Australian is trying to change that.
What Does Success in Coffee Look Like? (Republish)
Denver’s Amethyst Coffee closed in 2022, two years after raising prices to better compensate staff. But that doesn’t mean the project was a failure—in fact, it still offers lessons for the industry today.