Coffee Features
A collection of all in-depth coffee features on The Pourover.
Mergers, Acquisitions, and the Future of the Coffee Industry
Acquisitions and consolidation have always been part of coffee. Does the latest wave point to an industry in decline—or one ripe for renewal?
The Hyperreality of Specialty Coffee
Well-funded startups mimic the aesthetics and language of specialty coffee. Giant multinationals cosplay community. Companies chase trends created by social media. It all points towards coffee's growing hyperreality.
Trump’s Tariffs Leave the Coffee Industry Facing an Uncertain New Era
Onerous and erratic tariffs have upended the coffee trade, incentivising loopholes and workarounds. Collectively, these changes herald an uncertain new era for the global coffee industry.
The Coffee Industry Will Regret Embracing Generative AI
Coffee professionals and brands are increasingly adopting generative AI. But should an industry that prides itself on authenticity and sustainability really be embracing such a destructive tool?
The Long and Complicated History of Coffee Smuggling
Smuggling has been a part of coffee since the beginning, and continues in many forms today. In the process, it reveals much about the industry’s power structures.
Forget Starbucks—Yemeni Coffeehouses Are the Real Third Places
While Starbucks tries to return to its coffeehouse roots, a new wave of cafes spreading across the United States show how to really build a welcoming third place.
We’re All Trying To Find the Coffee Company Who Did This
Big brands love to bemoan the plight of coffee farmers without acknowledging their role in creating that plight.
Coffee’s Soft Power Shift
The United States has long been at the centre of the global coffee industry. But as policies shift under the Trump administration, that dominance is under threat.
The Next Step in the Coffee Union Wave? Building Global Solidarity
Workers at Blue Bottle Coffee, acquired by Nestlé in 2017, have unionised. Now, they’re building international solidarity with the conglomerate’s union in Colombia.
Who Benefits From Coffee’s Enduring Newsworthiness?
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?
The $10 Latte is Coming—But Who Will Buy It?
A complex web of pressures, from climate change to tariffs, are pushing up coffee prices. But the industry has a challenge: How to communicate necessary price rises to consumers without scaring them off.
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?