Coffee & Politics
Coffee is political. There's no getting away from it, no matter how much the industry would like to ignore its connection to the wider world.
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.
Community vs. Complicity: How Coffee Shops Have Responded to ICE's Minnesota Onslaught
Independent coffee shops are speaking up for their neighbours and saying no to ICE in their stores. Some big coffee brands, however, have taken a different approach.
How To Save Coffee: Lessons From the Degrowth Movement
Coffee is increasingly at risk from the climate crisis, and corporate-driven incremental change won’t save it. The theory of degrowth offers hope for a better world and a fairer coffee industry.
The Moral Cost of Dubai’s Coffee Boom
The coffee scene in Dubai is thriving, and the city is set to welcome the Specialty Coffee Association’s World of Coffee event next month. But underneath the glitzy facade and marketing buzz lies a moral quagmire.
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.
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.
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.
Travel Warnings and Detainments Cast a Shadow Over America’s Biggest Coffee Trade Show
Amidst the U.S. government’s crackdown at the border and a raft of anti-trans legislation in Texas, some coffee professionals are skipping the Specialty Coffee Association’s Expo in Houston.
Musk and Trump’s ‘Plutocratic Coup’ Could Upend the Coffee Industry
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are bulldozing the U.S. government. While nothing is certain, the impact on the coffee industry is already significant.
Coffee, Community, and a Year of Silence
The coffee industry loves “community”, but it doesn’t always love the solidarity that the word signifies. Nowhere is this more obvious than in its reaction—or lack thereof—to the genocide in Gaza.
Please Just Let Millennials Enjoy Our Coffee
That latte you just bought is the reason you won’t be able to retire, according to the financial gurus. But why has coffee become such a potent symbol of Millennial misspending in the first place?
How Corporations and Executives Captured the Coffee Industry’s Profits
The global coffee industry is worth hundreds of billions of dollars, and yet many stakeholders struggle to make ends meet. As corporate revenues climb, it’s worth examining where those profits go.