Welcome to DCN’s Weekly Coffee News! Subscribe here for all the latest coffee industry news. Also, check out the latest career opportunities at CoffeeIndustryJobs.com.
Fairtrade Foundation Releases Statement on Coffee Prices
Max Milward, the sustainable sourcing manager of the Fairtrade Foundation, the UK branch of Fairtrade International, responded to current historically high coffee prices with a warning that they may not actually be benefitting smallholder farmers. “This volatility has a huge impact on the livelihoods of coffee producers,” Milward wrote. “Sudden price surges and sudden price drops can be destabilising for coffee farmers, making it difficult for them to plan or invest in their future. The current price hikes, influenced by extreme weather in Brazil and Vietnam and increasing global demand, demonstrate the fragility of the supply chain and the urgent need for long-term solutions.”
Nominations Open for 2025 SCA Sustainability Awards
The SCA announced that nominations for the 2025 SCA Sustainability Awards are now open in the for-profit and nonprofit categories. The application deadline is Jan. 31, 2025, and finalists will be announced in February of 2025.
San Francisco Bay Coffee Launches Global ‘Café Rentable’ Program
In an effort to bolster its supply chain, San Francisco Bay Coffee launched “Café Rentable,” a sustainability initiative designed to reach some 9,000 coffee farmers. Officially launched during the 2023/24 crop year in Latin America, the program is designed to meet Enveritas’ sustainable sourcing standards.
Dunn Brothers Executive Outlines Ambitious Store Growth Plans
Dunn Brothers Coffee says has it an “ambitious, yet attainable” five-year plan to expand along the I-35 corridor, from Minnesota to Texas, with hundreds of drive-through stores, according to a QSR report.
Kaffelogic Expands Into UK and China
New Zealand-based Kaffelogic, maker of the Nano 7 Roaster, announced it has expanded sales to the UK and Chinese markets. According to a press release, the coffee equipment company is also eyeing additional international markets in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
Heavy Tamper Unveils Ultra Espresso Basket
CEO of Czech-based Heavy Tamper, Radek Moutayrek, unveiled what he’s calling “a revolutionary espresso basket” made from a 250-micron mesh with 5,000 fine holes intended for extraction using a 17- to 19-gram dose for 58-millimeter portafilters.
Orlando’s KOS Coffee Expands Service Division
Orlando, Florida-based specialty roasting company and equipment repair specialist KOS Coffee recently expanded its service division with the addition of technicians in Salt Lake City. The company said it hopes to become a “one stop solution” for coffee purveyors throughout the country.
Mr. Coffee Gets SCA Certified Home Brewer Mark
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) recently awarded the Mr. Coffee Perfect Brew Intelligent Multi-Beverage Brewer with the SCA Certified Home Brewer mark.
Coffee On ‘Around The World in Eight Commodities’ Podcast
A podcast series called “Around The World in Eight Commodities” dropped its newest episode, with a focus on coffee. Guests included: Melissa Salazar of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); Raina Lang of Conservation International; Annette Pensel of the Global Coffee Platform (GCP).
Rules & Regulations for the 2025 World Coffee Championships in Geneva Released
The SCA released updated rules and regulations for the 2025 World Latte Art (WLAC), World Coffee in Good Spirits (WCIGS), World Cup Tasters (WCTC) and Cezve/Ibrik (CIC) Championships, all of which will take place at World of Coffee Geneva, June 26-28, 2025.
ICYMI
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
Bigface Coffee’s First Cafe is a Retail Odyssey in Miami
Bigface Coffee, the high-end specialty coffee brand created by NBA star Jimmy Butler, opened its first brick-and-mortar cafe in Miami this month… read more
Consultancy Pomelo Bringing Roasting Business Owners Together with Junto
Raleigh, North Carolina-based Pomelo Coffee Consulting is launching the second iteration of its coffee roaster, education, networking and consulting platform called Pomelo Junto… read more
Report: Climate Change Adaptation Plans Are Working for Coffee Producers
A new report commissioned by Fairtrade International and co-funded by the European Union found that coffee producers are leading producers in other agricultural sectors in planning for climate change, though data remains scarce… read more
Missouri’s Upshot Coffee Turns Up in Clayon with HiFi Cafe
St. Louis-area roaster Upshot Coffee dropped the needle on its third coffee shop this month in Clayton, Missouri, drawing inspiration from Japanese record listening rooms… read more
Researchers Find Highly Accurate AI Algorithm for Coffee Defect Detection
A research team focused on potential real-world AI solutions for agricultural producers says it has created a highly accurate computational model for identifying defects in green coffees… read more
US Coffee Producers Can Tap Into $2 Billion USDA Marketing Assistance Program
Green coffee producers in the United States (we’re looking at you, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and maybe a little bit California) can tap into a new $2 billion direct payment program designed to assist specialty crop producers… read more
Charismatic Founder of Spokane’s Roast House, Deb Di Bernardo, Dies
Deborah “Deb” Di Bernardo, the beloved founder of Spokane, Washington-based roasting company Roast House, died this week at the age of 70 after a third time facing cancer… read more
