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CQI Names T.J. Ryan Director of Mission Engagement
The California-based nonprofit Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) added T.J. Ryan as its director of mission engagement. Ryan was most recently with ACDI/VOCA, and was the chief of party of the PhilCAFE coffee project in the Philippines. At CQI, which operates the Q Grader program, Ryan will be tasked with cross-sector engagement, including mobilizing and allocating resources and measuring impact.
C Price Reaches Multi-Decade High
At the time of this writing, ICE coffee futures for arabica, a.k.a. the “C price” reached $3.242 USD per pound, approaching the highest-ever mark since $3.375 mark reached in 1977. Concerns over supply in Brazil continue to increase market prices and volatility.
James Hoffmann Launches Massive Decaf Tasting Project
Coffee author and YouTube celebrity James Hoffmann is expanding his World’s Largest Coffee Tasting program with The Decaf Project, a mass tasting of the same coffee decaffeinated three ways. As of this writing, nearly all the sample kits were sold out, although some remained among roasters in Europe and Asia.
Rancilio Group Opens UK Branch
Italian coffee equipment conglomerate Rancilio Group opened a new branch in Letchworth, Garden City, England. Serving the UK and Ireland, the new branch will be promoting the Rancilio, Rancilio Specialty and Egro brands and equipment as part of the Ali Group Coffee Division.
SCA Opens Equipment Sponsor Search for 2026-29 World Barista Championship
The Specialty Coffee Association has opened up registrations for the next cycle of its Qualified Sponsorship program for the 2026-29 World Barista Championship. Eligible manufacturers can register their interest in sponsoring here.
Roastar Unveils New Online Design Tool
Wisconsin-based coffee packaging maker Roastar launched the Roaster Design Lab, a new online interface through which customers can intuitively create and customize packaging designs for gusset bags, flat-bottom bags and tin canisters.
MPE Unveils Small Roller Grinder
Chicago-based industrial food equipment company Modern Process Equipment (MPE) has unveiled what it’s calling the “world’s smallest roller style coffee grinder for capsule, pods, filter fine and even espresso applications. The new SRM.MAX model is suited to production volumes of 200-400 pounds per hour, according to the company.
Utopian Coffee Earns Regenerative Organic Certifications
Fort Wayne, Indiana-based Utopian Coffee, a finalist in the 2025 Roaster of the Year Awards, recently earned Regenerative Organic Certification for multiple coffee offerings, including its Union and Obsidian blends and some single-origins.
Lamill Hosting Bruvi Giveaway in LA
Los Angeles-based specialty coffee purveyor Lamill is hosting an event featuring giveaways of 24 Bruvi coffee machines. The giveaway will take place on Sunday, Dec. 8, at Lamill’s Silver Lake location, with 12 machines gifted at 9 a.m., and 12 more at 10 a.m. The event will also include $150 discount coupons and Bruvi demos.
Two Second Cup Cafes Shut Down After Franchisee’s Alleged Hate Speech
Two locations of the Canadian chain Second Cup Coffee at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal have been temporary closed after the owner of the two franchise locations was allegedly shown on video making hateful and anti-semitic remarks during a protest. “In co-ordination with the hospital, we’ve shut down the franchisee’s café and are terminating their franchise agreement,” the company said in a statement.
ICYMI
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
Do Light Roasts or Dark Roasts Have More Caffeine? Study: Maybe Medium?
New research suggests that everything coffee people have known about how roast level (light, medium, dark, etc.) affects caffeine levels was mostly wrong, but also sort of right… read more
New Day Dawns for Monday Coffee with Flagship Roastery Cafe in Chicago
Two key events in the long-term calendar of Chicago’s Monday Coffee are now complete with the opening of the brand’s roastery and first brick-and-mortar cafe… read more
Luckin Signs Estimated $2.5 Billion Green Coffee Supply MoU with Brazil
In an unprecedented buying spree, Chinese coffee giant Luckin Coffee is committing to purchasing 240,000 tons of green coffee from Brazil between 2025 and 2029… read more
With Acquisition in WA, Dillanos Plans Batdorf & Bronson Revival
“We’re bringing back the Batdorf & Bronson brand,” Dillanos Coffee Roasters Founder and Co-CEO David Morris told DCN. “That brand means a lot to Olympians.”… read more
Hypergoat Coffee Brings Fresh Energy to Alexandria VA
Ramos and his wife, Hypergoat Coffee Co-Owner Deborah Joos Tafner de Moraes, both hail from Brazil. That heritage is reflected in the shop’s artwork, music and bites such as the Pão de Queijo (cheese bread) and Brigadeiro chocolate truffles… read more
Inside Brazil and Colombia Semi-Annual Coffee Market Reports
Taken together, the reports project further strains on the global green coffee market, as China exponentially increases its role as a consuming country… read more
Portland’s Cathedral Coffee Completes a Cafe Trinity with Lake Oswego Opening
In Portland, Oregon, Cathedral Coffee is expanding farther from the iconic spires and arches of the St. John’s Bridge that inspired its name, opening a third cafe this month in Lake Oswego… read more
