Features
Money Matters: Financing a Coffee Business
The coffee sector has long appealed to entrepreneurs thanks to growth rates in the double digits in some business categories and markets. Read more
Perspective: Rebooting Tea Board India
Tea Board India was founded in 1954 during a period when the nation was transitioning away from colonial legacies. Read more
Uganda to Release New High-Yield Arabica Varieties
Uganda’s coffee sector has been building on its position as Africa’s second-largest producer, raising both output and quality in recent years. Read more
Indian Origin Update: Teas of Kangra Valley
India has endorsed four tea origins for protection under Geographic Indication (G.I.). But Kangra, added to the list in 2005, is less renowned than Assam, Darjeeling, and Nilgiris. Read more
Spectroscopy: Shining a Light on Coffee
Spectrometry is a technology that empowers astronomers to probe the far reaches of the universe. Read more
STiR Q&A | Romesh Walpola — Partnership with Tea Smallholders Helps Ensure Quality
By working hand-in-glove with small tea growers, a bought-leaf factory can outperform the market. Read more
Exploring Robusta
Robusta’s share of global coffee consumption is just 40%. But high inflation is nudging some consumers to trade down to arabica’s cheaper cousin. Read more
Coffee Capsule Conundrum: Making Sense of EU Rules
Pods have made progress toward sustainability in recent years. But coffee companies will struggle with pending regulations in the critical European market. Read more
IMA Technologies and SYNKRO: In Rhythm with Coffee Industry Needs
IMA Coffee strives to answer the needs of the industry, engineering top-quality solutions to enhance the performance of their customers. Read more
Q|A: Ines Kaempfer — Ensuring a Family-Friendly Tea Sector
Socially responsive businesses today want not only to stamp out child labor but also to ensure good conditions for families in every dimension. Read more
Specialty Coffee Courts Indian Consumers
Tea-loving India hasn’t yet fallen for coffee in a huge way, but consumption has been on the rise during the past 10 years. Read more
Rooibos Tea Industry Looks Ahead
One reason rooibos tea has become so popular in Europe, Japan, and America during the past two decades is consumers’ perception that it is healthy to drink. Read more
The Art of the Coffee Blend: Two Pro Roasters Share Their Savvy
Specialty coffee fans say nothing beats a single origin. Yet blends have their own advantages and appeal. Read more
Innovative Fruit and Floral Blends Drive Demand for Infusions
Modern fruit and floral tea blends trace their ancestry to ancient tribal apothecaries and, more recently, to a Hamburg warehouse where Stefan Gieschke secretly spent evenings mixing aromatic bits of this and that. Read more
Coffee Origin Update: Specialty Production Helps Nicaragua Endure Setbacks
Nicaragua was the world’s 18th biggest exporter of coffee in 2020 and in 2023/24 is set to produce 2.7 million 60-kg bags, about the same as the year before. Read more
The STiR Coffee and Tea Newsletter is sent two times each month with news updates, important information, and upcoming events.
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News Tips
Suntory takes stake in Atomo: Japanese beverage giant backs “beanless” coffee startup.
Sustainability labels: Pick eco-friendly coffee using this guide to terms and certifications.
Paper coffee cup: M&S Cafe serves up plastic-free containers for hot drinks.
HeyTea in Malaysia: New-gen Chinese tea chain opens store in Kuala Lumpur.
Assam tea heritage: Community urges conservation of historic railway station that drove tea trade.