News
Changing of the Guard
Several coffee firms announced promotions and a changing of the guard at the first of the year. Read more
Bart Becht Leaves JAB
JAB Holding Co. senior partner Bart Becht, the operational genius behind an expansive $52 billion spending spree that has transformed the global coffee market, will step down as chairman and retire in 2019. Read more
Coffee Prices Slowly Edging Up
Coffee prices, reflected in the monthly International Coffee Organization (ICO) composite, found a bottom last fall and have since inched upward. Coffee futures on the Intercontinental Exchange dropped 30% in 2018. Read more
SCA Elects Board Members
The Specialty Coffee Association named six new members to its board of directors. Each term began Jan. 1, 2019. Read more
Wild Coffee in Jeopardy of Extinction
Ethiopia’s bounty of wild coffee trees, essential to ensure healthy diversity among the world’s coffee plants, are in danger. Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, England, estimate 60% of wild coffee species are threatened with extinction. Read more
Coffee with Chinese Characteristics
China is discovering coffee at a pace and level of sophistication equal to Japan and South Korea but distinct. Read more
CBD Claims Face FDA Scrutiny
Baristas are spiking coffee with cannabidiol oil, a hemp-based extract that is not intoxicating yet is alleged to have health benefits. It does not appear to be illegal but CBD is catching the attention of the US Food and Drug Administration. Read more
Inexplicable US Withdrawal Forces ICO Reorganization
The withdrawal of the United States from the International Coffee Agreement has forced the International Coffee Organization to reorganize due to a funding gap. Read more
Coffee & Tea Russian Expo
Six coffee championships are co-locating at the Coffee & Tea Russian Expo next March including the National Barista Championships and the national finals for the Tea Masters Cup Russia. Read more
Are You Old Enough to Caffeinate?
Costa Coffee, the world’s second largest coffee chain, has introduced a controversial policy allowing stores to refuse drinks to anyone under the age of 16. Read more
US Coffee Retail Growth
The US continues to lead global coffee shop innovation across quality and product development, with Allegra World Coffee Portal recording healthy annual outlet growth of 3.8% in a fiercely competitive market. Read more
Brazil Elections Add Politics to Volatile Mix
The surprise October election of far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro to lead Brazil initially bode well for the Brazilian real. Since then the real has fallen 12% for the year, an indication of political uncertainty and slow growth. Read more