Welcome to DCN’s Weekly Coffee News. Keep up with all the latest stories by subscribing to DCN’s newsletter, featuring breaking coffee industry news and fresh coffee job listings.
Press photo.
Victoria Arduino Opens New Experience Lab in London
The Victoria Arduino Experience Lab has moved into a new space in Camden Town. The lab showcases Victoria Arduino’s specialty coffee equipment, houses the UK staff, and provides space for events and training. The Simonelli Group brand opened a separate experience lab last year in Barcelona.
2023 USCC Qualifier 1 Rankings Announced
The rankings for the 2023 US Coffee Championships Qualifier 1 in Baltimore have been announced. Competitors will move on to the 2023 US Coffee Championships at the Specialty Coffee Expo in Portland, Oregon, taking place April 21-23. Juan Diaz of Orlando was the top-ranking qualifier in the barista category, while Luke Jung of Houston’s Luce Coffee Roasters topped the roaster category, among other winners.
Pacific Foods Barista Series Named Title Sponsor of SCA Expo
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) announced that alt milk brand Pacific Foods Barista Series will be the title sponsor of the 2023 Specialty Coffee Expo.
IWCA Announces Keynote Speaker for 2023 Expo Breakfast
The International Women’s Coffee Alliance (IWCA) has announced Elizabeth Nyamayaro as the Keynote speaker for this year’s breakfast at the forthcoming Specialty Coffee Expo. Nyamayaro is a humanitarian and a United Nations Special Advisor for the World Food Programme. The breakfast is sponsored by MiiR.
Philly’s ReAnimator Launches Hurtscafe Blend
Philadelphia’s ReAnimator Coffee Roasters is celebrating the Philadelphia Eagles’ forthcoming Super Bowl appearance with a coffee blend called the Foles-gers Hurtscafe blend. According to the company, the blend has notes of toasted almond, brown sugar, cocoa and victory. For each bag sold, $5 will go to the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia.
NotCo Launches NotMilk Barista
Food technology company NotCo has signaled plans to launch NotMilk Barista, a low-sugar blend of chickpeas and oats designed to create a creamy frothing milk-like substance, to be launched later this year. NotCo, which uses AI technology to create plant-based foods, will be giving a sneak peak of NotMilk Barista at the Natural Products Expo West.
Forbes: Former Employees Outline Troubles at Cometeer
A number of former Cometeer employees spoke to Forbes under the condition of anonymity to discuss the coffee-related company’s recent round of layoffs and leadership changes. The startup raised $100 million in capital by October 2021, but has since experienced slowed growth, according to the report.
Catalyst Trade Holding Second Event on Ethiopia
The owners of Catalyst Trade will be answering questions on the Ethiopian coffee sector in a webinar on Thursday, Feb. 9. Registration for the online event is now open. The Ethiopia, Kenya and Peru-focused green coffee trading company held a similar webinar last year that led to discussions on coffee pricing, crop predictions and conflict in Ethiopia.
4C Announces New Add-On Focused on Gender Equality
Baseline certification provider 4C has announced the forthcoming launch of a gender-equality add-on to its corporate sustainability scheme. Public consultation for the “4C Gender Equality Add-On” is open until April 10.
Stella Blue Coffee Becomes Official Partner for Pro Pickleball Squad
Stella Blue Coffee is the first official coffee partner of the D.C. Pickleball Team, the team announced. Stella Blue Coffee is a new brand from Barstool Sports created by Dan “Big Cat” Katz. A portion of all sales goes to support the animal shelter PAWS Chicago.
Edible Straw Company Launches Stirrers
A Swiss company called The Happy Turtle Straw is expanding its selection of eco-friendly, plant-based edible products with edible coffee stirrers. Made of rice and tapioca, the compostable and biodegradable stirrers can be used for approximately two minutes in liquid.
Caffeine Alternative Brand Rarebird Coffee Finds $16,500+ on Kickstarter
Rarebird Coffee’s Kickstarter campaign for a caffeine-alternative coffee called “Px coffee” has raised more than $16,500. The company says it plans to use a compound called paraxanthine as an alternative to caffeine, while claiming that the chemical provides the same alertness and sensory attributes of caffeine, without “the jitters.”
Cardinal Spirits Launches Spiked Cold Brew
Craft distillery Cardinal Spirits has launched a new canned cocktail called Songbird Spiked Cold Brew. The drink features a Guatemalan dark roast from Good Folks Coffee, a company based in Louisville, and the distillery’s flagship Songbird Coffee Liqueur, which contains flavors of vanilla, caramel and chocolate.
In Case You Missed It
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
Sustainable Harvest and Founder and CEO David Griswold at the 2018 Let’s Talk Coffee event in Colombia. Daily Coffee News photo by Nick Brown.
Sucafina Acquires US Green Coffee Trader Sustainable Harvest
The North American subsidiary of multinational green coffee trading company Sucafina Group has acquired progressive specialty coffee trading company Sustainable Harvest, based in Portland, Oregon… Read more
Former COO of Juan Valdez US Subsidiary Gets 3-6 Years for Theft of $900K
The former Chief Operating Officer of the company that operates the Juan Valdez brand in North America pleaded guilty to grand larceny after stealing nearly more than $900,000… Read more
Heine Brothers Pays $300K to Baristas Following Labor Investigation
Louisville, Kentucky-based specialty coffee chain Heine Brothers Coffee has paid $300,000 in back wages and damages to baristas following a U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) investigation… Read more
Anfim Enters New Phase with the Luna Espresso Grinder
The product portfolio of Italian grinder manufacturer Anfim is waxing with the launch of the Luna, a new flat-burr grinder designed for commercial espresso settings… Read more
Proud Mary Coffee Selling Best Panama Winner for $150 Per Cup
A company not known to shy away from expensive coffees, Australian-born Proud Mary Coffee is launching its most expensive coffee ever. In fact, the coffee may be the world’s most expensive microlot… Read more
Dope Coffee Opens Roastery, HQ and Event Space in Metro Atlanta
Hip-hop-infused Atlanta-area roaster Dope Coffee Company has launched operations inside a new 6,000-square-foot headquarters and event space… Read more
Study Finds Coffee with Milk May Increase Anti-Inflammatory Effect
Coffee that is combined with milk may double the natural anti-inflammatory properties of immune cells, according to research published this week… Read more
More From DCN
