We Talked to A Zillion People At the 2025 Specialty Coffee Expo—Here Are Eight Critical Takeaways

From tariff tensions to automation acceptance, a firsthand look at how the coffee industry is evolving according to the people we talked to on the Specialty Coffee Expo floor.
by Garrett Oden | May 2, 2025

The Real Coffee Price Crisis is Faced by Farmers. Marianella Baez Jost Has Ideas On How To Fix It

Marianella Baez Jost, founder of Costa Rican coffee farm Café Con Amor, gets real about coffee production costs, how farmers have been in crisis for decades, and what conscious consumers can do about it.
by Chloé Skye Weiser | April 30, 2025

Coffee Techs Launch Cooperative to Boost Standards for Equipment Maintenance

A group of U.S.-based techs have joined together to create the Service Layer Cooperative (SLC), a nationwide network of independent coffee equipment technicians.
by Fionn Pooler | April 29, 2025

Coffee News Club: Week of April 28th

Why is the SCA taking over the Q grader exam? Your guess is as good as ours. Plus, Starbucks is accused of using forced labor on its coffee farms, and a network of coffee…
by Fionn Pooler | April 28, 2025

SCA Sparks Uproar, Confusion with Takeover of Q Grader Program

✉️ This story was featured in this week’s Coffee News Club👋 Get the Coffee News Club newsletter in your inbox weekly—sign up. In what the two organizations are calling “a historic partnership,” the Specialty Coffee…
by Fionn Pooler | April 28, 2025

Starbucks, Other Coffee Giants Sued Over Alleged Forced Labor in Brazilian Coffee Supply Chain

The New York Times reports that two advocacy groups have filed a pair of legal challenges, alleging that some of the Brazilian coffee purchased by large U.S. brands is produced using forced labor and…
by Fionn Pooler | April 28, 2025

David Lalonde Issues Worldwide Initiative, Coffee For Palestine

Rabbit Hole Roasters' David Lalonde has launched a worldwide fundraiser to raise money and awareness for the continued genocide of Gaza.
by Ashley Rodriguez | April 25, 2025

Frameworks for Using AI in Coffee Shops with Melissa Villanueva of Brewpoint Coffee

On the latest episode of the Coffee Think Tank Podcast, Melissa Villanueva shares how she strategically uses AI tools while preserving the humanity of her business.
by Garrett Oden | April 24, 2025

72 Hours in Houston: Where To Go After-Hours During the 2025 Specialty Coffee Expo

The SCA Expo floor closes at 5—what parties and events to do after hours during the coffee industry’s biggest trade show.
by Garrett Oden | April 23, 2025

72 Hours in Houston: Must-Visit Coffee Shops During the 2025 Specialty Coffee Expo

What to see, sip, and do during the Specialty Coffee Expo in Houston, from staff favorites to community-sourced recommendations. 
by Garrett Oden | April 22, 2025