Major coffee companies agree to a more equitable sourcing approach. Plus, Starbucks offers baristas quarterly bonuses, and a new report shows climate change is reducing arable land for coffee growing.
‘Major Traders Agree on Two ‘Principles of Procurement’ to Improve Coffee Sector Sustainability’ – via Daily Coffee News
Last week, 14 of the largest coffee traders, roasters, and retailers announced they would adopt a new, more collaborative approach to coffee buying. Based on two key principles—forming ongoing partnerships and sustainable coffee buying—the goal is to encourage longer-term, more equitable sourcing practices across the supply chain.
Led by the Global Coffee Platform (GCP), IDH, and Solidaridad, the agreement stems from a nine-month collaboration process based on the findings from a 2024 report entitled The Grounds for Sharing.
That report found value within the coffee industry is poorly distributed, and identified possible solutions: “Two key interventions are needed; sector commitments on sourcing practices that enable value redistribution, and supply chain partnerships that design and implement mechanisms for adding, creating, and transferring value,” IDH’s Tessa Meulensteen told Fresh Cup at the time.
The agreement builds upon these two suggested interventions, dividing them into what the groups call “strategic partnerships” and “sustainable coffee production.” The strategic partnerships principle encourages buyers to shift away from short-term buying practices and towards more lasting, trust-based relationships.
The sustainable coffee production angle prompts companies to focus on environmentally and economically sustainable practices through fair pricing, technical assistance, and access to finance for farmers.
“Ensuring the long-term economic viability of sustainable coffee farming, and overall farmer prosperity is essential for a resilient supply and a competitive coffee sector,” said GCP’s executive director Annette Pensel in a press release. “This requires shared responsibility and a more coordinated approach across the industry.”
The companies involved are Caravela, ECOM, Export Trading Company, Illycaffè, JDE Peet’s, Louis Dreyfus Company, Neumann Kaffee Gruppe, Ofi, Sucafina, Sucden Coffee, Taylors of Harrogate, Touton, UCC, and Volcafe.
Read more on the collaborative coffee sourcing principles here.
‘Starbucks Dangles $1,200 Bonuses for Fast, Friendly Baristas’ – via Bloomberg
Starbucks has spent the past two years simplifying its menu, adding comfier seating, and closing stores as it tries to recapture its former coffeehouse vibes—and its market share in coffee. Now, the coffee giant is trying to incentivize baristas with quarterly bonuses.
Announced on April 2, hourly workers in the U.S. will be able to “share in our success,” as the company put it in a press release. Beginning in July, baristas and shift supervisors can earn up to $1,200 a year in bonuses, paid quarterly, if their stores meet certain sales and performance targets.
As Daniela Sirtori reports for Bloomberg, Starbucks is also rolling out new tipping options for customers and says that, together, the initiatives could increase worker pay by an average of 5 to 8%.
Unionized baristas won’t receive the bonuses immediately. Starbucks said any changes to wage parameters are subject to collective bargaining “as required by federal law.” Negotiations between the company and Starbucks Workers United have stalled, but in February, the union sent Starbucks a proposed contract to get things back on track.
In a statement to Bloomberg, SBWU said: “It’s notable that these bonuses and tips will be largely out of baristas’ control, relying on customer tipping and store performance metrics as determined by Starbucks management.”
Read the full story on the barista bonuses here or via Yahoo! Finance here.
More News
‘Here Are The Winners Of The 2026 US Brewers Cup And Cup Tasters Events’ – via Sprudge
‘Global Coffee Alliance Launches in Vietnam’ – via Global Coffee Report
‘Coffee Circle and Bean Voyage Win 2026 SCA Sustainability Awards’ – via Daily Coffee News
‘Keurig Dr Pepper Completes Deal for JDE Peet’s’ – via Food Business News
‘SCA’s World of Coffee Heading to New Orleans in 2027’ – via Daily Coffee News
Coffee and the Climate Crisis
A new report from Rabobank forecasts that 20% of the land currently used to grow arabica coffee could become unsuitable for farming by 2050 due to climate change.
The report, released on March 30, noted that the 20% loss could vary based on region. Some countries, like Brazil, Colombia, and Honduras, could lose suitable land, while Ethiopia might actually gain arable land.
The report’s authors calculated suitability based on coffee’s ideal growing conditions and compared them with variables such as temperature, precipitation, and soil quality. They then quantified how those variables could shift under different climate-driven scenarios.
Honduras could see suitable land for arabica production fall to just 12% of its current total. Ethiopia, on the other hand, could see a sizable increase. Right now, 8% of current growing areas are already unsuitable, the report found, requiring higher investment for lower yields.
“Suitability analyses provide a strategic lens – not to forecast exact losses or gains but to help stakeholders anticipate where volatility may increase and where new opportunities may emerge,” the authors wrote. “These insights can guide investment decisions, support proactive planning, and ultimately help build more resilient supply chains.”
Is Coffee Good For You?
Not sleeping can play havoc with memory formation. Multiple studies have shown that missing even as little as five hours of sleep can result in both short-term and, eventually, long-term memory disruption.
But, as always, it’s coffee to the rescue: new research from Singapore has found that caffeine can help to alleviate some of the memory problems that come from lost sleep.
The study, published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, examined caffeine’s effect on the CA2 region of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. CA2 is known to be important for social memory, the ability to recognize and remember other members of a group or species.
Researchers from the National University of Singapore found that mice who were kept awake performed worse at identifying other mice they had previously encountered. However, those given a steady dose of caffeine didn’t have the same issues.
“Sleep deprivation does not just make you tired. It selectively disrupts important memory circuits,” lead author Lik-Wei Wong said in a press release. “We found that caffeine can reverse these disruptions at both the molecular and behavioural levels.”
This latest research adds to a number of studies examining the relationship between coffee and caffeine and sleep, a topic we often cover in the newsletter. Interestingly, findings vary: for example, one study from November 2025 showed that coffee might not be that great at keeping us awake while driving, while another just last month found that caffeine doesn’t impact sleep all that much.
Beyond the Headlines
‘How To Have the Best Booth at Any Coffee Festival in 2026’ by Chloé Skye Weiser
‘Why the Cost of Your Coffee Has Soared—and Isn’t Going Down Soon’ by Inti Pacheco
