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SCA Publishes White Paper on Roast Color Standards
The Specialty Coffee Association has released a white paper, “Developing Roast Color Standards for the Specialty Coffee Industry,” outlining a plan to adopt a roast-level scale based on visible light measurements, with a draft standard in the works.
GCP and BMZ Commit €2 Million for Kenya and Uganda Coffee
The Global Coffee Platform, Germany’s BMZ and numerous private-sector coffee companies have launched a €2 million (US$2.34 million) partnership designed to improve smallholder livelihoods and strengthen climate-resilient, sustainable coffee supply chains in Kenya and Uganda.
New Sponsor Named for 2026-2029 WBC
The Specialty Coffee Association named the Option-O Lagom 01 as the Qualified Filter Grinder Sponsor for the 2026-2029 World Brewers Cup cycle, the first time the competition will require standardized sponsor grinders in both compulsory and open service rounds under the newly released 2026 rules.
CoffeeFest Madrid 2026 Coming Feb. 14-16
CoffeeFest Madrid is returning for its fourth edition at IFEMA in Madrid February 14-16, 2026, featuring a Roasters Village, Tea Fest, Cacao Fest, a green coffee auction and the Top 100 Best Coffee Shops awards, plus the Coffee Summit forum on Europe’s green coffee future.
Reverie Coffee Roasters Supports Hope 4 Da Hood with 25,000 Cookies in Kansas
Reverie Coffee Roasters in Kansas is running a holiday push to bake and sell 25,000 cookies to benefit Wichita nonprofit Hope 4 Da Hood, aiming to raise $50,000 by Dec. 31 to unlock a 2x Stand Together Foundation match.
Expocacer Sets Auction Record with $38,500 Specialty Coffee Bag
At the 13th Cerrado Mineiro Regional Award in Uberlandia, a pulped-cherry lot from producer Eduardo Pinheiro Campos of Fazenda Dona Nenem sold for $38,500 to a consortium led by Expocacer — reportedly the highest price ever paid for a single bag of coffee at a Brazilian auction.
Despite Growing Demand, Coffee Production Declines in Jamaica
Donald Salmon, president of the Jamaica Coffee Growers Association, says demand for Jamaica Blue Mountain and High Mountain coffee is rising overseas even as national production continues to fall, a decline made worse by infrastructure gaps and damage from Hurricane Melissa, according to a Radio Jamaica News report.
46 Baristas Arrested as Red Cup Rebellion at Starbucks Passes One-Month Mark
Starbucks Workers United says its Red Cup Rebellion strike has now passed the one-month mark, which the union calls the longest nationwide ULP strike in Starbucks history, and that 46 baristas and allies were arrested last weekend at distribution-center pickets in Minden, Nevada, and York, Pennsylvania.
Gimme Coffee Recalls Mislabelled ‘Decaf de Agua’ Pods
New York-based Gimme! Coffee has voluntarily recalled 252 boxes of its “Gimme! Decaf de Agua Coffee Pods” after discovering they were filled with caffeinated Deep Disco pods. The FDA classified the recall as Class II on Dec. 11, and no illnesses have been reported.
Hollow Head Releases New Collaboration Coffee with Ponder Coffee Company
Denver-based alt-rock band Hollow Head has partnered with Mount Pleasant, Michigan-based Ponder Coffee Company on a Hollow Head x Ponder collaboration coffee, a seasonal blend now available through the band’s and roaster’s online stores.
New from CoffeeIndustryJobs.com
- Roasting Team Member — Counter Culture Coffee
- Green Coffee Specialist — Tata Consumer Products
- Business Development Manager, Commercial (Equipment; Away-from-Home) — Melitta North America, Inc.
- Business Development Manager, Canada [Equipment (Away-from-Home)] — Melitta North America, Inc.
- Vice President, Business Development – At-Home — Melitta North America, Inc.
- Logistics Coordinator — Neumann Gruppe USA
- Regional Team – Sales & Business Development — Counter Culture Coffee
- Coffee Buyer — Counter Culture Coffee
- Sales and Accounts Manager — Change Please Coffee LLC
ICYMI
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
Bill Kennedy, San Franciscan Roaster Owner and Educator, Dies
San Franciscan Roaster Co. announced the death of owner, president and CEO Bill Kennedy, a former school principal who later championed small roasters and U.S. manufacturing… read more
The Screwy New World of Cranked and Geared Espresso
As grinders self-adjust, roasters sense first cracks and robotic arms refine their latte hearts, technology dating back to the time of Archimedes is also having a moment in the modern espresso zeitgeist… read more
Coffee and Pie Together in Dallas as White Rhino Acquires Emporium Pies
Dallas-based specialty coffee company White Rhino Coffee announced it has acquired fellow DFW business Emporium Pies, bringing two majority-women-owned chains together… read more
Coffee Protects Against Liver Diseases, and Scientists Have Figured Out How
A major academic literature review underscores coffee’s protective effects against liver diseases while outlining numerous potential underlying mechanisms… read more
Hermetheus Coffee Acquires Roaster Maker Coffee Crafters
Idaho-based fluid-bed roasting equipment company Coffee Crafters is changing ownership, with Jason Scott, founder of roasting company Hermetheus Coffee, taking the helm… read more
Reflections on 1 Million Coffee Farmers Trained with TechnoServe Coffee Head Paul Stewart (Part 2)
This is part two of a two-part interview with Paul Stewart, the global coffee director for TechnoServe… read more
Coffee From Burundi Finds a Welcoming Home in Detroit at Soko by Baobab Fare
Former asylum seekers turned restaurateurs are extending a Burundi-to-Detroit pipeline of food, culture and coffee through Soko by Baobab Fare… read more
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