{"id":194881,"date":"2026-03-06T07:27:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T13:27:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailycoffeenews.com\/?p=194881"},"modified":"2026-03-09T08:15:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T13:15:16","slug":"weekly-coffee-news-unionization-in-milwaukee-new-u-s-coffee-roasting-champ","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailycoffeenews.com\/2026\/03\/06\/weekly-coffee-news-unionization-in-milwaukee-new-u-s-coffee-roasting-champ\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Coffee News: Unionization in Milwaukee + New U.S. Coffee Roasting Champ"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to DCN\u2019s Weekly Coffee News! Subscribe here<\/strong><\/a> for all the latest coffee industry news. Also, check out the latest career opportunities at CoffeeIndustryJobs.com<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Mikwaukee<\/a>

Milwaukee, a.k.a. “Brew City”<\/p><\/div>\n

Discourse Coffee Workers Vote to Unionize, Company Voluntarily Recognizes Union<\/strong><\/p>\n

Workers at Milwaukee-based Discourse Coffee Workshop voted to unionize under the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization (MASH). WUWM reported<\/a> the company voluntarily recognized the union without a National Labor Relations Board election after more than 70% of Discourse\u2019s 23 employees signed union authorization cards, with bargaining expected to begin soon.<\/p>\n

Royal Coffee and Equator Coffees Raising Funds for Grounds for Health<\/strong><\/p>\n

Royal Coffee is leading a donation effort for the cervical cancer-prevention nonprofit Grounds for Health, promising to match donations up to $125,000 for a $250,000 goal. Equator Coffees has signed on as a fundraising partner, and Royal mentions numerous ways individuals or organizations can participate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wenbo Yang Wins 2026 U.S. Coffee Roasting Championship<\/strong><\/p>\n

U.S. Coffee Championships organizers announced<\/a> Wenbo Yang of Story Coffee (Bellevue) and Cozy Monster Coffee is the 2026 U.S. Coffee Roasting Champion following last weekend\u2019s competition.<\/p>\n

SCA Posts Re:co Spotlight 2025 Outcomes Report, Sets 2026 Spotlight on Roast Color<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Specialty Coffee Association has published its Re:co Spotlight 2025 \u201creview and outcomes\u201d report<\/a> tied to industry work on \u201cgreen coffee identity\u201d and terminology. The Re:co Spotlight 2026 topic is roast color, with programming and applications outlined on the Re:co Symposium site<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Colombia\u2019s Coffee Growers Face Picker Shortages Despite High Prices<\/strong><\/p>\n

A new Guardian report<\/a> describes Colombian growers struggling to hire pickers amid rural outmigration, an aging farm workforce and structural limits on mechanization in steep terrain, even as global prices remain elevated. The story also points to climate-related pressures, including changing weather patterns and rising pest and disease risks.<\/p>\n

Starbucks Picks Nashville for New Southeast Corporate Office<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starbucks plans to establish a corporate operations office in Nashville later this year, according to an announcement<\/a> from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. The Wall Street Journal reported<\/a> the site will support North American supply chain operations, with some employees offered relocation and additional hiring expected, while Seattle remains the company\u2019s headquarters.<\/p>\n

Amatera Raises $8.6 Million to Develop Climate-Resilient Perennial Crops<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paris-based Amatera says it has raised a total of about $8.6 million<\/a> (\u20ac7.5 million), including a \u20ac6 million seed round co-led by Demea Sustainable Investment and Oyster Bay Venture Capital, to scale an AI-enabled plant cell biology platform aimed at speeding development of climate-resilient crops such as coffee and wine grapes.<\/p>\n

Verve Coffee Roasters to Donate Portion of Coffee Sales to IWCA<\/strong><\/p>\n

California-based Verve Coffee<\/a> says it will donate 10% of proceeds from women-produced coffees sold during March to the International Women\u2019s Coffee Alliance<\/a>. Separately, Diaspora Co has promoted a collaboration with Verve tied to new menu items including a Golden Hour Matcha and a Sunrise Tonic.<\/p>\n

Klatch Coffee to Donate 20% of Mujeres de Cafe Blend Sales to Grounds for Health<\/strong><\/p>\n

California-based Klatch Coffee is featuring its Mujeres de Cafe blend<\/a>, spotlighting producer Lucia Ortiz and her Finca Las Mercedes in El Salvador. The company says it will donate 20% of every bag sold during March to Grounds for Health.<\/p>\n

Caffe Ladro Names KUOW as Coffee for Good Partner for March and April<\/strong><\/p>\n

Seattle-based Caffe Ladro has named KUOW as its Coffee for Good partner<\/a> for March and April, with the company pledging to donate $3 per bag of the Coffee for Good blend sold in cafes and online during the two-month window.<\/p>\n

New from CoffeeIndustryJobs.com<\/a><\/h2>\n