Do specialty coffee consumers actually want to be more connected to farmers?
It’s fair to say that many specialty coffee brands base their marketing strategies around the idea that coffee consumers want to be more connected to...
Sarah does all things communication in the context of sustainable and ethical development activities. Loves to write. Always up for a challenge. Fuelled by good coffee!
Is the World Barista Championship too exclusive & expensive for competitors?
There are a number of competitions in specialty coffee designed to test the skills and knowledge of industry professionals. However, many consider the World Barista...
Is there a difference between a coffee producer and a farmer?
Coffee farmer, producer, grower, supplier – these are all terms used to describe farm-level supply chain actors. They can also be used to define the...
Is the coffee industry accessible for people with disabilities?
According to the World Health Organisation, around 15% of the global population (representing about 1 billion people) currently experience some form of disability. And with...
Are airlines starting to offer better coffee?
For many, a cup of coffee is a central part of the experience of air travel. In the lounge and on board the aircraft, it...
How can we make specialty coffee more accessible?
Across the board, specialty coffee is marketed as a superior product, in terms of its quality, sustainability, and the consumer experience. However, in the past...
Does the World Barista Championship need to change?
The World Barista Championship (WBC) is a competition that promotes excellence in coffee and recognises the barista profession on an international scale. It is a...
WBC 2021: Reflecting on how coffee producing countries took centre stage
Earlier this year, the World Barista Championship (WBC) made headlines in more ways than one. After a 30-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it...
What is the fourth wave of coffee? Scalability, not science
The fourth wave of coffee remains an elusive concept in the industry. There are a range of definitions, all of which indicate change and evolution...
Growing sustainability in the coffee supply chain
In recent years, sustainability has become something of a buzzword. In some cases, it’s easy to argue that this has caused its meaning and weight...
Exploring Italian coffee culture and the third wave
For many, Italy brings to mind fashion, art, cinema, food, cars, motorcycles, and coffee. Italian coffee culture has a rich heritage, as the country was...
The evolution of the Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel
The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA)’s Coffee Taster’s Flavor Wheel is arguably one of the most iconic resources in the coffee industry. The poster adorns the...
CBD and coffee: Exploring a new market
Cannabidiol, or CBD for short, has slowly but surely slipped into the global market, a range of products, and our social media feeds. Experts now...
“Voices heard for the first time”: Women in coffee co-operatives
The coffee sector has traditionally been dominated by men. While a high percentage of the production workforce is female, women producers often have little agency...
“Coffee is part of the restaurant”: Exploring Slow Food philosophy in the coffee sector
We live in a world that is becoming increasingly automated and accelerated, and the way we eat and drink has not been spared. Takeaway food...
Direct Trade In Specialty Coffee: Is It An Effective Model?
Direct trade is a coffee trading model that offers the promise of a stronger value chain achieved by minimising the number of intermediaries. It is...