We check out specialty-coffee industry news from this week.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Featured image by Joshua Earle
Attendees to the 2025 African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition may also get to check out the Utengule Coffee Lodge, located at Songwa Estates in Tanzania. Photo by Sarah Allen.21st African Fine Coffees Conference and Exhibition Scheduled for February 26–28, with Three-Day Safari Opportunity in Tanzania
TheAfrican Fine Coffees Association (AFCA) is hosting the 21st African Fine Coffees Conference & Exhibition in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, this upcoming February. In tandem with the event, the AFCA is partnering with Songwa Estates and La Marzocco’s Accademia del Caffè Espresso to host a three-day coffee journey in Mbeya, Tanzania. Attendees of the three-day event will stay at the Utengule Coffee Lodge and explore every facet of coffee farming, from nursery management to harvest, and gain insight into cutting-edge practices like composting and sequestration. Click here to learn more about this opportunity.
The Barista League in Seoul, Korea. Photo courtesy of The Barista League.The Barista League Announces 2025 Updates: Event Locations and New Rules
The Barista League will be back in 2025 with a brand new regional format, hosting 6 events around the globe with one champion team per continent. The Europe event will be hosted in Prague, Czech Republic, and the North American event in Montreal, Canada. In Asia, the competition will be hosted in Tokyo, Japan, and in Latin America and Africa, the events will be hosted in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Johannesburg, South Africa. The Barista League also updated its rules and application process for the upcoming year—click here to learn more. As always, registration is 100% free.
World’s Rarest Coffee to Be Auctioned at World of Coffee Dubai
From February 10 to 12, more than 13,000 coffee aficionados and industry leaders will converge at the World of Coffee (WOC) Dubai to participate in the first Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) Specialty Coffee Auction. Some of the world’s rarest coffees—including Black Ivory from Thailand—will be up for bidding. This event has the potential to set new record prices for specialty coffee and will seek to reinforce Dubai’s position as a leading hub in the global coffee trade.
Taco Bell introduces its “Bellristas,“ adding coffee drinks to its menu. Photo courtesy of Taco Bell.Taco Bell Introduces “Bellristas” and Debuts Live Más Café in San Diego
Taco Bell has entered the coffee world, unveiling Live Más Café: a new beverage concept in San Diego. Developed in collaboration with franchisee Diversified Restaurant Group (DRG), the café offers unique drinks like the Cinnavanilla Coffee Churro Chiller and Cinnabon Caramel Coffee.
“Live Más Café is a bold new chapter in our journey of innovation. Rooted in Taco Bell’s cultural rebel spirit, Live Más Café redefines the consumer experience by bringing a new lineup of indulgent beverages,” says DRG Chief Executive Officer SG Ellison.
La Colombe Baristas Fired After Sanctioning Union Contracts
Employees of La Colombe locations across the United States are unionizing, but not without retaliation. Five employees at the coffee chain’s West Loop location in Chicago were allegedly fired days before the 2024 Thanksgiving holiday for unionizing, wiping out half of the location’s staff. Former employees, who wish to remain anonymous, are saying La Colombe engaged in union busting and employee intimidation. Current workers continue to engage in union efforts, fighting for regular hours, better wages with consistent raises, adequate staffing, and clear discipline policies and grievance procedures.
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The post The Insider: Headlines from the Coffee Industry appeared first on Barista Magazine Online.
