obituaries

Longboard Specialty Coffee Sets Auction Records a Month After Founder Dies

Justin Boudeman, the U.S.-born founder of high-end Panamanian Gesha coffee production company Longboard Specialty Coffee, died Aug. 30 at the age of 52 following cancer. Known as a loving family...

2025.10.10

auctionsBoqueteCentral AmericaCraft/OperationsFarmer IssuesGeshaIndustryInto the Mist auctionJustin BoudemanLongboard Specialty CoffeeM-CultivoMicroMisty Mountain FarmNoemi MontenegroobituariesOriginPanamaPeopleRoastingUnited Statesコーヒー

Pedro and Paco Gaviña of Family-Owned Gaviña Coffee Die at 80 and 81

California-based Gaviña Coffee Company announced that two of its longtime leaders — brothers Pedro Lázaro Gaviña and Francisco Marcos “Paco” Gaviña — have died. Paco died July 29 at the...

2025.10.08

CaliforniaCalifornia/Pacificcompany leadershipCubaFrank M. Gaviña Jr.Gaviña and SonsGaviña Coffee CompanyIndustryLisette Gaviña LopezLos AngelesMacroMichael J. GaviñaobituariesPaco GaviñaPedro GaviñaPeopleRoastingUnited StatesVernonコーヒー

Carlo Di Ruocco, the Original Mr. Espresso, Dies at 90

Carlo Di Ruocco, the Italian-born founder of the California roasting company Mr. Espresso who helped introduce espresso to a generation of Americans, died in his sleep on Jan. 17 at...

2025.01.29

AlamedaAlice WatersBay AreaBradley OgdenCaliforniaCalifornia/PacificCarlo Di RuoccoColumnsCraft/OperationsIndustryItalyJohn Di RuoccoLaura di RuoccoLuigi Di RuoccoMacroMarie FrancoiseMr. EspressoobituariesPaul BertolliPeopleRoastingSalernoコーヒー

Charismatic Founder of Spokane’s Roast House, Deb Di Bernardo, Dies

Deborah “Deb” Di Bernardo, the beloved founder of Spokane, Washington-based roasting company Roast House, died this week at the age of 70 after a third time facing cancer. Di Bernardo...

2024.12.18

Aaron JordanAllison JordanDeb Di BernardoF-BombFirst Avenue CoffeeIndustryNorthwestobituariesPeopleRetailRoast HouseRoastingSpokaneUnited StatesWashingtonコーヒー

Fairtrade Movement Co-Founder Frans van der Hoff Dead at 84

Frans van der Hoff, one of the founding figures of the Fairtrade movement, died on Tuesday at the age of 84. The cause of death is not publicly known. A...

2024.02.17

Central AmericaFairtrade InternationalFairtrade NederlandFrans van der HoffIndustryInternationalMax HavelaarMexicoNico RoozenOaxacaobituariesOriginPeopleSolidaridadSustainabilityコーヒー

Coffee World Mourns Death of Fedora-Sporting Friend Gianni Cassatini

Coffee professionals all over the world are mourning the death of longtime coffee professional and industry icon Gianni Cassatini. He was 86 years old. Born in Sicily in 1937, Cassatini...

2023.11.28

British ColombiaCanadaGianni CassatiniIndustryMarco FelizianiobituariesPeopleSimonelli GroupVancouverコーヒー