People

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

Celebrating 5 Years, Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity Launches Fellowship

As it celebrates five years as an organization promoting the professional success of Black and Brown people in coffee, the United States-based Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity (CCRE) has launched...

2025.10.08

African Fine Coffees Conference and ExhibitionAtlantaBD ImportsBIG-DAWG CoffeeWorksBlack CoffeeCCRE Brewing for Equity FellowshipCoffee Coalition for Racial EquityEventsfellowshipsGeorgiaIndustryJunebug CoffeePeoplePhyllis Johnsonprofessional developmentRetailRoastingSepia Coffee ProjectSightseer CoffeeSip and SonderSonder ImpactUnited StatesWorld of Coffee San Diegoコーヒー

Three Questions with Paris-Based Coffee Freelancer Mark McKinney

Mark McKinney’s unconventional professional journey in coffee has included biology textbooks in Paris and hazmat suits in Boston. Yet McKinney first entered coffee the same way thousands of career...

2025.09.23

Beans on FireBelleville BrulerieBenjamin PazColumnsconsultantsFranceHardware SociétéIndustryL'Université du CaféLockwoodMark McKinneyMihaela IodachParisPeopleWorld of Coffee Amsterdamコーヒー

Keurig Dr Pepper Names New Head of Coffee in the US

Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) has appointed Olivier Lemire as president of its U.S. coffee business, according to an SEC filing signed Sept. 17, 2025. The move comes amid...

2025.09.19

acquisitionsCorporateCraft/OperationsGlobal Coffee Co.IndustryJDE Peet'sKeurig Dr PepperKeurig Dr Pepper CanadaMacroNikePatrick MinoguePeopleProcter and GambleProductsRoastingUnited Statesコーヒー

Death Wish Coffee Taps Former Nature’s Bakery Head as CEO

Upstate New York-based Death Wish Coffee recently named consumer packaged goods veteran Steve Gardiner CEO. Gardiner comes to Death Wish after serving for six years as an executive at...

2025.09.16

CorporateCraft/OperationsDeath Wish CoffeeIndustryMacroMike BrownMike PilkingtonNew YorkNortheastPeopleRoastingSaratoga SpringsSteve GardinerTA AssociatesUnited Statesコーヒー

Caribou Coffee Taps Scott Kennedy as CEO to Drive Store Growth

Caribou Coffee named Scott Kennedy president and CEO, formalizing the roles he has held on an interim basis since the March departure of John Butcher. Kennedy previously served as...

2025.09.04

Business OperationsCaribou CoffeechainsCorporateEinstein BagelsfranchisesIndustryJAB Holding CompanyJohn ButcherKPMGMarketingMidwestMinneapolisMinnesotaPanera BrandsPanera BreadPeopleRetailScott KennedyTargetUnited Statesコーヒー

Starbucks Co-Founder Gordon Bowker Dies at 82

Gordon Bowker, the writer-turned-entrepreneur who co-founded Starbucks in 1971 and helped set the course for the specialty coffee movement in Seattle and beyond, died last week at the age of...

2025.08.28

Alfred PeetCaliforniaGordon BowkerIndustryJerry BaldwinOaklandPeopleRainierRetailseattleSeattle MagazineSeattle WeeklyStarbucksTerry HecklerUnited StatesWashingtonZev Sieglコーヒー

Starbucks Coffee is Laying Off 1,100 Corporate Employees

Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee is laying off 1,100 corporate staff members as part of a shakeup led by CEO Brian Niccol. Niccol, the former Chipotle CEO who took over the position...

2025.02.25

Brian NiccolchainsCorporateIndustryPeopleseattleStarbucksUnited StatesWashingtonコーヒー

Coffee Bean Taps Past Taco Bell and Starbucks Exec Tara Hinkle as Head of Americas

The California-born coffee chain The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) recently tapped former Taco Bell franchising finance executive Tara Hinkle to lead its business in the Americas. Hinkle joined...

2025.02.20

Business OperationsCaliforniachainsCoffee Bean and Tea LeafCorporatefranchisefranchisesIndustryJollibeeMarketingOpeningsPeopleRetailSouthern CaliforniaTaco BellTara Hinkleコーヒー