Coffee News Recap, 21 Jun: SCA Panama rejects infused coffees at 2024 BoP, US Supreme Court backs Starbucks in unionisation case & other stories

Every Friday, Perfect Daily Grind rounds up the top coffee industry news from the previous week. 

Here are this week’s stories – the word of the week is launch.

Mon, 17 Jun

  • US Supreme Court backs Starbucks over firing of pro-union workers. This decision nullified a judicial order for the chain to rehire seven Memphis employees who were fired after looking to unionise. The ruling could make it harder for courts to block perceived unfair labour practices contested under federal law. (Washington DC, US)
  • ICO and UNIDO outline unprecedented global coffee fund. The proposal for a global fund includes addressing challenges such as climate change, price volatility, and income gaps in production. The organisations’ “global funding mechanism” seeks participation from various stakeholders, including financial institutions and governments. (London, UK)
  • ILO field visits lay groundwork for revitalizing Yemeni coffee sector. Yemen’s renowned coffee industry has faced challenges related to conflict since 2005, which has led to decreased production. The International Labour Organisation’s new programme seeks to revive Yemeni coffee farming through working with key industry stakeholders, private companies, and governments. (Sana’a, Yemen)
  • New research reveals how milk proteins interact with caffeine in espresso. Researchers found that milk proteins retain their structure and flavour when mixed with coffee, which impacts the drink’s overall mouthfeel. Using 2D infrared spectroscopy, scientists investigated how this interaction also affects caffeine absorption and protein digestion. (Aarhus, Denmark)
  • Weber Workshops launches HG2-MK2 grinder. The new model includes an integrated bean feeder, 30% larger capacity, a magnetic dust and anti-popcorning lid, and improved Magic Tumbler to reduce static. (Nevada, US)

Tue, 18 Jun

  • Atomo Coffee launches 50:50 arabica-beanless Remix blend. Atomo’s beanless coffee is made from upcycled ingredients such as date seeds, sunflower, guava, and lemon. According to the company, in blind tests, Remix was preferred 2:1 over traditional blends. (Seattle, Washington, US)
  • DiFluid launches Omix green and roasted coffee analyser. Designed for both producers and roasters, the Omix includes sensors to measure water activity, moisture content, density, screen size, expansion rate, temperature, humidity, altitude, and roast level. Data can also be exported to the DiFluid Café app. (Shenzhen, Guangdong, China)

Wed, 19 Jun

  • SOAS University of London to host EUDR and coffee event. Coffee and deforestation regulations – green and good for all or a new form of unfair trade? will discuss how the coffee chain can evolve to become more accountable and transparent, as well as address concerns that the EUDR reinforces colonial inequities and introduces new hurdles for low-income producers. (London, UK)
  • Fairtrade releases 2023 annual report. The Driving the Fairness Agendareport highlights Fairtrade’s work with over two million farmers and workers in 68 countries. Key focuses include empowering farmers, promoting sustainable livelihoods, climate resilience, human and environmental rights, and supporting women and youth leadership. (Bonn, Germany)
  • The 2024 WAC to launch first-ever AeroPress Invitational and Roasters Village. Early bird tickets for the world final, which will take place from 19 to 21 September, are available now. The AeroPress Invitational will pit invitees from around the world against some of the most well known coffee professionals in a knock out-style competition, while the new Roasters Village will feature some of Europe’s best roasters. (Lisbon, Portugal)
  • The Barista League hosts events in Berlin and Warsaw. More than 210 people attended each event, with the Warsaw edition being the first-ever TBL event in Poland. Attendees were from a number of countries, including the US, Colombia, and Georgia, with over 100 applications to compete for both events. (Berlin, Germany and Warsaw, Poland)

Thu, 20 Jun

  • SCA Panama rejects infused coffees at 2024 BoP competition. In an open letter, the organisation said four coffees submitted to the competition were found to be “altered from their natural DNA expression, likely with the intent to score higher and win by using foreign additives”. SCA Panama claims its decision is to protect the authentic identity of Panamanian coffee and terroir. (Panama City, Panama)
  • Robusta futures rebound amid crop concerns. Robusta futures rose above US $4,000/tonne, with a delayed rainy season in Vietnam raising concerns about crop recovery from recent droughts. Brazil, meanwhile, expects favourable weather conditions.

Fri, 21 Jun

  • G7 recognises coffee as key strategic sector in historic milestone for ICO. The ICO welcomed outcomes from the G7 Summit which addressed climate change, economic recovery, international relations, and the future of the coffee sector. In April 2024, G7 ministers recognised challenges in the coffee sector and endorsed a public-private partnership for more sustainable, resilient coffee value chains. (London, UK)
  • Snapchill recalls all coffee products due to risk of toxic growth. The company issued a public FDA warning after recalling products from 150 roasters and retailers following a potential risk of toxic clostridium botulinum growth. No illnesses have been reported, but the affected products were distributed nationwide through roasters and Snapchill’s direct sales. (Green Bay, Wisconsin, US)
  • Keurig Dr Pepper publishes 2023 sustainability report. The company’s latest report outlines its climate action, energy efficiency, water use, and packaging and circular economy efforts. By 2023, KDP aims to support regenerative coffee farming and conservation on 250,000 acres of land. (Frisco, Texas, US)
  • First-ever SIGEP Asia to begin on 26 June. The event will run until 28 June 2024 at the Sands Expo & Convention Centre, and will be co-hosted with the 2024 Speciality Food & Drinks Asia and Speciality Coffee & Tea Asia expos. The events will host the 2024 Singaporean Barista, Brewers Cup, Latte Art, and Cup Tasters Championships.
  • US government asks EU to delay deforestation regulation. In a letter to the European Commission, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said US producers are struggling to prepare to comply with new legislation. (Brussels, Belgium)
  • Hemro Group to showcase Sync grinder system at WoC Copenhagen. The company – which manufactures Mahlkönig, Ditting, Anfim, and HeyCafé equipment – will demonstrate its latest technology that shares data between espresso machines and the E80W Grind-by-Sync, resulting in automatic grind size adjustment. (Zürich, Switzerland)
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz at a senate hearing.

Here are a few coffee news stories from previous weeks that you might find interesting. Take a look:

  • Fri, 14 Jun – World Coffee Research releases 2023 annual report. Operating across 17 countries, WCR focused on science-based solutions amid climate challenges and R&D gaps in the global coffee sector. Last year, the organisation shipped and germinated 5,000 genetically unique arabica seeds to partners in six countries, among many other achievements. (Portland, Oregon, US)
  • Sat, 16 Jun – Lavazza launches new line of RTD iced coffees. The new drinks are available Espresso & Milk, Caffè Latte, and Cappuccino flavours. A limited-edition Cappuccino Protein variant is also exclusively available via direct-to-consumer channels. All drinks are made with 100% arabica and semi-skimmed milk. (Nationwide, UK)

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Want to keep up with current affairs in the coffee industry? Check out last week’s coffee news stories and make sure to read the latest Coffee Intelligence News & Opinion piece about why Luckin Coffee’s MoU with Brazil reveals a new major partnership.

The post Coffee News Recap, 21 Jun: SCA Panama rejects infused coffees at 2024 BoP, US Supreme Court backs Starbucks in unionisation case & other stories appeared first on Perfect Daily Grind.

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