Avatar of ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

ADMIN@CoffeeWineTea.com

1043 Posts
The Cool Truth: Why Specialty Coffee Reveals Its Best Flavor When It’s Not Hot

The Cool Truth: Why Specialty Coffee Reveals Its Best Flavor When It’s Not Hot

This is worth savoring: The moment specialty coffee reaches its coolest state, it unveils a flavor complexity that hot temperatures obscure. For decades, the industry conditioned us to drink coffee hot, but the truth is, the best coffees only fully express themselves when they cool. The science is clear: as coffee cools, volatile compounds that carry sweetness, fruitiness, and floral notes become detectable, while bitterness and harshness dissipate. This isn’t just about taste—it’s about unlocking the terroir-driven story of each bean. The “drink it hot” mantra was born from necessity, not indulgence. In commercial coffee’s early days, high temperatures masked…
Read More
Filipino Coffee’s Global Rise: Michael Harris Conlin’s Mission to Shine

Filipino Coffee’s Global Rise: Michael Harris Conlin’s Mission to Shine

Here’s what you need to know about the Philippines’ coffee revolution—and the man leading it. Michael Harris Conlin isn’t just a barista; he’s a storyteller, an inventor, and a bridge between Filipino farmers and the world. His journey began in 2001, when a single bag of green coffee beans from a supplier transformed his life. “That moment sparked a curiosity that turned into a mission,” he says. Today, he’s the first Filipino to reach the World Barista Championship semi-finals and the 2025 Philippine National Champion, carrying Philippine coffee—especially Liberica—into global conversations. Conlin’s work isn’t just about flavor. “Filipino coffee is…
Read More
Coffee Industry Shakes Up with Awards, Challenges, and a Bold Pricing Shift

Coffee Industry Shakes Up with Awards, Challenges, and a Bold Pricing Shift

The coffee world is buzzing with big news, from prestigious awards to a brewing revolution. A blind tasting this fall crowned the 2026 Good Food Awards finalists, spotlighting names like Equator Coffees and Little Waves Coffee Roasters—proof that specialty coffee is finally getting its due. Meanwhile, Onyx Coffee Lab’s semifinalist status for a James Beard Award marks a seismic shift: coffee bars are no longer an afterthought in the culinary world. These wins signal a broader cultural shift, where coffee isn’t just a drink but a craft, and its makers are earning their place at the table. But the industry…
Read More
The Brewers and Tools Redefining Coffee Extraction Today

The Brewers and Tools Redefining Coffee Extraction Today

If you’ve noticed a shift in coffee brewing, it’s not just about beans or grind size—it’s about control. Baristas are redefining extraction through tools that let them fine-tune flow, temperature, and particle distribution with surgical precision. Competitions like the World Brewers Cup (WBrC) are accelerating this evolution, pushing hybrid brewers and data-driven gadgets into mainstream use. The result? A new era of coffee where consistency and complexity collide. Hybrid brewers like the Hario Switch and the SOLO dripper are now staples. The Switch, which toggles between immersion and pour-over, lets baristas experiment with body and clarity. The SOLO, designed by…
Read More
Colombia’s Co-Fermented Coffee Revolution: How Innovation is Redefining the Cup

Colombia’s Co-Fermented Coffee Revolution: How Innovation is Redefining the Cup

Colombia’s coffee scene is undergoing a radical transformation. Once synonymous with clean, washed coffees that defined its global reputation, the country is now leading the charge in co-fermented experiments. These coffees, which blend coffee mucilage with external organic substrates like fruit pulp or cacao, are reshaping what Colombian coffee can deliver. The shift isn’t just about flavor—it’s a strategic move to differentiate in a saturated market and prove that innovation can coexist with tradition. For decades, Colombia’s coffee identity was built on precision and consistency. The FNC’s infrastructure investments standardized washed processing, creating a reputation for mild, clean profiles. But…
Read More
Coffee Packaging That Defines Your Brand

Coffee Packaging That Defines Your Brand

Coffee packaging isn’t just about keeping beans fresh—it’s a silent ambassador for your brand. In a world where specialty coffee is a lifestyle, packaging has evolved from a functional container to a storytelling tool that shapes first impressions and builds loyalty. Today’s consumers aren’t just buying coffee; they’re investing in a narrative. A well-designed package communicates identity, values, and quality in an instant, turning a simple bag into a cultural statement. The shift from basic kraft bags to experimental formats like VHS-inspired boxes, cigarette-style packs, and translucent windows reflects a maturing industry willing to take risks. Yet innovation alone isn’t…
Read More
FairWave Coffee Collective Acquires Joe Van Gogh to Expand Regional Reach

FairWave Coffee Collective Acquires Joe Van Gogh to Expand Regional Reach

FairWave Specialty Coffee Collective is making its move. The growing coffee collective, already expanding across the Southeast with its 2025 acquisition of Raleigh’s Black Coffee, has just added another name to its roster: Joe Van Gogh Coffee. Based in North Carolina, Joe Van Gogh has carved a niche with its artisanal approach and community-focused cafes. This acquisition isn’t just about scale—it’s about strategy. FairWave’s move signals a clear shift in the specialty coffee landscape. By integrating Joe Van Gogh’s local presence and brand equity, the collective is deepening its foothold in a market already ripe for growth. The coffee industry…
Read More
Águila Coffee Infuses Orlando with Warm Mexican Flavors

Águila Coffee Infuses Orlando with Warm Mexican Flavors

If you haven’t tasted coffee that smells like a Mexican kitchen, you’ve been missing out. Orlando’s Ivanhoe Village now hosts Águila Coffee, a 800-square-foot haven where cobalt blue walls and hacienda-style yellow hues meet the earthy aroma of Chiapas-grown beans. Co-owners Artie Burer and Antonio Rodriguez have crafted a space that feels less like a café and more like a family gathering, complete with conchas, soft gingerbread puerquitos, and drinks emblazoned with the brand’s Aztec eagle logo. It’s a bold departure from Orlando’s sleek coffee scene, rooted in Rodriguez’s heritage and his grandmother’s legacy of hospitality. Rodriguez’s roots trace back…
Read More
Two Michigan Coffee Brands Unite in a Strategic Acquisition

Two Michigan Coffee Brands Unite in a Strategic Acquisition

The coffee world just got a little smaller. Schuil Coffee Company, based in Grand Rapids, has acquired Leelanau Coffee Roasting Co., a Northern Michigan staple since 1993, merging two iconic brands with decades of expertise. The deal, announced in February 2026, brings together Schuil’s 30-year heritage and Leelanau’s roots in Glen Arbor, near the Sleeping Bear Dunes. It’s a rare move in an industry often resistant to consolidation, but the partnership feels inevitable. Both brands share a mission: to deliver exceptional coffee without pretension. Leelanau’s Glen Arbor café has long been a pilgrimage site for locals and tourists alike, offering…
Read More
A Multicultural Coffee Experience Emerges in Kansas City’s Garment District

A Multicultural Coffee Experience Emerges in Kansas City’s Garment District

In the heart of Kansas City’s Garment District, a new coffee destination is redefining what a café can be. Veil Cafe blends vintage charm with modern flair, anchoring itself in the history of its brick-walled space while embracing bold, global influences. The result is a place that feels both rooted and restless—a nod to the cafes of Mexico, where old architecture and new ideas collide. Owner Benicio Baeza, a half-Mexican, half-Filipino entrepreneur, designed the space to mirror that duality. “We wanted to challenge ourselves,” he says, “to work with the historic nature of this space.” The café’s warm wood accents,…
Read More