Bay

The Best Coffee in the Bay Area: A Curated Guide to the Region’s Most Dynamic Brews

The Best Coffee in the Bay Area: A Curated Guide to the Region’s Most Dynamic Brews

Here’s what you need to know: The Bay Area’s coffee scene is a kaleidoscope of innovation, from Korean-inspired roasters to Japanese avant-garde cafes. This year’s standout shops are less about trends and more about redefining what coffee can be—think co-fermented brews, experimental roasting, and hyper-local sourcing. Whether you’re chasing the boldness of a matcha-laced latte or the subtlety of a single-origin pour over, the region’s cafes are pushing boundaries with every sip. At Olivia Coffee and Flower in Oakland, the focus is on beans roasted in Korea, with a standout example being a fruit-forward blend that tastes like a pina…
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Blue Bottle Baristas Strike Over Thanksgiving Weekend: A Year-Long Battle for Fair Wages and Working Conditions

Blue Bottle Baristas Strike Over Thanksgiving Weekend: A Year-Long Battle for Fair Wages and Working Conditions

Unionized baristas at Blue Bottle Coffee, a popular coffee chain owned by Nestle, staged a multi-day strike over the Thanksgiving shopping weekend. The walkout, organized by the Blue Bottle Independent Union (BBIU), affected nine cafes in Boston and California's East Bay, with workers demanding a living wage, predictable scheduling, and stronger protections against harassment and arbitrary discipline. The strike intensified a year-long contract fight between the baristas and Blue Bottle Coffee. According to a Harvard Crimson report, the BBIU is seeking a starting wage of $30 an hour in Boston based on the MIT Living Wage Calculator. This demand comes…
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South African Pinotage: A Redemption Story in Every Bottle

South African Pinotage: A Redemption Story in Every Bottle

After a long history of being dismissed as cheap and not so great, South African Pinotage is making a comeback. The grape variety, a cross between Cinsault and Pinot Noir, has been reborn in the capable hands of modern winemakers. In this article, we'll delve into a recent tasting experience of a Pinotage from Walker Bay, South Africa – a sub-region known for its balanced and aromatic wines. The Wine Tasting Challenge posed a question: can we change our perception of Pinotage? After all, it has earned the nickname "the Grinch" in the world of wine. But like The Grinch,…
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