benefits of coffee

Defne Ceyda Okay: Coffee’s Quiet Revolution in Istanbul

Defne Ceyda Okay: Coffee’s Quiet Revolution in Istanbul

Time to spill: Defne Ceyda Okay isn’t just shaping Türkiye’s coffee scene—she’s rewriting its rules. As Oatly’s Barista Market Developer, World Coffee Championships judge, and soon-to-be SCA Trainer, she’s a force of curiosity, precision, and relentless connection. Her story isn’t about shortcuts or hype—it’s about turning coffee into a language of discovery, one cup at a time. Defne’s journey began in 2015, when an AeroPress order at her local café sparked a decade-long obsession. What started as a curious sip evolved into a career that spans barista work, roasting, training, and event curation. She’s rebuilt Türkiye’s specialty coffee culture from…
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How to Craft a Coffee Advent Calendar That Delivers Freshness and Flavor

How to Craft a Coffee Advent Calendar That Delivers Freshness and Flavor

As holiday traditions evolve, coffee roasters are reimagining the Advent calendar as a canvas for creativity and connection. Once a niche novelty, these calendars now blend luxury with curiosity, offering consumers a daily ritual of discovery. With 25 coffees packed into a single box, roasters face a balancing act between curation and logistics. The result? A product that’s as much about storytelling as it is about beans. The appeal lies in the thrill of the unknown. Each day unveils a new origin, processing method, or flavor profile—think chocolate praline, candied plums, or even rare experimental brews. For roasters like Pact…
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El Salvador’s Coffee Pulse: Where Roasters, Producers, and Innovators Collide

El Salvador’s Coffee Pulse: Where Roasters, Producers, and Innovators Collide

There’s something brewing in San Salvador. The 11th edition of Producer & Roaster Forum (PRF) lands in El Salvador on 26–27 March 2026, merging coffee’s most elite competitions with a rare chance to connect producers and roasters at origin. This isn’t just another trade show—it’s a seismic shift in how the global coffee industry operates. By hosting the event in a key coffee-producing country, PRF dismantles the outdated model of trade shows centered in consuming nations, creating a platform where buyers and sellers meet face-to-face, bypassing intermediaries. The event’s impact is already measurable. Over 4,200 visitors and 350 international buyers…
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Silverbird Roasting Unveils Its First Cafe in Minneapolis: A Blend of Aviation and Coffee Culture

Silverbird Roasting Unveils Its First Cafe in Minneapolis: A Blend of Aviation and Coffee Culture

This is worth savoring: Silverbird Roasting has landed in Minneapolis, bringing its aviation-themed coffee culture to life in the Kingfield neighborhood. The first brick-and-mortar cafe, Silverbird Coffee & More, is a love letter to the sky, blending retro rock vibes, space-age design, and a relentless focus on quality. Inside, a condiment counter built from airline beverage carts nods to the brand’s jet-setting roots, while preserved 100-year-old wood floors and exposed ceiling beams whisper tales of the building’s past. The space is a masterclass in balancing style and substance—think brass fixtures, a matte black Synesso MVP Hydra espresso machine with a…
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DWWA 2026 Opens: A Benchmark for Global Wine Excellence

DWWA 2026 Opens: A Benchmark for Global Wine Excellence

This might just change your routine: The Decanter World Wine Awards 2026 are open for entries, offering a rare chance to elevate your wine’s global profile. For over two decades, DWWA has set the gold standard for quality, with 18,000+ wines annually judged by 250+ experts—Masters of Wine, sommeliers, and industry leaders. A medal isn’t just accolade; it’s a passport to credibility, unlocking new markets, media exposure, and trade partnerships. Even non-winners get detailed tasting notes to refine future vintages. As Co-Chair Beth Willard puts it, “A DWWA medal is a catalyst for opportunity.” The 2026 edition builds on this…
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Coffee Quality Isn’t What It Used to Be

Coffee Quality Isn’t What It Used to Be

Time to spill: Coffee quality isn’t what it used to be. For years, specialty roasters positioned themselves as the artisanal alternative to mass-market brews, selling scarcity, complexity, and “flavor profiles” as their secret weapon. But now, even the most coveted single-origin beans and experimental processing methods have lost their edge. The market has matured, expectations have spiked, and roasters are scrambling to find new ways to stand out. The problem? Quality alone isn’t enough. Once, sourcing auction-winning lots or using techniques like anaerobic fermentation made a coffee feel exclusive. Today, those same methods are staples in high-end cafes and competitions.…
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Skip the Supermarket and Buy Better Coffee Online — Here’s Where

Skip the Supermarket and Buy Better Coffee Online — Here’s Where

This is worth savoring: If you’ve ever wondered why your supermarket coffee tastes flat, you’re not alone. The best online retailers don’t just sell beans—they curate experiences. From single-origin gems to subscription services that deliver global flavors, here’s how to elevate your cup. Intelligentsia, based in Chicago, has been crafting roasted beans from Central and South America for 30 years. Its rotating single-origin selections, like the exclusive “Intelligentsia’s Choice” subscription, pair with year-round blends and seasonal flavors. The brand’s grind options—12 sizes tailored to brewing methods like French press or cold brew—make it a standout for coffee purists. For gifts,…
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Silverbird Roasting Unveils Its First Cafe in Minneapolis: A Blend of Aviation and Coffee Culture

Silverbird Roasting Unveils Its First Cafe in Minneapolis: A Blend of Aviation and Coffee Culture

Here’s what you need to know: Silverbird Roasting, the Minneapolis-based roastery founded by 2016 U.S. Coffee Roasting Champion Tony Querio, has finally landed its first brick-and-mortar cafe in the Kingfield neighborhood. The 1,800-square-foot space, called Silverbird Coffee & More, is a masterclass in design and detail, blending aviation nostalgia with modern coffee culture. From airline galley carts repurposed as condiment stations to a brass draft system churning flash-chilled iced coffee and locally made tonic, every element feels intentional. The space’s industrial charm—exposed beams, preserved 100-year-old wood floors—contrasts with its playful touches: high chairs, coloring pages, and a signature drink called…
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Sur Coffee’s Southern Expansion: A Rebellion Against the Coffee Giants

Sur Coffee’s Southern Expansion: A Rebellion Against the Coffee Giants

This might just change your routine: Sur Coffee is rewriting the rules of coffee in Southern California. While corporate chains churn out identical brews with robotic efficiency, this coastal roaster is building a movement—one cup at a time. With roots in surf culture and a mission to honor the people behind every bean, Sur Coffee isn’t just expanding its footprint. It’s redefining what it means to belong to a community. The brand’s strategy is simple but radical: prioritize connection over convenience. In a market flooded with drive-thru speed and algorithm-driven orders, Sur Coffee is betting on something older and more…
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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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