How Specialty Coffee Roasters Can Lead the Innovation Revolution
Specialty coffee’s early focus on quality is no longer enough. Market consolidation limits risk-taking, creating space for independent brands to lead meaningful change. As giants like Keurig Dr Pepper acquire JDE Peet’s in a $18bn deal, the industry’s power dynamics shift. Consolidation breeds caution, but it also opens a window for roasters to redefine what innovation means. The stakes are high: without bold moves, the sector risks becoming a commodity battleground. Real innovation in specialty coffee isn’t about flashy gimmicks—it’s about solving real problems. Partnering with producers to tackle overripe cherries through fermentation, as Mió and Coffee Sensorium did, turns…










