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The Price of Your Brew: Coffee’s Costly Evolution

The Price of Your Brew: Coffee’s Costly Evolution

Here’s something to stir your curiosity: The price of your morning brew has more than doubled since 1985. A CNBC chart reveals the stark rise in U.S. coffee prices, driven by climate chaos, supply chain upheavals, and tariffs that once spiked costs. While the Trump administration slashed tariffs, Bloomberg warns that green coffee’s high global prices mean steep bills for consumers—well into the future. This isn’t just about your wallet; it’s a barometer of global instability. Coffee’s financial journey mirrors its cultural rise. From a humble commodity to a luxury item, the bean’s value has been shaped by forces beyond…
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Sanremo’s IoT Revolution: Coffee Tech That Smarts Up Your Brew

Sanremo’s IoT Revolution: Coffee Tech That Smarts Up Your Brew

This might just change your routine: Sanremo’s new IoT platform isn’t just a tech gimmick—it’s a game-changer for coffee pros. The Italian brand’s Sanremo IoT system lets baristas, managers, and technicians control espresso machines remotely, from phones or web browsers. Imagine tweaking grind settings or checking maintenance alerts without lifting a finger. The platform, launched at HostMilano 2025, pairs with Sanremo’s D8 machines and expands to future models, offering cloud-based access to performance data, recipes, and service tools. The real kicker? Sanremo’s Machine-to-Grinder Link ecosystem now syncs with select Mahlkönig grinders, turning extraction data into actionable adjustments. Depending on the…
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How a Sri Lankan Cafe is Brewing a Specialty Coffee Revolution

How a Sri Lankan Cafe is Brewing a Specialty Coffee Revolution

Pour yourself a cup for this one: In the heart of Kandy, Sri Lanka, a small cafe is rewriting the country’s coffee story. Dilshan “Arty” Ranaweera, founder of Cafe Secret Alley, started with zero coffee knowledge in 2017—Sri Lanka’s coffee culture was nonexistent, reduced to bitter brews for studying or staying up late. But his vision wasn’t for locals; it was for tourists. After the 2009 civil war ended, backpackers flooded the island, and Kandy, with its colonial charm and misty hills, became a hotspot. Yet, no cafes existed there. Arty saw a gap. “We started with smoothie bowls and…
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Santorini’s Vineyards: Climate Crisis and Tourism Threaten a Wine Legacy

Santorini’s Vineyards: Climate Crisis and Tourism Threaten a Wine Legacy

This might just change your routine: Santorini’s vineyards, once a symbol of timeless winemaking, are now fighting for survival against climate change and tourism. For millennia, the island’s volcanic soils and salt-stained Assyrtiko grapes have defined Greece’s most iconic wine region. But today, historic vineyards are shrinking, yields are collapsing, and the future of Santorini’s wine identity hangs in the balance. The crisis is both ecological and economic. Over the past three vintages, Santorini has endured record droughts, with annual rainfall plummeting below 200mm. Heatwaves have accelerated budbreak, pushing harvests into late July—far earlier than traditional cycles. At Domaine Sigalas,…
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Italy’s Coffee Culture Is Undergoing a Quiet Revolution

Italy’s Coffee Culture Is Undergoing a Quiet Revolution

The espresso machine’s invention in the 1880s didn’t just change how Italians drink coffee—it cemented a cultural identity built on speed, affordability, and bitterness. For decades, Italy’s coffee scene has thrived on this model, with millions of espressos consumed daily in traditional cafés. Yet beneath this routine lies a seismic shift: specialty coffee is quietly rewriting the rules. As record arabica prices force Italians to rethink their coffee habits, a new generation of roasters and cafes is challenging the status quo. Italy’s coffee culture is rooted in a paradox. While it’s the second-largest European coffee consumer, its market has long…
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Global Coffee Awards Crown Origin Roasters as Global Champions

Global Coffee Awards Crown Origin Roasters as Global Champions

The Global Coffee Awards just crowned the top roasters from coffee-producing countries, proving that excellence isn’t confined to major markets. Held in Houston, Texas, the Origin edition of the GCA blind-tasted hundreds of roasts across filter, espresso, and milk-based categories, offering actionable feedback to all participants. This isn’t just about bragging rights—it’s about reshaping how coffee is valued, from farm to cup. The GCA’s regional format is a game-changer. By spotlighting roasters in producing countries, it challenges the industry’s traditional focus on consuming nations. “We’re not just judging coffee—we’re validating the expertise of roasters who’ve long been overlooked,” says Henry…
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Coffee Prices Set to Climb as 2025/26 Deficit Looms

Coffee Prices Set to Climb as 2025/26 Deficit Looms

Time to spill: Coffee prices are about to hit a new high. The USDA just warned of a global deficit in 2025/26, and Brazil’s coffee exports are already tanking. With tariffs chewing 50% off US shipments and port delays costing R$8.7m in October alone, the writing’s on the wall. This isn’t just another market hiccup—it’s a full-blown crisis for growers and roasters alike. The numbers don’t lie. Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producer, saw exports drop 21% in the first half of 2025. That’s not a typo—it’s a 21% plunge. Cecafé’s data shows the pain is real, and it’s not…
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Europe’s Best Roasters Crowned at Global Coffee Awards

Europe’s Best Roasters Crowned at Global Coffee Awards

Time to spill: Europe’s top roasters just got a global spotlight—and the results are as bold as the brews they serve. The Global Coffee Awards (GCA) European edition, held in Bordeaux in October 2025, crowned winners across 25 countries, from Belgium to the UK, in a blind-tasting showdown that blends precision and passion. This isn’t just about trophies—it’s about redefining how coffee is judged, sold, and celebrated. The competition’s genius lies in its balance of rigor and inclusivity. Judges, including Q graders and SCA coordinators, evaluated roasters on everything from aroma to acidity, using a scoring system that mirrors real-world…
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The Future of Coffee Roasting: Innovation Over Incremental Gains

The Future of Coffee Roasting: Innovation Over Incremental Gains

Coffee roasting is undergoing a silent revolution—here’s how it’s redefining the craft. For decades, drum roasters have operated on 20th-century engineering principles, their designs unchanged despite rising climate risks, price volatility, and shifting consumer demands. Yet the industry is at a tipping point. As green coffee prices swing and sustainability becomes non-negotiable, roasters and manufacturers are confronting a stark reality: without reimagining roasting technology, the specialty coffee world risks stagnation. The shift began with third-wave coffee’s emphasis on precision. In the late ’90s, roasters demanded consistency, pushing manufacturers to adopt automation and advanced sensors. Today’s machines collect data, replicate roast…
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Supermarket Coffee Is Evolving—But Can It Keep Up?

Supermarket Coffee Is Evolving—But Can It Keep Up?

This is worth savoring: Supermarket coffee aisles are no longer just dark roasts and instant brews. In North America, Western Europe, and Australia, grocery stores are quietly reshaping their coffee sections, stocking specialty-grade whole beans, cold brew concentrates, and even matcha powders. Yet, for all the progress, the market remains a double-edged sword—offering growth but demanding precision. The shift began with a simple truth: consumers want more. Once dominated by low-quality, mass-produced blends, supermarkets now cater to a growing appetite for quality, sustainability, and diversity. Brands like Stumptown and Blue Bottle now share shelves with Whole Foods and New Seasons,…
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