Welcome to DCN’s Weekly Coffee News. Keep up with all the latest coffee industry stories and career opportunities by subscribing to DCN’s newsletter. Tell our editors about your news here.
Representatives of La Minita alongside international guests and government officials. Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves is pictured in the front row, sixth from left. Photo courtesy of La Minita.
Hacienda La Minita Hosts Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves
Last week, the staff at Hacienda La Minita in Costa Rica’s renowned Tarrazú growing region welcomed numerous dignitaries from the Costa Rican government, including President Rodrigo Chaves.
After participating in a cupping, Chaves took part in a ceremonial planting of seedlings that will ultimately contribute to the estate’s 2025/26 harvest. La Minita operates coffee estates in Costa Rica and Colombia, with direct importation ties to the United States. The event also included officials from Costa Rica’s ministry of agriculture, rural development agency and the mayor of the canton Desamparados.
Probat, Acaia Among World of Coffee Athens ‘Best New Product’ Winners
Coffee roaster maker Probat, coffee accessories maker Acaia and coffee equipment maker Ceado were among the winners of the Best New Product contest at last week’s World of Coffee trade show in Athens, Greece. Probat won for its P05 hydrogen roaster; Acaia for its Orion Nano bean doser; and Ceado for its Hoop manual brewer. Water treatment company Pentair and “filter cacao” maker Ander also took home Best New Product awards.
Blank Slate Changing Name to Avoid Blank Street Confusion
New York City coffee purveyor Blank Slate Coffee + Kitchen in is changing its name to Slate Cafe to avoid further confusion with the rapidly expanding New York coffee chain Blank Street, The New York Times reports. This isn’t the first time the Blank name has made customers see double. A UK cafe called Blank Coffee challenged the company’s expansion in London, saying the similar names caused confusion.
Starbucks Brings ‘Clear Iced Coffees’ to Japan Stores
Starbucks customers across Japan will be able to order “clear coffee” at all locations this summer. The Coffeeade Cool Lime uses a proprietary “special method” to achieve coffee flavor while maintaining a clear appearance, according to the company. The Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Tokyo will have two exclusive additional varieties: the Coffeeade Orange Delight and the Coffeeade Lime Mint.
Revelator Coffee Employees Make Noise After Sudden Closure
After a Revelator Coffee location in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, abruptly closed, a group of former baristas and bands took over the shop and put on an employee benefit concert, Al.com reports. A former Revelator barista who posted videos of the event on Twitter said the mini concert raised a few hundred dollars that was split among the employees. The shop was the Southern chain’s first coffee bar.
AeroPress Goes Big With AeroPress XL
AeroPress has introduced the AeroPress XL, which features double the brew volume of the original and a 20-ounce carafe. The coffee maker is on sale for $79.95. The company offered a sneak peak of the new product at the 2023 SCA Expo in Portland, Oregon, along with the AeroPress Clear and the AeroPress Premium.
Frazy Introduces Personalized, Concentrated Coffee Drinks
Subscription-focused beverage company Frazy launched a line of concentrated specialty coffee drinks. At about $4 each, the 2.75-ounce Frazy Bottles are available in six-packs or 12-packs and can be consumed as is, or with water or milk. They can be customized based on flavor, milk type, sweetness level, caffeine level and even label type.
Franke Coffee Systems Names Tim Cox Marketing Manager
Tim Cox is the new marketing manager for coffee machine technology provider Franke Coffee Systems Americas. Cox was formerly the director of coffee programs at wholesale supplier Texas Specialty Beverage. Franke Coffee Systems is a division of Swiss manufacturing company Franke Group.
Drive-Through Coffee Operation 7 Brew Hits Milestone
Drive-through coffee chain 7 Brew has reached more than 100 locations as it continues to expand across the U.S., with the newest spots opening in Texas, Alabama, Michigan and its home state Arkansas. 7 Brew first opened in Rogers, Arkansas, in 2017.
Tata Consumer Products Launches RTD Cold Coffees in India
Tata Consumer Products (TCP) has introduced a new line of RTD coffee drinks available in three flavors: classic, hazelnut and mocha. In addition to capitalizing on the rise of iced coffee, the Indian company is aiming to serve health-conscious consumers by keeping the sugar content low. TCP is the food and beverage branch of Tata Group
In Case You Missed It
Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…
2023 World Barista Champion Boram Um competing in Athens, Greece. Courtesy of the Specialty Coffee Association.
The Winners of the 2023 World Coffee Championships in Athens
Following four days of competition among 127 national champions, four new World Coffee Champions emerged last week in Athens, Greece… Read more
Study: The Experience of Drinking Coffee is What Fully Jumpstarts the Brain
New research suggests that it is the experience of drinking coffee, not solely the caffeine bump, that gives people a boost in alertness and efficiency… Read more
Eight Companies Give $1.5 Million to Kickstart ‘GCP 2.0’ Sustainability Initiative
Eight of the world’s largest coffee companies have contributed US$1.5 million to the nonprofit Global Coffee Platform to kickstart a new phase of coffee sustainability work… Read more
Pulsar is the New Star of the NextLevel Brewer Line
NextLevel Brewer Company has taken its product line a significant step further with a no-bypass brewer called the Pulsar… Read more
In Austin, Talisman Coffee Offers a Magical Connection to Matagalpa
Following five generations of coffee farming in Nicaragua, the Alvaredo family’s vertical integration is now firmly set in bricks and mortar with the opening of the Talisman Coffee bar… Read more
Colombia Coffee Annual: Production Rebounds, Volcano Looms Large
Improved weather conditions are expected to lead to an approximately 2.7% increase in coffee production in Colombia in market year 2023/24… Read more
The Newest Ground Central Coffee Destination is Grand Central Station
After chugging along for more than a decade, serving countless coffee drinks amidst the hustle and bustle of New York City, Ground Central Coffee Company has at last arrived at Grand Central Station… Read more
Comment