The Insider: Headlines from the Coffee Industry

Join us for our recurring round-up of the latest specialty-coffee industry news.

FROM STAFF REPORTS

Featured image by Joshua Earle

Oregon’s Coffee Industry Speaks Out Against Federal Tariffs

During a meeting with U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, local coffee importers and roasters expressed concerns over rising costs and potential layoffs, urging for coffee beans to be exempted from federal tariffs. The legal dispute is ongoing, and businesses are awaiting a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The First-Ever Starbucks Global Barista Championship Will Take Place This Month

From June 9 to 11 in Las Vegas, Starbucks will host its inaugural Starbucks Global Barista Championship. Twelve baristas from around the world will compete over three days, with over 14,000 company employees from the United States and Canada in attendance.

Study Links Coffee-Drinking to Healthy Aging in Middle-Aged Women

Time magazine shares findings from a recent study suggesting that drinking a cup of coffee a day can lead to long-term health benefits. The study followed almost 50,000 women over the course of 30 years and found that women who drank caffeinated coffee in midlife were more likely to exhibit signs of healthy aging.

Linear, a Line of Canned Ready-to-Drink Craft Beverages By Blueprint Coffee, Expands Lineup with Three New Offerings

Three new drinks—Oat Latte, Chai Soda, and Reviver (cold-brew lemonade)—have been added to Blueprint Coffee’s Linear line, a collection of grab-and-go craft beverages. The coffee company shares that the Linear line, which began with Linear Cold Brew in 2021, is made with the same honest processes, simple ingredients, and attention to quality that Blueprint is known for.

’Hydration Multipliers’ Grow into a Multibillion-Dollar Market

A story for CNN Business highlights the rise of electrolyte-filled powders, or “hydration multipliers,” such as Liquid I.V., amongst American consumers. But whether or not the average American actually needs these hydration multipliers is debatable; the article suggests that the “chronic dehydration” many claim to experience may, in fact, be simply a placebo effect of marketing tactics.

Judge Dismisses Case Against Peet’s Coffee for Alternative Milk Upcharge

A year-old lawsuit against Peet’s Coffee, alleging that the company violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by imposing a surcharge for non-dairy milk, has been dismissed. Judge Jon S. Tigar stated that the coffee company’s menu does not solely target people with lactose intolerance. “Peet’s pricing policy is facially neutral and applies equally to customers who are not lactose intolerant but prefer non-dairy alternatives in their drinks,” he wrote.

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