Ben Morrow Wins The 2016 Australian Latte Art Championship

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Congratulations to Ben Morrow who finally walked away with the gold at the Australian Pura Latte Art Championships earlier this month.

After six years of entering and a handful of second places, the Sensory Lab affiliated barista managed to put together a chart-topping routine that featured some signature artwork to fend off some very strong competition.

Following Ben in the standings were Shinsaku Fukayama (also of Sensory Coffee) and Jibbi Little, who finished second and third respectively.

…continue reading Ben Morrow Wins The 2016 Australian Latte Art Championship

Posted by Clive on Thursday the 10th March 2016

An Encouraging Outlook For The Coffee Market

Nestle facing the heat

Members of the global coffee community gathered in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa for two days of discourse at the 4^th World Coffee Conference.

Over 900 people from 77 member countries attended thfe event, which was headlined by 20 high-level speakers who led and encouraged debate and discussion on issues relating to the conference’s overarching theme, ‘Nurturing coffee culture and diversity’.

…continue reading An Encouraging Outlook For The Coffee Market

Posted by Steve on Wednesday the 9th March 2016

Caffe Nero’s UK Tax Bill Under Scrutiny Again

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Oh dear.

What is it with coffee chains operating in the United Kingdom and a seemingly innate inability to pay their taxes?

First it was Starbucks, and then it was the turn of Caffe Nero.

…continue reading Caffe Nero’s UK Tax Bill Under Scrutiny Again

Posted by Mike on Tuesday the 8th March 2016

Rwanda’s Government Promotes A Coffee Culture

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If you have a good thing on the go, it is easy to maintain the status quo.

For coffee farmers in Rwanda, it is a simple case of putting in the hours out in the field and reaping the financial rewards once the beans go off to the export market.

However, there is a movement to keep more coffee within their borders.

…continue reading Rwanda’s Government Promotes A Coffee Culture

Posted by Steve on Monday the 7th March 2016

Exports of Vietnamese Robusta to Hit 6 Year Low

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Vietnam might be the largest producer of robusta in the world, but that doesn’t mean all the beans grown in the country’s plantations make it all the way to the export market.

Actually, with fluctuating prices and competition from the currently lucrative pepper industry, Vietnam is facing its lowest number of external sales figures in six years.

…continue reading Exports of Vietnamese Robusta to Hit 6 Year Low

Posted by Clive on Saturday the 5th March 2016

Theft Hits Uganda’s Coffee Sector

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Over the last few months, we have unfortunately covered a number of stories concerning the theft of coffee from farmers, exporters and production facilities.

With coffee a potentially lucrative crop, we should not be surprised that supplies and warehouses are common targets as it represents an easy source of income for those successful thieves.

…continue reading Theft Hits Uganda’s Coffee Sector

Posted by Clive on Wednesday the 2nd March 2016

UK Coffee Shops Serving Salt Filled Sandwiches

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Only a couple of weeks removed from a report that named and shamed coffee shops in the United Kingdom for piling their drinks with sugar, a new story is doing the rounds in Britain that has uncovered some rather unsavoury facts about the likes of Costa, Starbucks and Caffe Nero.

It is alleged that food sold by some of the most popular high street coffee chains is (metaphorically) swimming in salt.

…continue reading UK Coffee Shops Serving Salt Filled Sandwiches

Posted by Steve on Tuesday the 1st March 2016

“There Will Definitely Be A Bar” – Starbucks To Open Maiden Store in Italy

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Starbucks is everywhere. The famous coffee chain has stores on every street corner. You can march in to any train station and find the green signage and the signature white mermaid. Wherever you go, there is sure to be a Starbucks close by.

It would be a stretch to say that Starbucks succeeds everywhere it opens up, but, by and large, once the company sets its roots it grows and moves from strength to strength. Currently, Starbucks operates thousands of stores and serves around 90 million people per week.

…continue reading “There Will Definitely Be A Bar” – Starbucks To Open Maiden Store in Italy

Posted by Clive on Monday the 29th February 2016

Opinion: Framing the ‘Green’ Coffee Capsule Debate

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We are sure that by now, you have read the news about Hamburg’s city government banning the purchase of coffee pods.

Under a new environment-saving scheme, all state-run buildings will be banned from picking up Nespresso capsules, as well as other less-than-green items such as bottled water and plastic cutlery.

Quite rightly, this has shifted the debate on convenience coffee – to coin a phrase – and its lack of green credentials. “I think it continues to reinforce a point of view that many people feel enough is enough,” said Brian Kubicki.

…continue reading Opinion: Framing the ‘Green’ Coffee Capsule Debate

Posted by Steve on Friday the 26th February 2016

Konstantinos Komnnakis Triumphs at the World Cezve/Ibrik Championships

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Congratulations to Konstantinos Komnnakis who was crowned the World Cezve/Ibrik Champion yesterday.

Now in its ninth year, the tournament attracted nineteen entrants from all corners of the globe to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. And after a fiercely heated final showdown, Komninakis emerged victorious with Hazak Atesoglu (Turkey) in second and Karthikeyan Rajendran (UAE) third.

…continue reading Konstantinos Komnnakis Triumphs at the World Cezve/Ibrik Championships

Posted by Steve on Thursday the 25th February 2016