Archive - The Pourover

The Cost of Competing

For many, elite coffee competitions represent the pinnacle of the industry. But the huge costs to compete prevent those without financial support from…

Apr 12 •

March 2024

Private Equity vs. the Coffee Workers

Big money pours into specialty coffee with one goal: wealth extraction. But as soon as things go wrong, workers are the first to suffer.

Mar 29 •

The Moral Complexities of Civet Coffee

Coffee collected from the droppings of civets is sought after by the rich and deplored by animal welfare advocates. Caught in the middle are the farmers…

Mar 15 •

Clooney's Coffeewashing

Nespresso leans heavily on its sophisticated spokesperson, but George Clooney’s multi-million-dollar role does more than just sell frothy coffees.

Mar 1 •

February 2024

Coffee, Sustainability, and Shifting Perceptions

As the climate crisis comes for coffee, new ideas are needed. But some solutions are already out there—we just need to recognize and embrace them.

Feb 16 •

'Capitalism on Steroids': Private Equity and the Future of Specialty Coffee

It’s hard to shake the feeling that all the money that has flowed into specialty coffee over the past decade or so is warping the industry in ways that…

Feb 2 •

January 2024

The war in Gaza has spilled over into the Red Sea. The coffee industry's concern is with shipping delays.

Jan 19 •

The State of the Pourover

Musings on the past and future of this newsletter, plus an announcement.

Jan 5 •

December 2023

The Ongoing Fight For a Union Contract at Starbucks

Will 2024 finally bring a contract for the 370+ unionized Starbucks, or will the company's obstinance continue? The jury's still out.

Dec 22, 2023 •

Getchusomegear is Making Coffee Better

Coffee gear is expensive. Chris McAuley and the Getchu team are making it accessible.

Dec 8, 2023 •

November 2023

Connecting the Dots: Inside the 2023 Coffee Barometer

A conversation with the landmark report's lead author Sjoerd Panhuysen.

Nov 24, 2023 •

What We Say When We Say Nothing

Who the coffee industry chooses to support, and who it ignores, speaks volumes.

Nov 10, 2023 •

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