The Brew

Stories, insights, and culture from the world of specialty coffee

Weekly Digest

This Week in Coffee: May 11–17, 2026

US grocery coffee just set an all-time high of $9.72/lb. Starbucks cuts 300 corporate jobs. Dutch Bros buys a 29-shop Phoenix franchise. Vietnam wins its first World Cup Tasters title. El Salvador production falls 7.5%.

May 18, 2026 11 min read
Weekly Digest

This Week in Coffee: May 4–10, 2026

Royal Cup takes Farmer Brothers private. Dutch Bros revenue jumps 31%. Tim Hortons goes cold even in winter. The EU drags instant coffee into deforestation rules. Lavazza launches its first regenerative pro blend.

May 11, 2026 10 min read
Weekly Digest

This Week in Coffee: April 27–May 3, 2026

Nestlé sells Blue Bottle to Luckin’s backer for under $400M. China zeroes tariffs on African coffee. Yemeni cafes keep multiplying. Starbucks rebounds in the US, stalls in China. Arabica slips below $3.

May 4, 2026 9 min read
Weekly Digest

This Week in Coffee: April 15–21, 2026

Pricing transparency is now marketing. Brazil's record crop could flip the supply narrative. World of Coffee San Diego drew the biggest crowd in 30 years. Plus: the raspberry danish latte heard round the world.

April 21, 2026 11 min read
Careers & Industry

The State of Coffee Jobs in 2026: Opportunity Is Brewing

A $72 billion market, 475K baristas, and the AI revolution reshaping coffee careers. What job seekers and cafe owners need to know right now.

March 27, 2026 9 min read
Industry & Data

The $495 Billion Cup: Inside the Global Coffee Economy

Where the money flows, who grows the beans, and why your morning latte funds 125 million livelihoods across 70+ countries.

March 12, 2026 10 min read
Careers & Industry

Coffee Careers Decoded: Salaries, Growth & the Hoffmann Effect

Hard data on what coffee professionals actually earn - from baristas to Q-Graders. Plus how James Hoffmann proved specialty coffee is a legitimate career path, not a stepping stone.

March 12, 2026 12 min read
Culture & History

The Story of Coffee: From Ethiopian Goats to Your Morning Cup

How a curious goat herder's discovery in the Ethiopian highlands sparked a global obsession that shaped empires, fueled revolutions, and created the world's most beloved beverage.

March 12, 2026 8 min read