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Adda Coffee Closes All Pittsburgh Locations, Employees Rally

A popular Pittsburgh specialty coffee company called Adda Coffee & Tea House closed all four of its locations a day after employees announced their intention to unionize. Dozens of workers have since rallied, asking for severance. In social media posts, the owner of the chain has characterized the timing of the closures as “unfortunate,” while saying that the shops have been operating at a loss for a period of years. “Our final determination was solely and entirely based on the financial viability of the business,” an Adda spokesperson wrote on Facebook yesterday. “The timing has been unfortunate but we could no longer continue losing money.”

ICE Plans to Raise Premiums for Arabicas from Four Key Countries

A report in Reuters this week outlined plans by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) to raise price premiums on futures contracts for arabica coffees from four key countries of origin: Colombia, Kenya, Costa Rica and Guatemala.

Prima Coffee Named Direct Distributor of Mahlkönig

Europe-based coffee equipment conglomerate Hemro Group tapped Kentucky-based Prima Coffee Equipment to be a direct distributor of Mahlkönig grinders in the United States. The company became an exclusive distributor of Ditting grinders in 2021, and it now distributes all four of Hemro Group’s major brands.

Melitta Unveils New Filter Packaging with Environmental Certifications

Manual coffee brewing and filter company Melitta has unveiled new packaging for its archetypal cone filters. The new packaging notably boasts two certifications geared towards environmental stewardship: Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certification; and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.

Carble Launches Free Guide to Remote Sensing in Coffee

Coffee-focused sustainability agency Carble has published “The Beginners Guide to Remote Sensing for Coffee & Cocoa Supply Chains.” The free publication is designed to provide users a foundational knowledge of how remote sensing works, and how it might be leveraged to combat deforestation and achieve organizational sustainability goals.

Marco Beverage Systems Earns B Corp Status

Ireland and United States-based commercial coffee equipment maker Marco Beverage Systems, part of the Middleby Corporation, has earned B Corp certification.

Nuova Simonelli Launches Middle East Branch in Dubai

Italian coffee equipment company Nuova Simonelli has launched a branch office and “experience lab” in Dubai. The branch represents the brand’s focal point for sales and services throughout the Middle East.

Dutch Bros Expanding Arizona Operations Support Center

Oregon-based coffee chain Dutch Bros announced it is vastly expanding its Arizona-based operations support center, in order to promote more nationwide growth towards a goal of 4,000 stores. The company said that by the end of this year, it expects to have 40% of its support staff based in Arizona.

Scooter’s Coffee Names Two More Executives

Nebraska-based chain Scooter’s Coffee has appointed two new executives, naming Susan Tegt chief legal officer and John Owen chief operating officer. The appointments come approximately 10 weeks after Scooter’s named Joe Thornton CEO.

Atomic Coffee Roasters Partners with Nonprofit Elevate Youth

Boston-area roasting company Atomic Coffee Roasters is collaborating with the youth-focused nonprofit Elevate Youth for a new charitable line of products called “Loud Pow.” Proceeds from the sale of the coffee will go towards outdoor programs for youth.

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In Case You Missed It

Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…

Unintended Consequences of EU Deforestation-Free Regulation (EUDR) on Smallholder Coffee Producers, Part 1

To reduce the adverse effects of farming on the climate, the European Union passed landmark legislation in 2023 requiring seven agricultural commodities to be confirmed “deforestation free” before importation… read more

AI Comes to Green Coffee Sorting with the Avercasso CS One

An AI-powered green coffee sorting machine called the CS One recently made its public debut, courtesy of a new Taiwanese brand called Avercasso… read more

New ‘E-Nose’ Identifies Coffee with Up to 98% Accuracy

The research team is using the new e-nose to develop a library of coffee aromas to improve the AI, while also catering to a broader diversity of coffee origins, processing methods and varieties… read more

Olympia Coffee Co-Founder Launches High-End Oliver’s Custom Coffee

A longtime leader of Washington State roasting company Olympia Coffee has launched a new venture called Oliver’s Custom Coffee, focused on high-end coffees, experimental post-harvest processing and a novel approach to communicating differences in roasting… read more

Slingshot Prepares US Launch of Talis and Sisma Commercial Grinders

Coffee equipment maker Slingshot Technology will soon be shipping its new Talis and Sisma commercial espresso grinders into the United States… read more

Here’s What’s Happening at Roast Summit 2024

Roast Magazine is pleased to release the full program details for Roast Summit 2024, a two-day experience taking place in the coffee hub of Portland, Oregon, Feb 22-23… read more

Denim Coffee Opens XL Roastery and HQ in Central Pennsylvania

Central Pennsylvania specialty coffee company Denim Coffee is poised to grow in all directions with a new headquarters and expanded roastery in Chambersburg… read more