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Weekly Coffee News: Sustainability Awards + Opportunity in Korea

Welcome to DCN’s Weekly Coffee News. Keep up with all the latest coffee industry stories and career opportunities by subscribing to DCN’s newsletter. Tell our editors about your news here.

seoul cafe

A cafe in Seoul, South Korea. File photo.

USDA Report: South Korea a Growing Market for US Coffee Products

A new report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests continued growth opportunities for U.S. exports of roasted coffee to the South Korean market. “In 2022, South Korea imported $518 million of roasted coffee and extract products, up by $31 million from the previous year,” the report states. The U.S. is the largest coffee supplier to South Korea.

Nominations Open for SCA Sustainability Awards

The United States- and UK-based Specialty Coffee Association is now accepting submissions for its 2024 Sustainability Awards. The annual awards program recognizes for-profit and nonprofit organizations for their efforts in advancing sustainability, while inspiring other organizations. Details can be found here.

Report Suggests Some Buyers Avoiding African Coffees as EUDR Looms

A recent report from Reuters cites numerous sources who said companies are moving away from purchasing coffees from specific countries in Africa due to the looming EU deforestation-free laws. The report underscores the concern that green coffee purchasing companies may be more likely to avoid buying coffees produced by small-scale farmers in order to ensure compliance.

Saudi Arabia Approves 20 Coffee Research Grants

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture approved grants for 20 coffee research projects. Launched in collaboration with the Saudi Coffee Co., a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, the grant program is designed to “encourage research that focuses on Saudi coffee as part of the Kingdom’s cultural heritage,” according to an Arab News report.

German Coffee Company Tchibo Names New CEO

German coffee roasting giant Tchibo has named Erik Hofstädter its new chief executive officer. Hofstädter has moved from general manager of Tchibo’s Austrian business. He succeeds Werner Weber, who is joining the company’s supervisory board.

Coffee Technicians Guild Summit Heading to Texas in February

The next summit of the Specialty Coffee Association’s Coffee Technicians Guild is scheduled to take place Feb. 15-16 in Lewisville, Texas, which is the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex home of the Middleby corporation’s “innovation kitchens.” The event is designed to promote networking and skill-building among coffee technicians, machinists, designers, engineers and other specialists.

Metric Coffee Launches Artist Series

Chicago-based roasting outfit Metric Coffee has launched the first product in its new Artist Series, a line of coffees that bridge “the gap between sonic landscapes and the physical worlds of music and coffee.” The inaugural collaboration involves the band This Will Destroy You and a Gesha-variety coffee from producer Jose Rivera in Peru.

Jacksonville’s Vagabond Coffee Closing Retail Cafe

Jacksonville, Florida-based specialty coffee roasting company Vagabond Coffee is closing its nine-year-old retail cafe, according to a Florida Times-Union report. The quality-focused coffee company will continue roasting for consumers and wholesale clients.

New Website Launches for Decaf Coffee Drinkers

A new online publication appealing to decaffeinated coffee drinkers called DecafLife recently launched. The publication was founded by Sean West, who is described in a press release as “a decaf-fueled entrepreneur.”

National Yemen Coffee Auction Coming Jan. 11-12

The second National Yemen Coffee Auction is taking place online on Jan. 11-12 (depending on global location). The auction includes 17 microlots, ranging from 20 to 90 pounds.

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In Case You Missed It

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

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24 New Coffee Roasters to Support in 2024

As specialty coffee consumption continues to grow throughout the United States, the number of new companies and facilities devoted to turning green coffee brown has spread precipitously… read more

The Biggest Coffee Business News Stories of 2023

As they have throughout the past decade, acquisitionsmergers and investments abounded in 2023, signaling continued optimism for the growth of specialty coffee… read more

The Biggest Coffee Science and Research News of 2023

It was a particularly abundant year for scholars in the fields of green coffee and sustainability, coffee consumption and quality control, and, of course, coffee and human health… read more

20 Major Launches in 2023 for Manual, Drip and Espresso at Home

For people interested in new equipment for brewing coffee at home, 2023 saw a fascinating mix of all-new devices and novel updates to long-established forms and methods… read more

Major Releases of Coffee Grinding Equipment for the Home in 2023

Technology in higher-end grinders for the home took substantial strides forward in 2023… read more

Ten New Coffee Shops in the American Midwest

There were so many intriguing coffee shops that opened throughout the American Midwest this year, whittling this list down to 10 was a task fit for Paul Bunyan’s axe… read more

Ten New Coffee Shops in the Southeastern United States

While markets like Atlanta and Nashville continue to add to already robust coffee scenes, smaller enclaves throughout the Southeast are also, sometimes for the first time, finding high-quality specialty coffee options… read more

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