Fresh Cup Magazine

27/01/2025

Starbucks’ new cortado is... 8 ounces? Double the traditional size, and coffee connoisseurs are not having it.

Starbucks recently announced it will add a cortado to its menu, but in a size that varies from established industry norms. We asked coffee shop owners to weigh in on the news—and whether it will pose a challenge for customers.

27/01/2025

Next up in the Starbucks “back-to-the-coffee-shop” plan: corporate layoffs. Plus, new migration laws in Nicaragua leave Costa Rican farmers with unharvested coffee, and it’s bistros versus baristas in Paris..

Stay up to date with the latest news in the coffee sector The Pourover!

Click to find out how much the private sector contributes to coffee research. That and more—here's the news for the week of January 27th.

26/01/2025

A bad Yelp review or your barista leaving after one week because they weren’t onboarded is scary.

A smooth start makes all the difference.

Creating a welcoming work environment with thriving employees starts with hiring and onboarding. Here’s how you can set new coffee employees up for success.

26/01/2025

We want to know your favorite coffee city. Dream big and think outside the box: what makes a city a coffee destination? Is it having a bevy of shops? Is it having a longstanding history of specialty spaces? Is it proximity to coffee farms and the ability to source beans from producers close by? Is it being in a historically significant coffee region? WE WANT TO KNOW!

Tell us about perennial favourites, but we also want to hear about small towns, overlooked locales, and places you've never seen mentioned on a "best coffee cities" list — go wild! All we want is for you to make the case that your favorite coffee sipping locale is best.

Drop us a comment and tell us your favorite coffee city and why. Tag your favorite spots and make the case for why your city is the best coffee city.

25/01/2025

Ready to tap into the growing zero-proof movement? The opportunities for coffee shops are endless.

More people are opting for low and no alcohol drinks, and with the right tools, coffee shops can welcome a whole new crowd of mocktail enthusiasts.

25/01/2025

It’s not just coffee inside that cup! Each design choice, from eco-friendly materials to bold colors, reflects a brand’s personality. Dive into how today’s cafes are using packaging to express their unique identity.

Coffee shop packaging has come a long way from the days of plain paper cups and stamped sleeves. Today, more and more cafes are using custom packaging to promote their brands and create memorable experiences.

24/01/2025

Since its creation roughly a century ago, the cortado has been defined by its small size and equal-parts ratio of espresso and milk.

Or at least that was true until January 2 of this year, when Starbucks announced that it would be debuting a new, 8oz cortado.

In the latest column in Fresh Cup’s Behind the Headlines series, reporter Amber Gibson talks to café owners across the country for their take on the topic. Will Starbucks’ decision to ignore cortado convention make the drink as misunderstood as the macchiato? Or do customers have enough knowledge to navigate this misnomer?

Starbucks recently announced it will add a cortado to its menu, but in a size that varies from established industry norms. We asked coffee shop owners to weigh in on the news—and whether it will pose a challenge for customers.

24/01/2025

$43.8 billion by 2028. That’s where canned coffee is headed—and not just for big brands like Starbucks. Independent coffee shops are staking their claim.

Could you be next?

Canned coffee beverages already dominate grocery shelves, and the category is still growing. Here’s how specialty roasters can get in on the RTD action.

23/01/2025

"Who will have to enforce these changes? Mostly front-line baristas." — Starbucks Workers United

Starbucks’ new "buy something or leave" policy has sparked concerns about who bears the burden of its enforcement. Read more about what this means for workers and customers.

🔗 https://rebrand.ly/CoffeeNewsJanuary21

23/01/2025

Think cold brew is all there is to cold coffee? Think again. Elevating your cold coffee menu isn't just about adding ice. Learn how creativity can become your best ingredient.

From iced lattes to frozen drinks, café customers can't get enough cold coffee. Find out how cafés can tap into the growing demand with a diverse cold drink menu.

22/01/2025

Changing cultural norms are reshaping how Americans drink. In 2024, 41% of U.S. adults planned to drink less alcohol than in years prior, and 36% of Gen Zers are going alcohol-free altogether.

Various labels have been attached to the low/no alcohol trend, like ‘mindful drinking,’ ’sober curious,’ and the ‘zero-proof movement.’ Whatever you want to call it, people exploring low and non-drinking lifestyles are fueling a burgeoning and fast growing craft non-alcoholic mocktail swing that is quickly moving out of the bar and into grocery stores, retail shelves—and coffee shops.

Coffee shops are already used to bucking tradition and offering creative signature drinks that go beyond the typical beverages you see on most menus. For a shop to expand its menu to include mocktails with zero-proof spirits is not a far stretch.

Read more about how coffee shops are prime to capitalize on the growing mocktail movement.

More people are opting for low and no alcohol drinks, and with the right tools, coffee shops can welcome a whole new crowd of mocktail enthusiasts.

22/01/2025

No blender? No problem. Oregon Fruit’s Shelf-Stable Pourable Fruit Puree ditches the blender and freezer while giving you real fruit flavor!

Find out how this can make your baristas’ lives easier.

Oregon Fruit’s Shelf-Stable Pourable Fruit Puree offers cafes a vibrant alternative to using fresh fruit to make drinks. Here’s how it works.

21/01/2025

Starbucks’ new policy: buy something or leave. Plus, the coffee community rallies to support those impacted by L.A. fires, and a Compass Coffee co-founder takes his allegations of fraud to court.

Stay up to date with the latest news in the coffee sector by The Pourover!

🔗 https://rebrand.ly/CoffeeNewsJanuary21

20/01/2025

"The less they have to infer, the more focus they can put toward being a great barista."

Good onboarding isn't just nice; it's necessary. Dive into why a clear, welcoming start can set your team up for success.

Creating a welcoming work environment with thriving employees starts with hiring and onboarding. Here’s how you can set new coffee employees up for success.

19/01/2025

Coffee roasting... on wheels? The Roasting Room makes use of forklifts, rolling carts, and castors to keep the flow smooth and the beans moving. Community roasting, but make it fun!

Buunni Coffee has long been a staple in Upper Manhattan. Now, it hopes to bring educational opportunities and provide a roasting resource to the Bronx with its latest project, The Roasting Room.

18/01/2025

“Ensure the product maintains its flavor and freshness throughout its shelf life with proper testing and adjustments.” — Katrina Sarovich, Stan’s Donuts & Coffee

From flavor to design, your canned coffee should be a reflection of your brand's quality. Here's how to nail it.

Canned coffee beverages already dominate grocery shelves, and the category is still growing. Here’s how specialty roasters can get in on the RTD action.

17/01/2025

Poor onboarding is something that coffee professional Eric J. Grimm has experienced at every barista job they’ve ever had—and they’re far from alone.

But insufficient onboarding practices don’t have to be a coffee-industry norm. In Eric’s new Coffee Human Resource column, they offer business owners and managers a step-by-step guide to giving new hires everything they need to succeed from day one.

As Eric writes, improving onboarding is key to employee wellbeing, and it also helps reduce turnover and create better workplaces. For detailed steps on how to welcome new employees, tap the link.

Creating a welcoming work environment with thriving employees starts with hiring and onboarding. Here’s how you can set new coffee employees up for success.

16/01/2025

Who knew timing was everything? Morning coffee drinkers have up to a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Afternoon sippers? Not so much.