Weekly Coffee News: A BigFace Cafe + Red Bay in San Francisco

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The Mills Building in San Francisco. Image via The Swig Company.

Red Bay Coffee Coming to High-Profile San Francisco Building

The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce and real estate company Swig finalized a deal that is expected to bring Red Bay Coffee to a high-profile Financial District location in downtown San Francisco in The Mills Building. Through the deal, as first reported by Connect CRE, Red Bay will operate a high-end coffee shop alongside the new offices of Yes SF, a coalition of public and private groups focused on promoting urban renewal.

The Wyndown Coffee Bars Close in Washington D.C. Following Unionization Effort

Washington D.C. coffee company The Wyndown closed its two cafes this week, approximately one month after a group of its workers announced their intention to form a union. The owner of the independent business told Axios that the decision to close predates the union effort. Some workers, meanwhile are alleging retaliation against the union effort.

Nicaragua Cup of Excellence Winners

The Nicaragua Cup of Excellence green coffee competition culminated with 30 winners. Winning coffees will be available through the CoE auction on June 20.

Jimmy Butler’s BigFace Plans Brick-and-Mortar Cafe

Inside a GQ profile on NBA star Jimmy Butler this week was news that his coffee company, BigFace, is planning to open its first brick-and-mortar coffee shop in Miami’s Design District this September.

Melitta Group Acquires South African Roaster

Germany-based coffee equipment multinational Melitta Group acquired a majority stake in 30-year-old South African coffee roasting company Caturra. The company was founded by Annette Becker and Ryan Palos, who are maintaining a minority share, according to a Globaldata report.

Caffe Nero Owner Launching Wholesale Roasting Brand Called Aroma

The Nero Group, owner of the global cafe chain Caffe Nero, is launching a wholesale coffee brand called Aroma. “Going forward, Aroma by The Nero Roasting Company will enable selected third parties to be able to access that expertise and sell this high-quality speciality coffee,” Nero Group Founder Gerry Ford said in an announcement obtained by QSR Media.

Dallas Roaster Hurt by Abrupt Foxtrot Closings

A source from Dallas-based roasting company Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters told Axios this week that the company was one of many vendors left in the lurch when national boutique grocery and cafe chain Foxtrot abruptly closed all 33 of its U.S. locations. The company said it is owed thousands of dollars.

Boise State Coffee Lawsuit Escalates

The owner of a Boise, Idaho coffee shop has ramped up her legal battle against Boise State University and its president Marlene Tromp. The lawsuit that dates back to 2020 now includes allegations of destruction of evidence, according to an Idaho Dispatch report.

Fairtrade Launches Make Your Mark Campaign

Fairtrade International is launching a worldwide campaign called Make Your Mark to raise awareness of the lack of power and influence in global supply chains that keeps farmers and workers in low-income countries poor.

Community Coffee Concludes 35th Cash For Schools Campaign

Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based Community Coffee announced that its annual Community Cash for Schools program raised more than $160,000 for schools across Louisiana and Missippi in the 2023-24 school year. The company has led the fundraising effort for 35 years.

New from CoffeeIndustryJobs.com

Head of Sales – Ground Control Coffee – Ground Control Coffee
Consumer Parts & Accessories Coordinator – La Marzocco USA
Production Department Manager – Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters
Head of Coffee, Business Development – Fair Trade USA

Production Roaster – Groundwork Coffee

Social Media Manager (part-time) – Daily Coffee News
Field Sales Representative- Commercial Coffee Service, Northern LA County Region – Gaviña Coffee Company
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER (CRM) – Caravela Coffee
Cold Brew Production Manager – Coffee Support

ICYMI

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

Mano Pourover Machines Lend a Hand in Single-Cup Service

Hailing from Korea, an automated pourover coffee system called Mano recently launched in the United States, pairing a novel robotic spectacle with precision single-cup brewing… read more

Blue Bottle Coffee Loses Trademark Suit Against ‘Blue Brew’

A United States District Court judge this week ruled against Blue Bottle Coffee in a trademark infringement case against the owner of the Blue Brew brand of coffee equipment… read more

The NCD Pulse from Nucleus Adds Vibration to Espresso Distribution

Australian professional coffee equipment maker Nucleus Coffee Tools has launched a new espresso distribution tool called the NCD Pulse… read more

Juan Valdez and Green Coffee Company Ink Deal for US Coffee Sales

The owner of the Colombia-based Juan Valdez coffee chain announced a joint venture with United States- and Colombia-based Green Coffee Company for coffee sales in the U.S. and Canada… read more

Guatemala Coffee Report: New Map for World’s Fourth Largest Arabica Producer

The Guatemalan national coffee association Anacafé led a comprehensive set of geographic surveys to redraw the map of the country’s coffee lands map last year… read more

Stumptown Coffee Opens Anew in Downtown Portland

As it turns 25 years old this year, pioneering Portland, Oregon-based Stumptown Coffee Roasters has renewed its commitment to its home city with the opening of a downtown Portland cafe… read more

This World Bee Day, a Touch of Honey Could Help Coffee Producers

If you like coffee, you’d better dang well like bees, too… read more

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