Weekly Coffee News: Q Arabica Scholarship + High-End Hand Grinder

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Royal Coffee and Good Form Offer Two Q Arabica Course Scholarships in Oakland

Green coffee company Royal Coffee and Good Form Coffee Educators, the education firm led by Trish Rothgeb and Dan Streetman, are offering two full scholarships to a Q Arabica course taking place in Oakland, California, in July. Applications are currently open until July 12. The course will be led by Rothgeb and Royal Coffee’s Evan Gilman from July 27 through Aug. 1 at The Crown. The Q professional education and certification program is overseen by the nonprofit Coffee Quality Institute.

Nominations Open for SCA Board of Directors

The Specialty Coffee Association is now accepting nominations for the 15-member 2025-2027 SCA Board of Directors. The SCA selects a slate of candidates for the exact number of open board seats following an internal interview process once nominations are complete. The nomination period closes July 15. 

Weber Workshops Launches HG-2 Mk2

High-end coffee equipment maker Weber Workshops last month launched the HG-2 Mk2, building on the existing HG conical burr hand grinder series. The new grinder introduces several new performance features, including a patented transmission to reduce the required turning force for lighter roasts. 

Square Mile Coffee Roasters Piloting Bellwether Machines

Square Mile Coffee Roasters, the UK coffee company co-founded by celebrity coffee equipment reviewer and author James Hoffmann, is piloting the use of Bellwether electric coffee roasting machines to roast at multiple locations throughout Europe. 

James Coffee Co. Formally Launches Wholesale Operation

San Diego-based James Coffee Co. announced the formal launch of wholesale specialty coffee roasting services. The company invited potential clients to its roastery in Escondido. 

Jollibee Acquiring Majority of Korea’s Compose Coffee for $340 Million

Philippine fast-food giant Jollibee Foods is acquiring an approximately 70% share of 2,600-location South Korean coffee chain Compose Coffee. The deal is worth approximately US$340 million

Starbucks and Workers United Negotiations Advance

The Starbucks barista union Workers United announced this week that negotiations have advanced “the framework intended to be the foundation of each single-store contract,” although the discussion has focused on the “non-economic” measures.

Starbucks Sues New York Weed Seller Starbuds

According to numerous reports, Starbucks Coffee Company has filed a trademark infringement suit against a New York-based seller of smokables and edibles. 

% Arabica Opens in Mexico

International specialty coffee roasting and retail company % Arabica opened its first store in Mexico City. It represents the 25th international market for the brand founded by Kenneth Shoji in Japan in 2013. 

Reusable Cup Maker Husky Launches HuskeeSteel Variety

Coffee-focused reusable cup maker Huskee has introduced a new cup model called HuskeeSteel. The 91% post-consumer recycled steel model follows the HuskyRenew recycled plastic cup and the original HuskeeCup, which is composed of upcycled coffee husk waste. 

New from CoffeeIndustryJobs.com

Service Technician – Bonfire Coffee Company
Production Roaster – Peace Coffee
Head Roaster – Coffeebar

ICYMI

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

Slayer Releasing a Single in the Steam Espresso Machine Line

Espresso machine company Slayer last week unveiled the Slayer Steam Single, a home-focused, single-group variant of its commercial Steam line of espresso machines… read more

Chicago Entrepreneur and Mall Coffee Icon Gloria Jean Kvetco Has Died

Gloria Jean Kvetko, the Chicagoland entrepreneur who founded Gloria Jean’s Coffee in 1979, died on June 14 at the age of 82… read more

Best of Panama Organizers Take Hard Stance Against ‘Infused’ Coffees

The Specialty Coffee Association of Panama (SCAP) has alleged cheating among one or more producers in this year’s Best of Panama green coffee competition, adding to a growing industry-wide debate on the production of “co-fermented” or “infused” coffeesread more

SCA and ACE/Cup of Excellence Enter Strategic Partnership

The Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) and the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE)/Cup of Excellence (CoE) have entered a strategic partnership with the shared goal to “unify the approach to defining and appreciating top-quality specialty coffees.”… read more

Four New World Coffee Champions from World of Coffee Copenhagen

Four more 2024 world coffee champions were crowned at the World of Coffee trade show in Copenhagen, Denmark, last week… read more

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