Probat Names Ryan Dodd North American CEO
Probat Group appointed Ryan Dodd as CEO of its North American operations, effective April 20, succeeding Ellen Nielsen who moves to CFO to oversee a Dallas‑centered consolidation. The restructuring merges the former Lincolnshire, Illinois plant, Bauermeister USA’s Memphis operation, and AC Horn’s Dallas site into a single hub. Dodd brings over 23 years of sales and business‑development experience in mechanical engineering. He will also co‑lead Probat’s global sales strategy for its expanding nuts‑and‑snacks business.
New Home Coffee Equipment From World of Coffee in San Diego
The World of Coffee trade show in San Diego attracted more than 17,000 visitors and became a launchpad for a wave of new home coffee equipment. Brands such as Cosori, Varia Brewing, Kopel Labs, Next Level Coffee, Lelit, Flair Espresso,...
Philz Coffee Reverses Pride Flag Removal Order, CEO Apologizes
Philz Coffee reversed its April 8 directive to strip Pride flags from all locations after a week of intense backlash, and CEO Mahesh Sadarangani publicly apologized for the misstep. The company now permits existing flags to stay up and will replace...
Three Questions with Kosta Kallivrousis of Age of Coffee
Kosta Kallivrousis left his family’s electrician business after the 2008 crisis to start as a Starbucks barista, eventually becoming a senior supply‑chain advisor at Age of Coffee. His career progressed through specialty‑coffee roles at The Roasterie, Parisi Coffee, and a...
‘Forest 500’ Report Tracks Coffee Industry Deforestation Commitments
The 2026 Forest 500 report, compiled by Global Canopy, finds the coffee sector lagging behind most commodities on deforestation metrics despite modest gains in public commitments. Only 47% of evaluated firms disclosed a coffee‑deforestation‑free pledge, and merely 5% reported that over...
Study Identifies Chemical Differences in Civet Poop Coffee
Researchers from Central University of Kerala analyzed unroasted robusta beans collected from wild Asian palm civet droppings in Kodagu, India, and compared them with beans harvested directly from the same farms. The chemical analysis showed higher total fat and elevated...
Two-Thirds of Americans Said They Drank Coffee Yesterday, NCA Report Finds
The National Coffee Association’s Spring 2026 NCDT report shows 66% of U.S. adults drank coffee yesterday, matching the past two years and keeping coffee the nation’s top beverage. Weekly coffee consumption reaches 73%, equating to roughly 195 million adults and 507 million cups...
Eight Ounce Coffee Becomes Exclusive Stronghold Roaster Distributor in Canada
Calgary‑based Eight Ounce Coffee has secured exclusive rights to distribute South Korea’s Stronghold electric roasters across Canada, adding the S2, S7, S8 and S9 models to its portfolio. The company, which already supplies roughly 4,000 cafés, roasters, hotels and retailers...
Coffee Crops Are Dying From a Fungus with Species-Jumping Genes
A fungus called Fusarium xylarioides is killing coffee plants worldwide through coffee wilt disease. Researchers reconstructed historical strains and sequenced genomes, discovering that the pathogen acquired virulence genes via horizontal gene transfer from Fusarium oxysporum, including mobile “Starship” elements. These...
Study Finds Coffee Tied to ‘Younger’ Biological Age in People with Mental Illness
A November 2025 observational study of 436 Norwegian adults with schizophrenia or affective disorders found that drinking three to four cups of coffee daily was associated with longer telomeres, a cellular marker of biological aging. In adjusted models, these participants...
Study: ‘Default Nudge’ to Oat Milk Reduces Carbon Footprint of Cafe Drinks
A UK study published in Global Environmental Psychology tested a "default nudge" that made oat milk the standard option in a university café while still offering cow's milk on request. The intervention boosted plant‑based milk usage from roughly 16% to...
Weekly Coffee News: Chain Removes Pride Flags + Science and Ed News
Philz Coffee announced it will remove Pride flags and other décor to create a more consistent, inclusive experience, sparking a Change.org petition and public backlash. The chain was sold last year for $145 million to a Los Angeles‑based private‑equity firm. At...
Barra Brings Sunshine Coast Vibes to Central Minneapolis
Barra opened on March 2 in the Skyway shopping center, bringing an Australian‑inspired coffee experience to downtown Minneapolis. The café offers a concise menu—espresso, drip, latte, flat white, and a Lemon, Lime and Bitters refresher—while customizing its water to mimic Melbourne’s...
New Products Coming to World of Coffee San Diego
The 2026 World of Coffee trade show will run April 10‑12 at the San Diego Convention Center, featuring over 650 exhibitors and a packed program of cuppings, education, and the World Latte Art Championship. Attendees can expect a wave of...
WCR Leads Nearly $1 Million Project to Strengthen Ugandan Coffee Sector
World Coffee Research (WCR) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) are launching a €850,000 (about $994,000) project to expand disease‑resistant coffee planting in Uganda. Backed by the Lavazza Foundation, J.M. Smucker and JDE Peet’s, the initiative will create robusta...