Coffee Cache » Business

Are You Using Knock-Off K-Cup Technology?

Geoffrey — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:42:25 +0000

The single-serving coffee maker has to rank fairly high on the list of office engineering marvels. After all, who doesn’t feel better knowing that a cup of Joe is just 30 seconds away when they’re working late on a project? It might be a little watery, but it works in a pinch.

According to lawsuit recently filed at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, however, one particularly well known purveyor of single-serving technology is having trouble getting their innovations recognized by the government. Reading, Mass.-based Keurig, Inc. filed suit on Dec. 11 against the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, claiming officials there had wrongly rejected a patent application on the company’s K-Cup coffee filter cartridges.

Read the full article, “A Fight Brews Over Coffee Making Technology “. Posted 12/18/09.

Tanzania Officials: Drink More Coffee

Geoffrey — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 04:53:13 +0000

Tanzanians should double the amount of coffee they drink in the next five years to help domestic growers, a senior official said on Monday.

Read the full TheCitizen article, Drink more coffee: official. Posted 12/16/09.

I sure don’t need anyone to tell me to drink more coffee! I could go have a cup now, but I don’t think it would help Tanzania any. That and the fact that it’s 11:50 PM.

Walmart Offers Fair Trade Coffee

Geoffrey — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 12:46:53 +0000

While Walmart has been criticized in the past for being more concerned with price than environmental or labor issues when sourcing its goods, one area where it’s improving its record is with coffee. This year, the company partnered with TransFair USA, an independent certifying agency, to offer fair trade-certified coffee in its Walmart and Sam’s Club stores. The coffee is sustainably grown by farmers who receive a living wage and is thus more expensive than competing coffees – roughly $5.88 for a 10 to 12 ounce bag, compared with less than $5 for supermarket brand Eight O’Clock Coffee. But it tastes better (or at least it should), and by selling fair-trade coffee, Walmart vastly expands the market for such goods.

Read the full CBS News article, “What to Buy at Walmart” (coffee is number 3 on the list).

I’m not suggesting people do or do not shop at Walmart, I just like reading about new places offering fair trade coffee.