Coffee Cache » News

Starbucks stops reporting price it pays for coffee beans, but releases other numbers

Geoffrey — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:51:32 +0000

After years of reporting the average price it pays for coffee, Starbucks decided not to report that figure in its 2009 global responsibility report released today. In 2008, it paid an average of $1.49 a pound, up from $1.43 in 2007, $1.42 in 2006, $1.28 in 2005, and $1.20 in 2004, 2003 and 2002. Spokeswoman Deb Trevino said the company is focused instead on 13 goals in the report.

Starbucks met many of its global responsibility goals, but fell short with recycling. Only 399 of its 7,529 company-operated stores in the U.S. and Canada offer recycling for customers. Only 1.5 percent of its drinks were served in reusable mugs or tumblers in the U.S., U.K. and Canada. And it faces challenges in the various communities it serves, which do not all offer recycling.

Read the full article, “Starbucks stops reporting price it pays for coffee beans, but releases other numbers“. Posted 4/19/10.

I’ve Been Stabbed. I’ll Take a Coffee, Please.

Geoffrey — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:20:50 +0000

WARREN, Mich. — A man who walked into a Michigan diner with a 5-inch knife stuck in his chest ordered a coffee and complained only about the cold weather.

Read the full Miami Herald article, “Man with knife in chest calls 911, orders coffee.” Posted 12/23/09.

Seven New Coffee Plants Now Documented

Geoffrey — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:27:53 +0000

Giant rainforest trees, tiny fungi and wild coffee plants are among almost 300 species that have been described by UK botanists for the first time in 2009.

Read the full BBC News article, “‘Bumper year’ for botanical finds.” Posted 00:06 GMT 12/22/09.

The article goes on to talk about the “Seven wild coffee species also feature on the list of new species, most of which were discovered in the mountains of northern Madagascar.” I wonder if they taste any good. The BBC has a picture showing Coffea ambongensis and Coffea boinensis, “whose ‘beans’ are more than twice the size of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica).”

Drink Coffee to Help Prevent Diabetes

Geoffrey — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:41:15 +0000

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – People who drink the most coffee and tea, even decaffeinated versions, can dramatically lower their risk of diabetes, researchers reported on Monday.

Read the full Reuters article, Coffee, tea, even decaf lowers diabetes risk: study. Posted 12/14/09.

I really like studies that include decaf drinks along with regular coffee. It’s nice being able to differentiate if some of the effects are from coffee, or just the caffeine in it.

Bean by Bean Works with Small-Scale Farmers

Geoffrey — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:54:49 +0000

ALLENDALE, Mich. (AP) – A western Michigan couple say their coffee business is working to help Central American farmers earn a better living as it satisfies their customers’ caffeine urge.

Grand Valley State University graduate Derrell Jackson and his wife Missy operate the Bean by Bean coffee company.

Read the full Charleston Daily Mail article, “Michigan couple help coffee growers ‘Bean by Bean’.” Posted 12/5/09.