Costa Rican Gesha breaks COE record at US$300 per pound

The 2018 Costa Rican Cup of Excellence (COE) auction has made history.  Producer Luis Ricardo Calderon Madrigal has received the highest price ever paid for a COE coffee at US$300.09 per pound. Luis of Dan Cayito farm entered just one sample in the 2018 COE competition and placed first with a score of 91.29 points for his honey Gesha coffee. 
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Detpak launches coffee cup recycling program

In attempt to save coffee cups across the nation from landfill, Detpak has launched its RecycleMe program to ensure paper cups can be collected, sorted and recycled locally. The Detpak RecycleMe program will support a circular economy to keep products, components and materials at their highest utility and value for as long as possible. Detpak has aligned with industry partners to collect, sort and turn the cups into commercially recycled paper as part of existing systems in Australia. 
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Can cafés actually make money? Bureaux Collective to host spotlight session

Bureaux Collective will host an industry panel discussion on the topic of whether an ‘honest café can actually make honey’ on Thursday 26 July. The event will take place at 29A Gwynne Street, Melbourne from 6pm to 9pm. “With rising operating costs and a glass ceiling on coffee prices, the one-time healthy margins are thinning out for cafés,” says Bureaux Collective. “Operators are stretched, making the cutting of corners go from a temptation to commonplace.” It says however, that with customer expectations extremely high, the public’s awareness of operating costs is very low. Bureaux Collective will host the discuss with guest speakers Al Keating of Coffee Supreme, Kael Sahely of Vacation and Kirsten Baker of Finders Keepers. The discussion will talk about responsibilities, café functionality, should customers pay more, are operators at fault, and how Melbourne can set the scene for the rest of the country to follow. “We think running an honest, sustainable and successful café is tough, but definitely possible. With the help of some successful and seasoned operators, we’ll be armed to take a reading of the café scene, and extract what it takes to make it,” Bureaux Collective says. Bureaux Collective is a shared roasting facility that provides training, support and access to equipment for Melbourne-based cafés. It has been hosting ‘Taste of’ events for coffee professionals over the past year. For more information and to register attendance, click here. Read More

Starbucks to eliminate plastic straws by 2020

Starbucks has announced it will eliminate single-use plastic straws from more than 28,000 company operated and licensed stores by 2020. In the announcement on 9 July, Starbucks revealed it will by making a strawless lid or alternative-material straw options available around the world. It anticipates the move will eliminate more than one billion plastic straws per year from Starbucks stores.
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Di Bella announces merger with four enterprises

Di Bella has announced it is consolidating its position in the Australian coffee industry with the merger of four national and international coffee brands to become Australia’s second largest roast and ground coffee enterprise in Australia. Di Bella is owned by Retail Food Group, Australia’s largest multi-food franchise operator. Four coffee companies merging to form Di Bella include Di Bella Coffee, Roasting Australia, Di Bella USA and Evolution Roasters.
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Callebaut unveils new variety: Ruby RB1

Ruby RB1 is the first new variety of chocolate to be discovered in 80 years. The fourth type of chocolate, is the latest addition to the well-known milk, dark, and white chocolate categories. Callebaut chocolate is the first in the world to launch this new variety. The new chocolate’s sparkling ruby colour occurs naturally from the ruby cocoa bean, and surprises with intense fruitiness and fresh, sour notes.
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Melbourne to host National Good Food Guide Awards for first time

The Victorian capital is set to play host to the Australian food industry’s annual night of nights come October when the national Good Food Guide Awards travel to Melbourne for the first time. The Good Food Guide Awards annually announce and bestow awards and hats, symbolised by a chef’s toque, to the best Australian restaurants. Revealing the best restaurants, bars and chefs from across Australia, the national Good Food Guide Awards 2019 will take place at Crown Melbourne on 8 October, presented by partners Vittoria, Citi and Visit Victoria.
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Ona Coffee to serve John Gordon’s WBC coffee

Ona Coffee Marrickville will serve John Gordon’s 2018 World Barista Championship (WBC) coffee this Saturday 7 July. Early birds to the cafe from 8am will have the chance to try the milk-based coffee John used to place sixth at this year’s WBC final in Amsterdam. The coffee is from Project Origin’s CM Selections from Ethiopia, called Jasper. 
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La Marzocco Local to visit Adelaide

La Marzocco will host its Local event in Adelaide from 9 to 13 July. La Marzocco will host a week of activities in Adelaide, including in-depth technical workshops, home espresso classes, and its traditional Local party.
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