Mel is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles zeroed in on coffee and agriculture. She aims to amplify the voices of farmers and a diversity of perspectives. She has an M.S. from U.C. Davis in International Agricultural Development and a B.A. from Occidental College in Biology.
Permaculture, organic, and regenerative farming are not new concepts for many coffee producers, but they have recently become more prominent in consumer marketing. The growing...
As the specialty coffee industry grows at pace, more and more companies are popping up in different international markets. At some point in their journey,...
High-quality blends have become a staple of specialty coffee shop menus and roasters’ offerings in recent years. They have even made their way into prestigious...
In the wake of the climate crisis and declining profitability in coffee production, regenerative agriculture has emerged as a transformative solution. First defined by the...
As one of the most beloved brewers in specialty coffee, the AeroPress can be found in cafés, roasteries, and homes all over the world. Known...
Milk is a key ingredient in many coffee beverages. Drinks like lattes and flat whites are popular around the world, with the former being the...
Coffee farms come in all shapes and sizes. According to the Fairtrade Foundation, however, 25 million smallholder producers grow up to a staggering 80% of...
Baristas play such an integral role in specialty coffee. Without skilled and passionate staff, coffee quality would take a huge hit – and cafés and...
Although it’s incredibly rewarding, running a roastery certainly comes with its own set of challenges. And the past few years have been particularly difficult to...
For centuries, many producers have been growing coffee with other cash crops for a number of reasons. But in recent years, with climate change, an...
The coffee industry is well aware of the impact of climate change on production across the Bean Belt. Over the past few decades, we have...
There is a wealth of scientific research available about the many health benefits of coffee – as well as the undesirable side effects of drinking...
For many specialty coffee professionals and enthusiasts, the pursuit of extracting the “perfect” espresso is about much more than dose, yield, brew time, and flow...
For many of us, drinking too much coffee can lead to a number of problems – ranging from shaky hands, a rapid heart rate, and...
The Caribbean island of Puerto Rico has been growing coffee since the 1730s. By the late 19th century, it was even the world’s seventh-largest producer...
In recent years, specialty coffee’s fixation on experimental processing methods has only continued to grow – and shows no signs of slowing down, too. Both...