Features
Rise of the Matcha Drinker: A Case for Single Origin Teas
Younger generations – millennials – are looking for quality, value, authentic products, and transparency. Offering single origin tea options will be more important for attracting these audiences.
Tea in Africa: Diverse and Growing Markets
The African tea market is thriving with tea production expanding in East and Central Africa, and with consumption growing in the North and the West of the continent.
Kenya’s Coffee Sector: On the Road to Recovery
After decades of stagnation, Kenya’s coffee-industry is on the road to recovery thanks to a government- driven initiative. And although many challenges still exist, there have been positive results and further growth is expected.
The Cyber Hackers in Your Coffee
Coffee was one of the many industries affected by cyber attacks this year. Smart coffee and tea businesses understand that cybersecurity is both an operational threat and a long-term strategic business risk.
New Opportunities for Single Origin and Specialty Teas
The growing demand for premium cups sees single origin and specialty teas gradually conquering Western tea lovers.
Blending, roasting & processing, Business, Equipment & packaging, Origins, Sustainability
Coffee, Tea & Alcohol: Bringing the Crafts Together
It may seem like an unnatural relationship, but as the artisanal aspects of coffee, tea and alcohol continue to evolve, so do the opportunities to bring the products together to create new items and incremental revenues.
Man versus Machine
Harvesting tea leaves by hand or by mechanical devices is a highly topical question. Transitioning from man to machines is a major decision with many variables, which will heavily impact company investment and marketing strategy.
The Advantages of Co-Packing
Co-packing has evolved to address the coffee and tea industries’ need for a one-stop shop. Collaborating with a co-packer also helps companies improve efficiencies and alleviate risk.
Blending, roasting & processing, Business, Equipment & packaging, Origins, Sustainability
A New Era of Japanese Black Tea
Japanese green tea is world renowned, but now it has some competition. Although small, black tea production is a growing industry in Japan and unlike green tea, is attracting young producers.
New Technologies for Detecting Defects in Coffee
Defects in green beans plague the coffee industry, and finding defects continues to prove challenging. However, new methods to identify defects such as hyperspectral imaging and electromagnetic noses are emerging, but are they viable solutions?
The Hidden Power of Coffee Fermentation
Fermentation – the time that pulped coffee spends in a tank before it is dried – is also an opportunity to impact flavour. Microbiologist Lucia Solis, who specializes in microbial demucilagination, explains how this method offers a consistent and predictable coffee fermentation process, reducing the risk of spoilage or defects in the cup.
Blending, roasting & processing, Business, Equipment & packaging, Origins, Sustainability
Sustaining Central America
Central America’s coffee growing regions consistently garner attention for exceptional cup quality and unique flavours. While responses to climate change are inherently location-specific, as adaptations must address the immediate conditions of each farm, the six nations of Central America are demonstrating how the collaborative development of customizable tools empowers everyone to adjust production techniques for the long term.
Blending, roasting & processing, Equipment & packaging, Origins, Sustainability
Teas from Indonesia Strive to Regain Volume and Profile
With an ideal geographic allocation close to the equator, high peaks and volcanic soils, the tea plant is thriving in Indonesia, but is not profitable enough compared to other cash crops.
Southeast Asia Coffee Markets Continue Unprecedented Surge
The rise of emerging markets across Southeast Asia for more than two decades has brought about a stunning rise in coffee consumption to the region’s already fast-expanding economies. From the biggest players in the traditional markets like the Philippines and Japan, to new giants such as China, South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam, this is a welcome development for the coffee market and analysts expect the Asia coffee boom to set new records for world growth in coming years.