Our recurring round-up of the latest specialty-coffee industry news.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Featured image by Joshua Earle
Trump Cuts Agricultural Tariffs, but Brazil’s Tariffs Remain High
UPDATE: BRAZIL TARIFFS OVERTURNED
Last week, the Trump administration rolled back tariffs on a list of agricultural products, including coffee. However, the tariff on Brazil, the world’s largest coffee exporter, remains high at 40%, leaving many to wonder about the fate of the country’s producers. Update: Tariffs on Brazilian Coffee Overturned
Coffee Exports from Yunnan, China, Surge in 2025
Known as China’s coffee capital, Yunnan is experiencing a surge in coffee orders, and producers are grinding to keep up with demand. Read more at South China Morning Post here.
Scientists Are Turning Coffee Waste into Concrete
In a study led by RMIT University engineer Rajeev Roychand, Australian scientists are experimenting with adding coffee grounds to concrete. The coffee grounds are said to make concrete 30% stronger.
Meridah Nandudu Uplifts Women Coffee Producers in Her Community in Uganda
NPR shares the story of Bayaaya Specialty Coffee, a company Meridah Nandudu founded to uplift women in her village of Bugibulungu. Meridah, whose parents and grandparents were coffee farmers, shares that she started her own company to combat gender-based violence she often witnessed amidst coffee-producing communities. Read more here.
Former Computer Science Major Finds Happiness in Coffee Career
For Business Insider, Nian Yang-yi shares the story of how he made the shift from computer science into coffee. After a sports accident delayed his career as a software engineer, he became a barista and ended up falling in love with the craft, eventually becoming a quality control specialist in Taiwan. Read the full story here.
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