Our recurring round-up of the latest specialty-coffee industry news.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Featured image by Joshua Earle
Good Food Awards Announces 2026 Finalists, Including Equator Coffees, Little Waves + More
After a blind tasting held this past October, the Good Food Awards 2026 finalists have been announced. Among the finalists in the coffee category were Equator Coffees, Boxcar Coffee Roasters, Little Waves Coffee Roasters, and more.
Onyx Coffee Lab Named James Beard Award Semifinalist
Marking a significant milestone for the specialty-coffee industry, Onyx Coffee Lab has been named a semifinalist for the 2026 James Beard Award for Outstanding Bar: a category historically dominated by cocktail and wine bars. “This recognition represents substantial progress for coffee and the work so many across the globe have been doing for years,” Onyx Coffee Lab shared in an Instagram post.
Registration is Now Open for Grounds for Health Week
On March 8-15, 2026, nonprofit Grounds for Health will be hosting a fundraiser to support women’s healthcare programs in coffee-growing communities, and they are inviting coffee companies around the globe to participate. Click here to learn more and register.
After 39 Years, America’s Largest Coffee Grower Risks Closure
The largest coffee grower in Hawai’i and the U.S., Kauai Coffee Company, is facing the possibility of closing down after nearly four decades of coffee cultivation. The Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group, which operates the company, does not own the land, and their lease is set to expire in March. Read the full story here.
San Diegans Say They’d Pay as Much as $12 for a Cup of Coffee
How much are you willing to pay for your daily brew? San Diego, Calif.’s Talitha Coffee Roasters surveyed their customers, and some said they’d be willing to pay up to $12 for a cup. Read the full story here.
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