Latteworld

Starbucks Corp is moving into the instant coffee market as it works to shake off its reputation as a seller of pricey coffee drinks.

The Seattle company plans to unveil Via instant coffee on Tuesday and to make it available next month. [more]

In more good news for coffee lovers, a new study suggests that middle-aged adults who regularly drink a cup of java may have a lower risk of developing dementia later in life.

Whether coffee itself deserves the credit is not yet clear, but researchers say the findings at least suggest that coffee drinkers can enjoy that morning cup "in good conscience." [more]

Starbucks will start selling coffee and breakfast foods together for $3.95 next month in its first combination discount, to lure consumers into its coffee shops during the recession.

After its domestic traffic started slowing more than a year ago, Starbucks introduced a $25 annual Gold membership that entitles users to 10 percent off purchases and began selling prepaid cards with a face value of $100 for $80 at club store Costco Wholesale Corp [more]

Did you know that the average American consumes about 3 cups of coffee a day? That’s a lot of used coffee grounds going into the trash.

There are actually many ways you can recycle and reuse your old coffee grounds to help preserve the environment and maintain your health. [more]

Coffee prices are going up in the United States but New Zealanders may not have to pay more for their caffeine fixes. Three major US roasters have lifted their prices on major coffee brands such as Maxwell House and Folgers. All the roasters said they were responding to more than a year of price increases on the futures market. Recently, Starbucks also raised prices on their coffee products. [more]

When a woman in a white sport utility vehicle drives up to the drive-through window at the Coffee Tree, owner Brian Warren doesn’t immediately ask for her order.

His business philosophy has brought about 80 regular customers daily to his shop, mixed in with about 10 to 15 new customers a day. Not bad for working out of a 200-square-foot building with only two windows and just enough space for supplies. [more]

Technorati Tags: Coffee

Coffee farmers who suffered losses as a result of the passage of Hurricane Ivan are to begin receiving compensation cheques this week.

The coffee farmers, who had insured their crops with the collapsed Dyoll Insurance Company, have been in a lengthy battle with the liquidators over the payments. [more]

Tags: Hurricane Ivan

In the restaurant industry time is money. Which may explain why drive-thrus, offering quick service to millions of customers each day, coupled with the explosive growth of coffeehouses are watching their profits soar into the fast lane. [more]

Tags: QSR, Coffee drive-thrus

It’s hardly a feud between neighbors, but a corporate coffee giant is giving a hometown business a run for its money. Lucy’s Coffee and Tea is a local establishment. The coffee shop and diner brings in customers by the dozens, but the fresh paint on the wall right next-door signals Lucy’s biggest competition in 13 years. The name on the corner says it all: Starbucks. Lucy’s always seems busy, partly because of the energy the proprietor herself spreads through the shop. [more]

Starbucks’ purchases of its own Cafe Practices certified coffee will grow strongly in the 2007 fiscal year, a senior company official said on Monday.

For Starbucks’ 2007 fiscal year, which runs from October to September, Hay projected the company would buy 225 million pounds (roughly 1.7 million 60-kg bags) of "Cafe Practices" coffee, up from 150 million pounds (1.14 million bags) in fiscal year 2006.

The premiums Starbucks paid for coffees that meet its Cafe Practices standards would remain at current levels of 5 cents to 15 cents per pound, depending on the level of compliance with the standard.

Starbucks accounts for roughly two percent of the global coffee market. World coffee production in the 2005/06 export cycle is expected to be around 108 million bags. [more]

Tags: Starbucks, Fair Trade Coffee, Cafe Prectices