Zac Cadwalader
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Writing about coffee. Thinking about climbing. Probably eating bread. Managing Editor at @Sprudge
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Articles by Zac Cadwalader
Blue Bottle Coffee Debuts Notes In Repose, A Limited-Edition Vinyl Celebrating Coffee, Jazz & The Art Of Composition
OAKLAND, Calif. – September 29, 2026 — Blue Bottle Coffee today announced the launch of Notes in Repose, its first-ever compilation album, created in celebration of the brand’s Signature Blends. The limited-edition vinyl brings together 10 contemporary jazz compositions from artists representing nine cities across Blue Bottle’s cafe markets in North America and Asia, including Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Makaya McCraven, Jeff Parker, Angel Bat Dawid and the Kyoto Jazz Sextet.
The AeroPress Goes Premium With The New Walnut
I’m old enough to remember when there was only one type of AeroPress. It was called the AeroPress. It was compact, plastic, inexpensive, and no frills. It was a revelation for on-the-go brewing. These days you’ve got big AeroPresses and little AeroPresses and glass ones and steel ones and colors galore. I’m not complaining or anything. I think it’s great. We’ve all grown up and so too has the coffee maker that was this close to being another frisbee.
Scientists Have Created A Coffee Filter That Removes Half The Caffeine
We’re past the point where decaf is a bad word. There’s a lot of dudes getting their “death before decaf” tattoos crossed out like an ex-girlfriend’s name. Or there should be anyway. If there is one place where decaf univocally lags behind caffeinated, it’s in variety. Not all coffees have a decaffeinated version. Most don’t in fact. If you see a nice Pink Bourbon at a shop, there’s a near zero possibility of grabbing a bag of it that has been decaffeinated. But this soon may no longer be an issue.
Another Barista Champion Just Competed In A Nationally Televised Game Show
Laila Ghambari is many things. She is the owner of Portland’s Guilder Coffee, a coffee consultant, and one of the most sought-after educators in specialty coffee. Though she is perhaps best known as the 2014 US Barista Champion. And to this already lengthy resume, she has added yet another accolade: game show contestant. Last night, Ghambari appeared on season six of Fox’s The Floor.
Cafe Imports Is Now 100% Employee Owned
Cafe Imports first began bringing in green coffee in 1993. Since then they’ve become B Corp certified, spun off a new brand La Bodega, and grown into one of the most recognizable specialty coffee importers in the world. And now Cafe Imports is “100% employee owned.” Starting over three decades ago in Minneapolis, Cafe Imports has grown into a global powerhouse with offices in Germany and Australia and offering coffee from 30 different producing countries.
The Grounds For Health Auction Is This Week
Grounds For Health is a non-profit organization supporting women’s health in coffee producing regions by bringing life-saving cancer screenings to often remote areas where access to care is difficult. Working with coffee cooperatives and local health care professionals, they establish prevention programs in hopes of curbing cervical cancer, which kills more women in developing regions than any other type of cancer.
The Plot Thickens On Dodgers Pitcher Tarik Skubal’s Espresso Machine
As Major League Baseball’s regular season draws to a close, the main storyline is the Los Angeles Dodgers. No, it’s not the untold amounts of money they’re spending in search of a third consecutive title. Not exactly anyway. The story is Tarik Skubal, the ace pitcher they acquired from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline. But even he isn’t the entire story. The other part—the main part—is the espresso machine Skubal took with him from the Tigers locker room.
Motors Coffee (Of Paris) Is Popping Up At Sey Coffee (Of Brooklyn)
Who doesn’t love an international pop-up? Coffee Collective recently brought the full Scandinavian experience to Rosslyn’s London Wall location. Onyx Coffee Lab will soon be following suit. And in another bit of transatlanticism, Brooklyn’s Sey Coffee is hosting Paris’s Motors Coffee for a full cafe takeover. Motors Coffee was co-founded by 2025 French Brewers Cup champion Thomas Philips, who will be making the trip to Bushwick for the pop-up.
The Double-Edged Sword Of App Ordering And Drive-Thrus In Coffee
The National Coffee Association released the latest edition of their National Coffee Data Trends (NCDT) report, their twice annual look at coffee consumption in the United States, by the numbers. For the fall report, the NCDT finds many previous trends continuing to hold steady. Past-day consumption of coffee in adults holds strong at 66%, with a majority of that, 83% in total, coming at home.
From Florence To Munich: La Marzocco Teams Up With Lodenfrey For Oktoberfest
When you think of Oktoberfest, what do you think of? Probably lederhosen, large steins of beer, polka music maybe. But what about coffee?
Pumpkin Spice Is Dead
The pumpkin spice latte has had a death grip on the coffee industry since Starbucks stole it from Tori Amos three decades ago. But in the past 10 or so years, the seasonal beverage has been anything but and has hung like a specter over the very un-autumnal months of August and September. You can get a PSL right this very minute if you want. Over the years we’ve seen a multitude of things getting pumpkin spiced with varying degrees of success. There were some that worked, like these Saucony sneakers.
Accademia Del Caffe Espresso Is Dropping Coffee Facts, A New Educational Series
There is so much to learn about coffee. You could devote your entire life to one single aspect of it and still not even scratch the surface. It’s part of what makes coffee so great but also sometimes frustrating. And where to even begin? That’s why Accademia del Caffe Espresso, La Marzocco’s Florence-based coffee museum and education center, has created Coffee Facts. The new series takes a deep dive on what it takes to go from a plant to a finished cup of coffee.
Very Hot Coffee Increases Your Risk Of Esophageal Cancer
There’s no debating the fact that hot coffee is superior to cold. (There’s no debating it because I simply choose not to.) But if a debate were to occur, which again one will not, perhaps the cold-hearted could point to a new study finding that extremely hot coffee is linked to a three times higher risk of developing esophageal cancer. As reported by the BBC, the study was recently published in the International Journal of Cancer by researchers from the University of Oxford.
Build-Outs Of Coffee: Fresh Pots In Copehagen, Denmark
Dateline: Copenhagen, the year 2026. The city’s widely admired coffee scene has been a frequent flier over the last nigh-twenty years of this coffee web log, and yet, the Danes demand more. A new coffee bar is newly opened on Vesterbro, in the city’s picturesque western flank. It’s called Fresh Pots. We zoom in to learn more. The 2026 Build-outs of Coffee is presented by DONA, Pacific Barista Series, and La Marzocco. As told to Sprudge by Tom Borup James.
Coffee People Zine Returns For Issue 26
Coffee People Zine is headed back to the presses. After a yearlong hiatus, specialty coffee’s premier indie zine is returning for Issue 26 and is celebrating with a pizza party in Minneapolis. The Sprudgie Award winning Coffee People was started in 2018 by Kat Melheim, at the time a roaster for Logan House Coffee and barista at Amethyst (RIP) in Denver. Since then, Melheim has moved cross country to roast for Black & White before resettling in Minneapolis.
The 2027 US Barista Championship Schedule Has Been Announced
The 2027 US Coffee Championships season kicked off over the weekend in Houston with the first qualifying round for the US Roasters Championship, and already things are getting kicked into high gear. This thanks to the announcement of the 2027 US Barista Championship schedule that brings with it a sizable expansion of competitor spots.
Here’s Everyone Moving On From The First Qualifying Event For The 2027 US Roasters Championship
The 2027 US Coffee Championships season is officially underway with the first qualifying event for the US Roasters Championship. Taking place over the weekend at the Roastronix HQ, 23 roasters headed to Houston, Texas to take part in the South/Eastern regional, including former champion Steve Cuevas, former runner-up Kimhak Em, and former Cup Tasters Finalist Helen Choi.
Coffee’s Impact On Parkinson’s Disease May Depend On Your Genetics
Coffee consumption has been linked to lower instances of Parkinson’s and other neurogenerative disease, many of which we’ve covered over the years. And a new study takes an even closer inspection at the phenomenon by looking at a genetic level. Turns out, coffee’s efficacy may be due as much to your genetic makeup as the amount consumed.
Detroit Tigers Ace Pitcher Was Traded To The Dodgers, And Took The Team Espresso Machine With Him
The Major League Baseball postseason is less than a month away, and that means that the trade deadline has come and gone. There were buyers and there were sellers. Playoff teams raided the cupboards of those in rebuild mode in hopes of finding the final puzzle piece and a World Series victory with it. One of the major trades this year came from who else but the Los Angeles Dodgers, who acquired back-to-back AL Cy Young-winning ace pitcher Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers.
Hershey’s Goes Affogato For Their New Creme Bar
When it comes to sweets, the Hershey’s bar isn’t the first thing I’m looking to grab. I mean, it’s a hunk of milk chocolate, it’s fine. It’s a good start. Add some caramel and nuts maybe, now we’re talking. Melt it into a hot chocolate, I’m here for it. On it’s own though, it kinda just seems like the candy the feral kid from elementary school would grab, mostly because it’s the closest thing to straight sugar he could get.
An “Internet Myth”: Study Finds Robusta May Not Be The Answer To Climate Change After All
Robusta is on the rise. What once used to account for 30% of global coffee production has recently jumped all the way up 43%. The primary factor for this shift? Climate change. Robusta is generally believed to be more resilient to a warming planet, which is true; robusta can handle higher temperatures than Arabica.
Graffeo Is Giving Away Their Ferrari With An Espresso Machine In The Engine
Almost one year ago to the day we reported on the Ferrari with an espresso machine intertwined with the engine. Created by San Francisco’s Graffeo Coffee, the 1984 Ferrari 308 was custom outfitted with a La Pavoni lever espresso machine for what the company refers to as “the world’s most expensive espresso machine.” Now, that Ferrari could be yours, thanks to the Graffeo Cafe Car Giveaway, and it’s free to enter.
Learn Your Way To Origin With Cafe Imports Field Trip Costa Rica
Even for baristas, understanding everything that goes into a coffee before it makes it to the roastery can be a bit of a black box. There’s a lot, and the more you learn the more you realize you don’t even know the half of it. Which is why earlier this year Cafe Imports released ED+U, a free six-part educational series covering multiple facets of the coffee supply chain created by US Brewers Cup Champion and CI Head of Education Dylan Siemens.
This Weekend, Coffee Collective Is Taking Over London’s Rosslyn Coffee
One of the great things about multi-roaster cafes is that you get to try coffees from roasters all around the world. It’s about as close as you’re going to get to visiting the roaster, without having to leave the city limits. Unless, of course, that roaster comes to you. Which is exactly what Coffee Collective is doing. For one weekend, the renowned Copenhagen specialty coffee roaster is popping up at London’s Rosslyn Coffee and bringing the full Scandinavian experience.
Barista Brawl: A New Cooperative Trading Card Game About Pulling Bar Shifts
The world of gaming run deep in coffee circles. And I don’t just mean that gamers drink coffee to stay awake during marathon sessions, though that is also true. I mean that lots of baristas are also big-time gamers. I remember tucking out early from an Expo afterparty to attend a midnight Magic: The Gathering session featuring enough USBC champions and Finalists that they should have sold tickets to it.
What Is The True Water Cost Of A Cup Of Coffee?
You know, which great precision, the exact amount of water in grams that it takes to produce your morning cup of coffee. But do you know the true water cost of that cup? Turns out, it’s a whole lot more. According to Space Daily, multiple research papers have drawn roughly the same conclusion: for every 125ml cup of coffee it actually takes 140 liters of water. Put another way, it takes more than 1,100 drops of water for every drop of coffee.
Would You Drink A Cream Cheese Everything Bagel Latte?
Coffee and donuts are an iconic breakfast pairing, but I would argue that breakfast’s other torus is an even better partner. The bagel is perfect. Not cloyingly sweet, though it comes in sweet variations, because the bagel contains multitudes. It is a thing unto itself, requiring little more than a light schmear (or butter or jam or peanut butter even), yet it is also a blank canvas waiting to receive whatever sort of breakfast feast you so desire.
Behold The Coffee Frog
Breaking news in the coffee world: frogs! Little tiny ones. Little tiny coffee frogs. A new species of frog has been discovered on Costa Rican coffee farms and they’re so cute I want to scream. But also they may be in danger. As reported by CBS News, Isthmohyla nacientes, otherwise known as the “coffee frog,” is a tiny greenish nocturnal amphibian that inhabits coffee plantations in the central Pacific region of Costa Rica.
A Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake In Colombia Has Halted Most Coffee Exports
On August 11th, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit the western part of Colombia. Striking roughly 200km north of Cali, the earthquake is the largest in the country since 2016 and could be felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. There are currently over 250 casualties reported. Amidst the tragedy and the human toll, the earthquake has also crippled the infrastructure, bringing the country’s coffee industry to a near halt.
Are You The Best Opener In The Coffee Game? A New Competition From Mazzer Wants You To Prove It
I love coffee competitions, but many of them are… how do I put this nicely… divorced from the realities of being a working coffee professional. Which in and of itself isn’t a bad thing; competitions can be a way to highlight the pinnacle of whatever it is they are showcasing. But what of the everyday barista? Where’s their time to shine? Well, it’s August 20th in Los Angeles. Introducing The Opener, a new competition created by Mazzer.
The Deadline To Submit Your Cafe For The 2026 Build-Outs Of Coffee Is August 17th
The 2026 Build-Outs of Coffee are still raging white hot, but alas all good things must come to an end and so too will this year’s Thrill of the Build. But we are not going quietly into the fall. We’ve still got a handful of new cafes to feature this year and we know there are even more out there. And it is with those cafes in mind that we want to nudge, remind, and generally make aware that the last day to submit your Build-Out for 2026 is this Monday, August 17th.
New Technology Looks To Turn Gas-Powered Coffee Roasters To Solar
Roasting coffee using the power of the sun has been a goal for some sectors of the industry. Wonderstate Coffee, for instance, harnesses all the electricity in their Wisconsin roasting facility from solar panels. James Hoffmann teamed up with electric roaster company Bellwether to roast coffee in the desert for some bizarre reason, I guess because there’s lots of sun there. And in Italy, PuroSole has taken a more direct approach, using mirror to literally cook coffee with concentrated sun rays.
Coffee Borer Beetles Are Making Homes For The Ants That Hunt Them
The coffee borer beetle has historically been one of the biggest scourges to coffee production. Native to Africa but since spread throughout all coffee producing regions, “the most harmful insect pest of coffee worldwide” will, as their name suggest, bore into coffee cherries, ruining it and the seed with it in the process. The coffee borer beetles is estimated to destroy up to 30% of all coffee, causing $500 million in damages each year.
The American Heart Association Says Five Cups Of Coffee A Day Is Fine
When it comes to whether or not to drink five cups of coffee a day, who am I to argue with the American Heart Association?When it comes to whether or not to drink five cups of coffee a day, who am I to argue with the American Heart Association? Their latest report finds that around five cups of coffee is safe for most people, and may even be beneficial. But the source of the caffeine matters.
Protect Your Laptop From Coffee With Upcycled Coffee
Being a coffee lover in the digital age means constantly worrying about getting coffee on your electronic devices. But what these new cases presuppose is: what if it isn’t so much of a bad thing? The Movas E Coffee Collection by Moft are protective carriers for your electronics and they’re made of upcycled coffee grounds. Used coffee grounds have become a favorite material for eco-alternatives to all sorts of products.
Level Up Returns To Minneapolis For A Weekend Of Immersive Learning
It’s time to Level Up once again. Raise The Bar’s premiere educational event is back for year two. Part immersive learning experience and part sleepaway camp, Level Up is a weekend full of workshops and mentorship opportunities with the working coffee professional in mind. And it returns to Minneapolis in September. Raise The Bar is a barista-focused organization created by industry veterans Rachel Apple, Ivana Chan, and Sandra Loofbourow.
You Need To See Officine Fratelli Bambi’s Newest Process, The Fiammata Technique
Are you tired of custom espresso machines yet? Good, me neither. Custom espresso machines have certainly been all the rage this summer, particularly La Marzocco Lineas.
Seattle Seahawks Wide Receiver Cooper Kupp: The Sprudge Interview
Were he to retire today, Cooper Kupp would already have a Hall of Fame-worthy career. The 33-year-old wide receiver already has two Super Bowls to his name, one with the Los Angeles Rams where he was named MVP (one of only eight receivers to do so) and the other with his current team and reigning champions, the Seattle Seahawks. Add to that an Offensive MVP, an All-Pro team, a Pro Bowl appearance, and a few wide receiver records, and Kupp is making a strong case for Canton.
Filter Coffee Vs. Instant: Which Helps You Age Better?
It’s not exactly a hot take to say that filter coffee is better than instant. Instant is certainly miles better than it used to be and is good in a pinch (generally times when filter coffee isn’t feasible). Flavorwise, filter beats instant, but it may also be better for healthy aging. That’s the finding of a new study, recently published in the journal NPJ Science of Food.
La Marzocco’s Ice Cream Social Goes To Cleveland
The Ice Cream Social is headed to Cleveland. After a successful inaugural event earlier this month in Seattle, La Marzocco‘s traveling affogato-based shindig is making its next stop in the Heartland for another round of cold treats, hot bites, and general good times. As we previously reported, the Ice Cream Social is a summer event series that sees La Marzocco teaming up with Swiss Water to deliver what may be the best decaf affogato on planet earth.
In Goa, Unseen Combines Boutique Lodging With Full On Coffee Nerdery
Hotel coffee is generally bad. (But getting better!) But a coffee hotel? Well that’s something altogether different entirely. And in Assagao in the Indian state of Goa, Unseen is a gorgeous lodging option for the caffeine-inclined that touts itself as the world’s first coffee-forward boutique hotel. Now, to be fair, that claim isn’t exactly right.
Regionals Return For The 2027 US Coffee Championships Season
The 2026 US Coffee Championships season has officially concluded, though there still is one tiny issue left to be resolved and that is the 2026 World Barista Championship taking place later this year in October. So for everyone other than Proud Mary’s Jak Michael Ryan, who will be representing the US of A, the 2026 US coffee season is in the books. And already folks are gearing up for 2027. There’s genuine excitement for what comes next at the US Coffee Championships.
Rejoice! Pope Leo Loves Drinking Coffee (And He Likes It Strong)
Pope Leo is the most beloved pope among Catholics and non-Catholics alike since, well, the last one. As the first American to be head of the Catholic Church, before he was Pope Leo XIV he was Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, Illinois. He roots for the White Sox, a team that’s miraculously become good after the Pope was installed, and he loves playing Wordle. But there’s still a major issue of important to this publication, and that is of course, coffee.
Some Green Coffee Importers Are Now Issuing Tariff Refunds
Remember tariffs? It’s only been a year but in the dog time that is our current hellscape that’s like three lifetimes ago. In case you need a refresher, in April of last year, the US government issued a global “Liberation Day” tariff of 10% on all imported goods, including coffee, of which the United States is the largest importer. Then in July, a 50% tariff was implemented on Brazil and the roughly $1.9 billion in coffee imported from the country.
The La Marzocco Linea Micra Gets A Wavy Custom Modification
There is perhaps no espresso machine better suited to customization than the La Marzocco Linea. More or less a box, the Linea is an icon of simple elegance that many people see no reason to modify. (If you’ve ever seen one with chopped legs that seats it closer to the counter you can understand the appeal.) But that simplicity also makes it ideal for reimagining; it’s a blank canvas. Which is what gives us the Topo Frame.
America’s Next Hotbed For Coffee Production Is… Florida?
Roughly 4.2 million pounds of coffee are produced annually between Hawaii and California. Another 10 million pounds are grown each year in Puerto Rico. But a new study finds promise for coffee growers in the USA, and it’s centered on an emerging destination: Florida. As reported by Growing Produce, researchers from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agriculture spent three years examining the state’s viability for coffee production.
Get Down At The London Brew Up Later This Month
London and Berlin, two of Europe’s great coffee cities. And these two titans of caffeination are coming together for one hell of a good time. The London Brew Up is a coffee competition put on by Berlin’s The Barn featuring brews of multiple varieties, hefty prizes, and giveaways. Taking place July 25th at Fabrica X, the London Brew Up is a celebration of the one-year anniversary of The Barn opening their first UK cafe, in the Fitzrovia neighborhood.
The Pour-Over Goes Vacuum-Insulated With Shelbru’s New June Brewer
When it comes to manual coffee brewers, once you get past conical versus flat bottom, innovation is made in inches. The occasional ridge or angle change, maybe a different hole pattern to modify the flow. They’re all shades of grey, nothing overwhelming different, each brewer focusing on one particular aspect of brewing that could be improved upon. And a new pour-over system is taking a closer look at heat retention. It’s called the June by Shelbru and it’s live on Kickstarter now.
New Study Finds Drinking Coffee Protects Against Liver Disease, Cancer, And Death
There have been multiple studies finding a link between coffee consumption and liver health, including reducing liver stiffness and decreasing chances of liver disease. Still, it’s always nice to check your work. Which is exactly what a new meta-study has done. It found that coffee protects against liver cancer, cirrhosis, and liver-related death, and the effect appears to be linear. As reported by CNN, the study was published recently in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
New Study Finds That Your Espresso Shots May Be Caving To Pressure
When it comes to espresso machines—or more specifically, the difference between a proper espresso machine and a machine that makes espresso-like drinks—the gold standard measurement is the amount of pressure it can produce. Nine bars, that’s the inflection point. If a machine can produce nine times that of the atmospheric pressure, then it makes espresso. Anything less and it’s merely espresso-like. But not so fast, says researchers from the University of Warsaw.
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