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
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.
Is This The Coolest Custom La Marzocco Linea Ever?
There are custom espresso machines and then there are custom espresso machines. And this one is definitely a custom espresso machine, the italics here to be doubly understood because there’s not a single vertical line on the whole damn thing. Copenhagen fashion brand Heliot Emil has teamed up with Scandinavian cafe chain Joe & The Juice to create a completely redesigned La Marzocco Linea Mini.
Exclusive! An Interview With Coffee-Loving U.S. Soccer Hero Joe Scally
A few short days ago we told you about the deep abiding coffee love of Joe Scally, a soccer player on the U.S. Men’s National Team currently duking it out in the knock-out rounds of the 20226 World Cup. With an assist from coffee pro Becky Reeves), the 23-year-old fullback has endeared himself to coffee drinker’s across the nation as a bona fide Coffee Guy. His status as the squad’s unofficial resident barista has caught the attention of multiple media outlets, this one included.
From Coffee Grounds To Biochar In 90 Seconds Flat
Much of coffee grounds’ value as an ecologically-minded alternative comes from its ability to be converted into biochar. From concrete to insulation to cleaning contaminated water, coffee can do it all after it has been converted into biochar. And with all the many uses already found for biochar, researchers are looking for new ways to producer it better and faster. Which is exactly what a team at the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) did.
Three New World Coffee Champions Were Just Crowned
The competition season simply refuses to slow down. After crowning new barista champions in both Canada and the United States over the last two weeks, the eyes of the coffee world turn now to Belgium, where over the weekend World of Coffee’s European leg took place in Brussels. And while the SCA’s premier trade show series was chockablock with booths and new tech, it was the coffee competitions that got things heated up.
The Real Resident Barista At The World Cup Is Becky Reeves
A certain soccer team took the pitch yesterday for what was a thankfully low-stakes contest with Turkiye, who is already eliminated from the tournament. (I won’t spoil the ending for you.) Nonetheless, the match wasn’t meaningless. The U.S. national soccer team was able to rest their four starters wth yellow cards, get some run for their bench players, and see how Christian Pulisic held up post-injury.
Exactly How Much Coffee Do You Need To Boost Athletic Performance?
Long before the world of creatine and peptides and milk thistle and amphetamines of varying danger and legality, there was the original performance enhancer: coffee. It’s what gave athletes and non-athletes alike that little extra bit of focus and energy they needed to tackle whatever challenge they faced, be it a sprint or a full day of parenting. A new meta-study has examined exactly what sort of boost caffeine can provide athletes and the level required to get it.
Jill Hoff Of Monogram Coffee Is The 2026 Canada Barista Champion
The US Barista Championship took place over the weekend in Denver. Jak Michael Ryan of Proud Mary in Austin, Texas and will go on to represent America at the World Barista Championship later this year in Panama. But the US wasn’t the only nation hosting a Barista Championship this month. Our neighbors to the north, Canada, recently held their barista competition, where they crowned their own representative for this year’s WBC.
La Marzocco Is Taking Affogatos On The Road With Ice Cream Social
It’s summer and in the coffee world that can mean only one thing. No, not cold brew. In this house we drink hot coffee all year round. I’m of course talking about the affogato, the iconic blend of ice cream and espresso. Hot and cold, syrupy and sugary sweet. It’s summertime perfection. La Marzocco knows this, and that’s why they are hosting Ice Cream Social, a summer event series built around the beloved affogato.
Team USA’s Secret Weapon At The World Cup? Defender And Resident Barista Joe Scally
The World Cup is taking place right now at stadiums across North America, and maybe it’s the home field advantage, but the United States team hasn’t been this much fun to watch since, well, the last time America hosted the world’s greatest soccer tournament 32 years ago. Their attacking style of play and constant pressure, a hallmark of head coach Mauricio Pochettino, makes it feel like they are on the verge of scoring at any moment.
Conical Vs. Flat Burrs? You Can Have Both With The New LAGOM GDS Grinder
One of the first major decisions one must make as a fledgling coffee gear nerd is conical versus flat burrs for their grinder. Are you chasing that syrupy god shot? Then maybe you want a conical burr. Or are you looking for maximum flavor clarity in you tea-like pour-over? Perhaps a flat burr is the best way to go. Of course the distinction and uses for the two isn’t quite so discrete.
Here Is Everyone Competing At The 2026 US Barista Championship
It’s finally here! The 2026 US Barista Championship is here! Kicking off tomorrow at the Huckleberry Roasters HQ in Denver, Colorado, the US Barista Championship brings together 30 of the best competition baristas in the country, all vying for a chance to represent the United States at the World Barista Championship in Panama later this year. And hoo boy is the field absolutely stacked this year.
EU Law Requires Paying Coffee Farmers A Living Wage, And The Largest Companies Aren’t Prepared
Say what you will about the European Union’s flawed deforestation laws, but they are trying to move the needle in terms of equity and sustainability in the coffee world.
Researchers Make Energy-Efficient Espresso Using Ultrasonic Sound Waves
For all the many technological innovations made to espresso machines over the last two decades, the act of making espresso is functionally unchanged: pressurized hot water is passed through ground coffee. But researchers from the University of New South Wales in Sydney have created a new method entirely. Using ultrasonic soundwaves, they created an espresso-strength beverage using room temperature water, and it significantly reduces the energy used.
Portland Just Banned Foie Gras. Is Kopi Luwak Next?
Last week, the city of Portland, Oregon passed a measure banning the sale and service of force-fed foie gras in restaurants. The ordinance comes with a fine of up to $5,000 for a violation. It is not the first of such bans in the US. New York City, Pittsburgh, Brookine, MA, and the entire state of California have previously prohibited force feeding for foie gras. Outside America, 20 countries have banned the practice. In most, if not all, instances the laws are due to unethical treatment of animals.
Actually, Coffee Masks Caffeine’s Bitter Flavor
The traditional view of coffee is that it is a bitter drink and that the bitterness is derived primarily from the caffeine content. Now, the reality is that coffee, when done right, isn’t bitter as advertised and decaf tastes remarkably similar to regular. Which is to say, the flavor isn’t impacted by the caffeine content or lack thereof. And new research appears to back this up.
A Colorado Cupping Of Competitive Congolese Cooperative Coffees
The 2026 US Barista Championship kicks off next week in Denver, Colorado, if you can even believe it. If there’s one drawback to attend barista comps, though, one single thing that could use a little improvement, it’s that you see all these delicious coffees being served and you don’t get to taste a single one of them. And while there won’t be any sort of guest service at this year’s USBC, there will be a pretty unique coffee tasting experience.
Starbucks Decided AI Inventory Management Isn’t So Great After All
The big lie of artificial intelligence is that it is going to make everyone’s job easier. That capacity certainly exists of course, but the real goal is not to make jobs easier, but nonexistent. And not in the no-one-has-to-work-anymore-because-all-our-needs-are-being-met sort of way, but in the continue-to-consolidate-wealth-among-a-small-few sort of way. So it isn’t entirely surprising that corporations have an itchy trigger finger when it comes to instituting AI beyond its proven utility.
The Alliance For Coffee Excellence Has Suspended The Taiwan Cup Of Excellence
Cup of Excellence is one of the premier auction series highlighting the best coffees produced on a national level. Put on by the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE), Cup of Excellence events have been held in nearly 20 producing countries as well as private collections and pilot events in emerging regions like Yemen (2022–2025) and Yunnan (2025), respectively. Sprudge has covered Cup of Excellence events around the world since 2010.
World Of Coffee Lisbon Announced For 2027
World of Coffee is headed to Lisbon in 2027. After making a stop later this month in Brussels, the European leg of the Specialty Coffee Association’s premier trade show series will be moving to the Portugese capital city, and it is bringing with it three different World Coffee Championship events. Announced today, June 4th, World of Coffee Europe will take place June 17th through 19th of next year at the Lisbon Exhibition and Congress Center in the Parque da Nações district.
Poorly Proportioned Porcelain Percolator Perpetrates Pour-Over Piddle
Coffee is art. It’s a fact the specialty coffee has spent the past two-plus decades trying to convince the world of. It is also true that art is coffee, or at least it is in the case of this admittedly wild pour-over. It is inspired by the works of French sculptor Auguste Rodin, and you can buy it on eBay right this very moment. Best known for The Thinker, Rodin is widely considered to be the father of modern sculpture whose work often focuses on the human form.
Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake Destroys Water Systems On Kona Coffee Farms
In the morning hours of Saturday, May 23rd, a magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit Honaunau-Napoopoo on the Big Island in Hawaii. It is the largest earthquake Hawaii has experience in four years, since the 6.2 magnitude quake in October of 2021 just south of shore on the Big Island, about 30 miles from where the most recent struck.
Roast Retreat Brings Michigan’s Best Roasters Together For A One-Day Event In Detroit
The local indie coffee festival is a thing of beauty. In a world riddled with bi-coastal hospitality group-hosted events with copy and paste logos—following the familiar “[City] Coffee Festival” and including a roster of questionably local coffee companies, and charging an exorbitant fee for the privilege—the indie event is something altogether different and refreshing. It’s the local coffee community coming together to highlight and celebrate what they have built. It’s organic.
La Marzocco Becomes First Espresso Machine Manufacturer To Achieve B Corp Certification
B Corp certification is a company’s way to formalize their commitment to transparency and ethical business practices, both in terms of social and environmental impact. Multiple well-renowned coffee roasters have earned the designation, included brands like Onyx Coffee Lab, Coffee Collective, Prolog, Olympia, Cloud Picker, and Equator Coffees as well as importers like Cafe Imports and Caravela.
Caffeine’s Effect On Sleep Isn’t Just About Duration, But Quality As Well
Coffee and sleep have a complicated relationship. On one hand, coffee can be the cause of, and temporary remedy for, a bad night’s sleep. But on the other, coffee naps are a thing. But the general consensus is that coffee for bed isn’t a great idea if your goal is a good night’s sleep.
Moccamaster Goes All Black With The New KBGT Midnight
The little black dress, the tuxedo, a murdered-out car, Ortho Stice, what is it about the simple elegance of all-black monochrome that is so appealing? I mean, Fellow has built a rather successful brand around it—and let’s be honest, you bought that Stagg kettle because it looked good before knowing anything about its functionality. Sure, pops of color allow for a little personality to shine through, but the all-black looks is just tough, plain and simple.
Ducati Just Made A $3,000 Espresso Machine That Only Runs On Coffee Pods
I don’t know what it is about motorcycles and espresso machines that engenders the need to cross-pollinate, but it’s very real. We’ve seen motorcycle-themed cafes, espresso machines on the side of motorcycles, even espresso machines made out of motorcycle engines. But this latest entry into the espresso-motorcycle canon is something far dumber. Motorcycle maker Ducati has just made their own $3,000 espresso machine, and it only works with pods.
Researchers At Kew Gardens Just Found A Promising New Coffee Hybrid
London’s Kew Gardens is one of the most respected coffee research institutions on the planet. Led by Dr. Aaron Davis, the researchers at Kew have been exploring lost and wild coffee species in hopes of finding an answer to climate change, much of which we have previously covered here on Sprudge. And their latest research continues that search with a promising new hybrid. Introducing Libex, a coffee hybrid of Excelsa and Liberica.
A Celebration Of Top Chef Barista Champion Duyen Ha (And Barista Champions Everywhere!)
Specialty coffee makes frequent cameos within the hallowed pantheon of Top Chef. America’s most popular cooking competition show has featured Stumptown in Season 18, Colectivo in Season 21, and a rousing home espresso moment in this most reason season (number 23) that even featured a WDT tool.
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