A New Cup Tasters Champion
Plus, a sprawling guide to coffee in Athens.
Coffee in Athens
Greece has been a powerhouse competitor at the World Coffee Championships for well over a decade. Doesn’t matter the event, Greece is always a threat to make the Finals. Their success has generally been bolstered by Athens-based cafes like Taf and The Underdog, so it isn’t really all too shocking that the city is home to a massively good coffee scene. Even still, Athens feels like it punches above its weight class, which is why our latest city guide is so sprawling. 10 cafes, with almost as many more recommendations. There’s a lot to be excited about in the Athens coffee scene right now.
Biscoff goes espresso
The Biscoff cookie is coffee’s best friend. It elevates even the most burnt, watery coffee of airplane coffee to something like a divine experience. And now, Biscoff is ramping up the coffee flavor with their new Biscoff Sandwich Cookie Espresso. Basically a Nutter Butter after a bar shift, it features two Biscoff biscuits sandwiched around an espresso-flavored filling. Who could ask for anything more?
The Sprudge Coffee Events Calendar
When it comes to coffee events, there’s no destination finer than the Sprudge Coffee Events Calendar. It’s a go-to resource for upcoming coffee festivals, barista competitions, cupping sessions, latte art throwdowns, coffee trade shows, roaster pop-ups, and specialty coffee community gatherings around the world. It is completely free to list events on the Sprudge Coffee Events Calendar, which means your next cupping party, photo exhibition, or sprodown throwdown can be listed right on Sprudge.com for all the world to reference and enjoy.
Artificial Intelligence goes middle management
AI is seeping into every facet of modern life, whether we like it or not. And one of the latest uses for the new technology is middle management at a coffee shop. In Stockholm, Andon Cafe uses AI to completely run a coffee shop, including the hiring and managing of real, human baristas. It’s said to be done as a controlled experiment to figure out what ethical dilemmas arise from AI managing humans. Really feels like we don’t need a real-world application to figure out why it is bad, but what do I know, I’m not a tech CEO with dollar signs for eyes willing to drive humanity off a cliff if it means I make a billion dollars first.
The Elote Flat White
In the latest installment of our On The Menu feature series, we’re checking in with Dawn Cafe in Nashville, whose latest seasonal drink is the Elote Flat White. It takes the flat white and adds guajillo peppers and corn and is finished off with a foam made with lime zest, cinnamon, cayenne, and Mexican crema.
Coffee may affect your sense of touch
Coffee is generally thought to be something that can make you jittery, and potentially overstimulate you. But new research suggests that it may have the opposite effect. Coffee may actually help keep your brain from being overwhelmed by all the sensory singles sent in a single touch, which in turns helps keep your movements smooth and controlled. Researchers believe this may have application is the treatment of disorders that affect physical movement, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Chicago Sky forward Maddy Westbeld loves coffee
There’s a growing cadre of professional athletes who are big time coffee geeks, and Chicago Sky forward Maddy Westbeld is the latest name added to the list. We caught up with Westbeld in Portland ahead of the Sky’s game against the Fire to lear more about her coffee routine, her order, and how coffee plays into the life of a professional athlete.
A new World Cup Tasters Champion
Over the weekend World of Coffee was in Bangkok for the Asian leg of the SCA’s premier series of trade shows, where it played host to the most recent World Coffee Championship event, the 2026 World Cup Tasters Championships. It was three days of slurps and red dots, featuring nearly 50 competitors from around the world, and it was all decided on the last two cups of the Finals. In the end, it was Vietnam’s Le Quang Cuong (Nicky) who stood victorious.
Roaster’s Village
We’re highlighting outstanding coffees from some of our favorite roasting partners each week here in the newsletter. This week’s selection of tasty coffees are…
8th & Roast – Brazil Mara Madeira
Night Swim Coffee – Colombia Yessica and Diego Parra
Klatch Coffee – Colombia San José Heirloom Anaerobic Natural
Equator Coffees – Thailand Chaiprakarn Red Honey Single Origin Espresso
La Barba Coffee – Colombia Los Patios Solsticio
Joe Coffee Company – Cafè Feminista
Blueprint Coffee – Kenya Gichathaini
Stumptown Coffee Roasters — Wild Flower
Partners Coffee — Honduras Edin Lopez
Phil & Sebastian – Sure Thing
Onyx Coffee Lab – Geometry
Madcap Coffee – Eureka
Olympia Coffee – Big Truck
Portland Coffee Roasters – Anniversary Roast
Mr. Espresso – Java Garut
Presta Coffee Roasters – 120 PSI Blend
PERC – Super Power Plum
Verve Coffee Roasters – Wilder Blend
Caffe Umbria – Bizzarri Blend
Coffee Gear!
A bi-weekly selection of coffee gear from some of the best manufacturers in the industry, both big and small. This week’s selection is…
Hario V60 “Simply” Glass — Pour-Over Kit
MiiR The New Standard Carafe — Serving Vessel
Acaia Horizon — Post-Extraction Pressure Modulator
Comandante C40 Lab Series Hammerhead — Hand Grinder
Dwell Dripper by Verve Coffee — Coffee Brewer
Flair Espresso Flair Wizard — Stovetop Milk Steamer
Slow Pour Supply Kimera — Milk Pitcher
La Marzocco Home Linea Micra — Home Espresso Machine
BOOKOO Themis Ultra — IP67 Waterproof Precision Coffee Scale
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
The Boy & The Bear - Senior Operations Manager - Gardena, CA
The Boy & The Bear - Cafe Manager - Gardena, CA
Royal Coffee - Quality Control Assistant - Emeryville, CA
Neighborhood - Manager - Los Angeles, CA
PERC - Shop Manager - Atlanta, GA
PERC - Coffee Education & Training Manager - Atlanta, GA
Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee - Sales Manager - Orange, MA
Parisi Coffee - Social Media Manager - Kansas City, MO
Think Coffee Importers & Roasters - Head Roaster/Production Roaster - Brooklyn, NY
Do you have a news tip? Feedback? A funny joke? Send us an e-mail, use the contact form on Sprudge, leave a message at 1-888-55-SPRUDGE, or send us a letter at PO Box 86342 Portland, OR 97286.