Coffee & the films of Quentin Tarantino
Coffee makes appearances throughout the oeuvre of Quentin Tarantino; it’s even in the first scene of his very first movie. And when it shows up, things generally go sideways. In a new feature, Jackson O’Brien examines the role coffee plays in Tarantino films and how they often serve as a violent inflection point.
Espresso’s effect on Alzheimer’s disease
There has been a lot of research on how coffee affects neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, and a new study seeks to establish one possible explanation. It has to do with tau proteins, which can clump and lead to brain diseases. In test scenarios, espresso was shown to keeping these proteins from clumping.
This week’s Build-Outs
It was a week of Coffee And for the subjects of our Build-Outs of Coffee features. In Charlotte, Hex Coffee found their other half in the lovely pairing with natural wine. Then in Philadelphia, American Grammar goes pre-Third Wave with a community-focused coffee house that doubles artist mercantile and performance space.
The 2023 Build-Outs of Coffee feature series is proudly presented by Dona. Explore the world of fine Dona products at DrinkDona.com and enjoy free shipping on each order over $50.
Airport coffee, redefined
Airport coffee is mostly bad. Entirely necessary, but save for a few places, generally not great. But at the Dublin Airport, local roaster Cloud Picker Coffee is moving in to bring the specialty experience inside the terminal. The brand announced that they will be opening three airport locations by the end of the year, with the first opening this week in Terminal 2.
Onyx Chocolate Lab
Northwest Arkansas’ Onyx Coffee Lab have never shied away from an ambitious project. You need only to visit their Bentonville cafe or their roastery space in Rogers or their very pink cafe inside The Momentary contemporary art space to see their no holds barred approach to wild cafes. Now, Onyx is set to turn a similar eye to chocolate, having announced a brand new shop in nearby Springdale that will be a “chocolate-focused cafe.”
Where to drink coffee in LA’s Arts District
Trying to figure out where to drink coffee in Los Angeles is a bit of a gauntlet. There are simply too many great options to decide between. Even if you break it down to just one neighborhood you can still be a victim of choice. But we’ve got you covered. And this week, we’re taking a coffee tour of the Arts District to find what shop (or five) you should check out next time you find yourself out that way.
In other news
A lot came across the PR desk this week at Sprudge. Oakland importers Royal Coffee announced that they were now offering SPOT coffee in Japan. Meanwhile, fellow Bay Area cohorts Equator Coffees announced a similar move, if only a little closer to home, with a brand new cafe opening in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles (even more good coffee in LA). Then, Fort Worth’s Coffee Equipment Pros announced a new marketplace for new and used roasters and roaster accessories. Yup.
Lavazza pushes back against EU deforestation laws
At the end of last year, the European Union approved laws banning the import of commodities that contribute to deforestation. The measure was voluntarily adopted and agreed to by many companies, and now one of them, Lavazza, is having second thoughts. It’s the practicality of it all, you see.
20 years of Joe
Joe Coffee has been serving the denizens of New York City for two decades now. In that time, the brand has grown to include over 20 locations, but it all started in 2013 back at the original location on the corner of Waverly Place and Gay Street in the heart of the historic West Village. To commemorate the achievement, we sat down with Joe co-founder Jonathan Rubenstein to discuss the past 20 years, the anniversary celebration, and what is in store for the brand.
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
Covoya Specialty Coffee - Sales Representative - Remote with frequent travel
Counter Culture Coffee - New York Sales & Account Manager - New York, NY
New cafes on Sprudge Maps
Here are new cafes discoverable on our global cafe portal Sprudge Maps. Register your cafe for free—thanks to the support of La Marzocco and Pacific Barista Series.
SOT Coffee Roasters - Kyoto, Japan
XLIII Coffees - Hoi An, Vietnam
Quality Blends - Barcelona, Spain
Loveless Coffees - 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 P.O. Box 3943 Portland, OR 97218.