Dean’s Beans Wins + Drinks as Self-Expression

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Dean’s Beans Wins SBA Rural Business Honor, Posts 168.5 B Impact Score

It’s been a big month for Orange, Massachusetts-based Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Company, which was named Rural Business of the Year for Massachusetts by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The SBA cited the worker-owned roasting company’s ethical sourcing practices. The company also said its latest B Corp recertification resulted in a B Impact Score of 168.5, well above the 80-point certification threshold.

Fairtrade Launches Global Strategy for 2026-2028

Fairtrade International has launched its Global Strategy 2026-2028, built around three goals: fostering sustainable livelihoods, advancing resilient and fair supply chains, and inspiring a collective commitment to fair and sustainable trade.

Lavazza Launches First B2B-Focused Regenerative Coffee Under Rainforest Alliance Standard

Italian coffee giant Lavazza has launched what the Rainforest Alliance called the first “professional-focused” coffee sourced from farms certified under its new Regenerative Agriculture Standard. Nespresso previously said it planned to introduce the first Rainforest Alliance Certified regenerative coffees for consumers this year.

Starbucks Announces Three-Year Farmer Support Initiative in Northern Thailand

Seattle-based Starbucks has announced plans ahead of World of Coffee Bangkok 2026 for a three-year initiative with the Integrated Tribal Development Foundation to support coffee farmers in Northern Thailand. Starbucks said the program will focus on improving farming and post-harvest practices to strengthen arabica quality, productivity and climate resilience.

Green Coffee Company Raises $5 Million to Support U.S. Expansion

U.S.-headquartered Green Coffee Company, which operates in Colombia, said it has raised $5 million from more than 2,000 retail investors through a Regulation CF campaign on DealMaker’s platform. The company closed a $25 million Series C round in 2023. 

Keurig Dr Pepper Trend Report Says Drinks Are Becoming Self-Expression

Keurig Dr Pepper has released its 2026 State of Beverages Trend Report, saying Gen Z and Gen Alpha increasingly use drinks to signal identity, emotion and intent. Meanwhile, “go-to” drinks are on the out, the report states. 

Cafe Imports Releases 2026 Progress Report

Minneapolis-based green coffee company Cafe Imports released its 2026 progress report, outlining goals, progress and challenges tied to sustainability initiatives throughout its operations. 

Draft Proposal Would Add Soluble Coffee to EUDR Scope

The European Commission has proposed changes to the product scope of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) that would add soluble coffee while excluding leather and retreaded tires. The draft does not create a new “no-risk” category, and public feedback on the delegated act is open until June 1, according to a Euractiv report.

RoasTronix Partners with CoE Mexico

Texas-based RoasTronix, the exclusive U.S. distributor of Stronghold roasting machines, said it has partnered with the Mexico Cup of Excellence to bring the Stronghold S7X Smart Roaster into the competition beginning this year. 

Oval Coffee Roasters Partners with Whisha Specialty Coffee Distributors

New York City-based Oval Coffee Roasters has announced a distribution partnership with Whisha Specialty Coffee Distributors to expand its retail footprint across Northern and Southern California.

ICYMI

Here are some of DCN’s top stories from the past week…

The War in Iran is Making Coffee Production More Expensive

Fertilizer are skyrocketing for coffee producers, threatening future global supply and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers as the U.S-Iran war sends shocks through the energy, shipping and agricultural-input markets… read more

SCA’s World Coffee Championships Changes ‘Taiwan’ to ‘Chinese Taipei’

The World Coffee Championships (WCC), produced by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), has changed the national designation for Taiwanese competitors from “Taiwan” to “Chinese Taipei.”… read more

2026 International Coffee Convention Heading to Trieste in October

After two editions in Mannheim, Germany, the science-heavy International Coffee Convention is heading to the historic coffee city of Trieste, Italy, on October 16-17, 2026… read more

Texas A&M Researchers Identify Biological Pathway Through Which Coffee Supports Health

A wealth of scientific evidence in recent years has shown that coffee drinkers tend to live longer and are less prone to certain chronic diseases… read more

Costa Rica Study Explores the Social Impact of Biennial Production Cycles

Although a steady fixture in the day-to-day lives of millions of consumers, coffee at the production level can often follow a “boom-and-bust” rhythm, with a larger harvest one year followed by a smaller harvest the next… read more

Roast Master Shows Off FAB Fluid-Bed Machines

Fluid-bed roasting equipment company and green coffee seller Roast Master made its U.S. coffee trade show debut at World of Coffee in San Diego last month, launching a new generation of its FAB series of commercial fluid-bed roasters while promoting green coffee sales… read more

Meta-Analysis: Coffee Drinkers Have Lower Odds of Multiple Sclerosis

A recent systematic review and meta-analysis suggests coffee drinkers have lower odds of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with non-drinkers, but the authors caution that the evidence is inconsistent across studies… read more