An Interview With Felton Jones, Roastmaster for PJ’s Coffee


As part of NCA Next Gen’s ongoing interview series, Everett Brown, Managing Director at Westfeldt Brothers, Inc., recently had the opportunity to sit down with Felton Jones, Roastmaster and Coffee Buyer for PJ’s Coffee. In this conversation, Everett and Felton discuss Felton’s industry experience and what the coffee industry can do to provide more opportunities […]

Celebrating Coffee During America’s Birth Month


This year, America celebrated its 247th birthday, but did you know that coffee has been one of America’s favorite beverages for even longer? In fact, there is evidence that coffee came to the colonies as early as the days when Captain John Smith and others helped to found Jamestown.   In 1670, Dorothy Jones became the […]

Flavor as the common thread for coffee quality along the value chain


Coffee cupping prep ©2019 Decisive Moment, NCA Convention The role of cupping in specialty coffee By Mario R. Fernández-Alduenda, The Coffee Quality InstituteExcerpted from The Sustainable Cultivation of CoffeeDiscount available for NCA members The popularity of coffee is still growing, but the definition of what makes a ‘good’ cup of coffee is complex. It might […]

Getting Started in Coffee Branding


It’s more than a logo. To learn more about coffee branding, NCA members can access the on-demand webinar, “Getting Started in Coffee Branding.” By Michael Wilson, Creative Director, Made Visible Studio Branding is not some sort of black magic. Rather, it is a methodic process by which an organization defines what makes them unique and […]

3 Highlights From the National Coffee Association USA Convention 2019


Spencer Turer (Coffee Analysts), Julie O’Brien (The Coffee Trust), and Monica Walker (Walker Coffee Trading) enjoying a cupping session led by Blue Donkey Coffee at the NCA 2019 Convention in Atlanta Pt. 1: The Crema the Crop Leaders, experts, and entrepreneurs from across the coffee industry came together for the 2019 NCA Annual Convention in […]

The Buzz Is Brewing at Blue Donkey Coffee


Blue Donkey will  host a specialty coffee cupping session at the 2019 National Coffee Association Convention in Atlanta, March 7-9 Atlanta Coffee Shop is Making Waves with National Coffee Leaders As Atlanta grows, so does the city’s specialty coffee scene – and one of the hometown favorites is about to make a big splash with […]

TRUE Green & Roasted Coffee Taste Descriptions


Exploring TRUE coffee descriptions: Trustworthy, Realistic, Understandable, Enticing A Shared Industry Vocabulary to Keep Us On the Same Page Learn more about coffee quality: Join Blue Donkey Coffee for a specialty coffee cupping at the 2019 NCA Convention in Atlanta, March 7-9 Part I: How To Communicate TRUE Coffee Quality The following article was originally published as the […]

From Invisibility Towards Inclusivity: Building Diversity In the Coffee Industry


Daiane Vital embracing her mother Vanilda de Souza Vital, south of Minal Geraris Brazil. Photo: Danielle Sereio “The industry must do a better job at telling coffee’s history, beyond those who carried the bean throughout different parts of the world…” – Phyllis Johnson, BD Imports, NCA Board Member In the most recent issue, Roast Magazine […]

New Seasonal Flavors Spice Up Fall Coffee Menus


4 in 5 consumers say they look forward to fall seasonal items the most Is this the end of pumpkin spice? By Amanda Topper, Mintel The following is an edited excerpt from the Mintel Blog. Read the full post  Wake up and smell the coffee: Pumpkin spice’s reign as top autumn coffee beverage may be coming […]