Industry News
In this section we have gathered some of the most popular information sources, such as trade journals, magazines, blogs, and association websites. Industry information is always changing. For the latest news, current issues and popular opinions, try following one or more of these sources. In addition, interacting with the websites that provide this information through commenting and asking questions may also provide you with more information.
Associations
Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for your business plan. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.
British Columbia Associations
- British Columbia Restaurant and Foodservice Association | Check out the COVID-19 Resources section for helpful pandemic-related downloads.
Canadian Associations
- Coffee Association of Canada | Aims to enhance the coffee beverage experience by providing members and consumers with opportunities to improve coffee beverage knowledge and skills.
- Restaurants Canada | Restaurants Canada is an organization that represents every sector of Canada's foodservice industry. Check out the Research section.
International Associations
- National Coffee Association | The largest coffee association in North America serves the public and its members by championing the well being of the coffee industry within the context of the global coffee community. Check out their report Coffee, Consumers, & COVID-19: Road Map to Recovery, which details Americans’ return to coffee shops.
- World Coffee Research | Focuses on collecting research from the coffee industry with the potential to improve coffee productivity, coffee quality, climate resilience, and farmer livelihoods. Have a look at their Annual Report 2020, titled “Ensuring the Future of Coffee.”
- World Coffee Portal | A global network of coffee professionals with more than 20 years’ experience analyzing the global coffee market, this site brings together information about the coffee industry and its current challenges. Check out their latest Coffee Industry Reports here.
- International Coffee Organization | Is the main intergovernmental organization for coffee, bringing together producing and consuming countries to tackle the challenges facing the world coffee sector through international cooperation. Check out their extensive Resources.
- Specialty Coffee Association (Canada and international chapters) | SCA is a non-profit organization, based in the US. The Canadian chapter can be found here and was formerly the Canadian Coffee Guild. Both SCA and the Canadian chapter of SCA provide events and education for members; SCA also performs market and scientific research which is available through the member portal and for purchase on their site.
Magazines & Trade Journals
Trade associations often publish free industry newsletters that are excellent sources of information for business planning. Such newsletters often have articles that cover in-depth topics on business management, manufacturing practices, how-tos, and current industry news.
- Fresh Cup Magazine | Delivers in-depth analysis of the specialty coffee and tea industries with a focus on helping new coffee shop owners through their training courses and workshops. Published once a month, they offer blog style articles along with their digital magazine, as well as a section for new and upcoming ideas to take your coffee shop to the next level. You can purchase back issues here.
- Boughton’s Coffee House | This bi-monthly publication is aimed at café owners, roasters, and employees, with a focus on providing information to help grow businesses. See current issue highlights as well as free current & back issues here.
- Barista Magazine Online | Published on a bi-monthly basis, this magazine is available for free through their app, Barista Magazine. Covering a variety of topics such as equipment and coffee market, a summary of their latest issue can be seen here.
Consultant & Other Websites
MarketWatch - Industry Analyzer | The Industries section contains current data on Dow Jones Industry Sectors. Aggregate data as well as company-specific data is available.
PriceWaterhouse Coopers Canada (PwC) | Global consultancy firm that produces reports on the state of various industries.
Firsthand | A free source of industry information. Use the Industry Profiles to research growing industries and best industries by major, and Company Rankings and Profiles to find news, company information, and industry-specific sample professions. Basic monthly membership is free and offers access to blogs, discussion forums, and job listings.
Vancouver Coffee Academy | The Academy, launched in 2021 by Origins Coffee Roasters on Granville Island, is the only SCA-certified premier training campus for coffee roasters and baristas in Vancouver.
Canadian Barista Institute | Focused on training and educating coffee entrepreneurs across Canada, this organization also hosts annual trade shows and barista competitions. Their blog features practical resources for the aspiring coffee shop owner, such as this article on Coffee Shop and Roasting Insurance.
Blogs, Podcasts, and Forums
- Vancouver Coffee Snob | This blog is written by an anonymous reviewer in Vancouver, BC. In addition to reviewing coffee shops on a regular basis, they post about local coffee events. Check out their top ten coffee shops of 2021 list here.
- Timbertrain Coffee Roasters Blog | Run by Gastown’s own Timbertrain Coffee Roasters, this blog dedicates itself to coffee education, industry news, and Timbertrain events. Read their Coffee Knowledge posts here.
- Commonly Coffee | This blog is a Vancouver-born, Calgary-based coffee lover’s homage to great coffee. Posts review coffee roasters and cafes around Calgary, and recommend coffee gear for at-home coffee brewing. Also features the Commonly Coffee Club, a group-buy of wholesale coffee from various U.S. and Canadian roasters for Calgary/Edmonton residents.
- Bean Stuff Coffee Podcast | Paul Allen and Reed Allen, veteran coffee roasters, discuss all aspects of coffee brewing, including roasting methods, the role of olfaction in roasting, and ever-developing coffee culture.
- The Folly Coffee Podcast | Rob Bathe of Folly Coffee Roasters collects stories from small business owners about their journeys into the coffee industry, as well as other sectors of the food and beverage industry. This podcast collects advice for aspiring coffee entrepreneurs as well as tracing Folly’s own progress as a small business startup.
- Coffee is ME | A podcast for coffee professionals and entrepreneurs, Coffee is Me discussed current events in the coffee industry and aims to inspire future coffee entrepreneurs.
- Keys to the Shop | This podcast features advice and topics for all levels of coffee professionals and entrepreneurs from beginners to pros. Episode categories range from leadership or management to supply chain issues.
- Coffee Roaster Warm-Up Sessions | The roasters at Mirror Coffee Roasters, based out of Bellingham, WA, discuss the roasting process and coffee shop business while waiting for their roasters to warm up in the morning.
TIP: As with all sources, news articles and blogs should be carefully evaluated. For information on how to evaluate your information, watch video tutorial Module Five: Using Information Responsibly.