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Understanding Decaffeination: Methods, Logistics & Quality Impacts
Article Summary There are two main types of decaffeination processing, indirect and direct solvent. Indirect solvent method uses Green Coffee Extract (GCE) which draws out caffeine through diffusion. GCE molecules then become saturated with caffeine while the green coffee is essentially free of...
Understanding The IEEPA Tariff Refund Process: What Coffee Roasters Need to Know
Recent court rulings around tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) have created understandable confusion across the coffee industry. In this article, we break down what the Supreme Court ruling actually means, where the government refund process stands today, and what coffee roasters should realistically expect as the situation develops.
Scoring Specialty Coffee – What do the Numbers Mean?
This article outlines how coffees are graded and scored under commonly used systems, and works to define “specialty” coffee while examining the nuance and complexity of cup score values. Sections of note include definitions of individual attributes, a breakdown of what cup scores mean, and a discussion of recent, controversial updates to the tools professional graders use to evaluate a coffee’s quality.
Green Coffee Is Exempt From the New Tariffs. Here’s What Roasters Need to Know
Two major trade actions landed in under a week, and they created a lot of noise. Here’s the piece that matters for green coffee buyers: unroasted coffee (green) is explicitly excluded from the new Section 122 import surcharge currently being collected. If you’re buying landed green coffee from...
Phyllis Johnson on Leadership, Belonging, and Building a More Creative Coffee Industry
Editor's Note: I first encountered Phyllis Johnson's mind in 2020, working behind the scenes on Royal Coffee's webinar Race & Specialty Coffee. I sat in on some of the earliest conversations that would eventually become the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity. I left those calls changed....
Trending Downwards, Coffee Upcycling
Coffee pulp is one of the industry’s most overlooked byproducts and with the right infrastructure, one of its most recoverable.
Notes Between Cuppings Entry 2
Notes between cuppings 2/4/2026 Offer samples flooded my desk these past few weeks. Tanzania, Guatemala, Brazil… a bit of an unusual crowd for early February. These are the doldrums, the dead of winter, the quiet hours of waiting. With Brazil tariffed much of 2025, purchases from the country...
Coffee Market Recap
This article is a summary of market commentary originally created by StoneX with contributions from our Trading Team. All market data and primary analysis are attributed to StoneX unless otherwise noted.
Is Frozen Coffee the New Fresh?
Editor’s note: This article in its entirety is published in the January/February 2026 issue of Roast magazine. Below is the author’s expanded cut of the introductory paragraphs, plus a short summary of the research project. Chris and Isabella also recorded a podcast on our findings that you can...
How to Master the Coffee Bloom for a Perfect Pour-Over
Mastery of the coffee bloom lies in full saturation, restrained water volume, and avoiding unnecessary extension. When done correctly, the bloom quietly sets the stage for pour-over clarity, sweetness, and balance in the final cup.
Notes Between Cuppings Entry 1
Off the cuff thoughts Jan 7, 2026 With the New Year upon us, we were inspired to try something… well not new per se… in truth it’s a bit of a return to our roots: some more personal reflections in our newsletters. I met with Royal co-founder Bob Fulmer casually last month, we chatted about this...
What We Accomplished in 2025 and the Work Ahead
Community > Chaos 2025 delivered volatility across both the global economy and the entire coffee supply chain. Yet one thing never shifted: the strength of our community and the collective impact we can make when we act together. As we look back, we’re grateful for the ways our team,...
Hey Mambo! Assume Nothing Drink Recipe
By Asha Wells "Assume Nothing!" A mantra for The Crown as we worked towards opening our doors in March of 2019, the phrase became a Menu section, encouraging our visitors to drop their preconceptions and be open to new and delicious experiences. And now it's the title of a drink recipe series, for...
Royal Coffee’s Top 5 Crown Jewels of 2025
With more than two dozen Crown Jewels released in 2025, narrowing down a “top five” was impossible, so we didn’t. Instead, we ranked this year’s standouts by cup score, rarity, volume, processing innovation, and legacy relationships. The result is a snapshot of the coffees that defined our year and the producers behind them.
Royal Coffee and Grounds for Health Ethiopia Trip
Editor’s Note: This field report accompanies Royal Coffee’s ongoing partnership with Grounds for Health, an organization dedicated to providing life-saving cervical cancer screening and treatment to women in coffee-growing communities. Royal is currently raising funds in support of this work, with...