The Royal Blog
Coffee News
Education + Resources
Crown Jewels
The Crown
Are All Green Coffees the Same? Factors That Affect Their Flavor
Explore July 2025 Crown Jewel coffee arrivals from Sumatra, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and more. Bold flavors, innovative processing, and standout producers.
Understanding Coffee Acidity: What It Is and Why It Matters
Article Summary: Coffee acidity describes flavor brightness. Most brews sit near 5.5 pH. Acidity comes from organic acids in green coffee and changes through roasting: lighter roasts retain fruity malic and citric acids, while darker roasts break them down into bitter quinic and caffeic acids....
Current Coffee Market Outlook: Brazil Frost, Tariffs & Spot Scarcity
Article Summary: Global coffee markets face major uncertainty driven by Brazil’s August frost, 50% U.S. tariffs on Brazilian imports, and ongoing spot coffee scarcity. The frost’s full impact on the 2026 harvest remains unknown, heightening volatility. Tariffs have inflated costs and redirected...
Why Coffee Origins Matter: Flavor, History & Global Impact
written by Isabella Vitaliano, Lab and QC Specialist Article Summary: Coffee origin shapes cup profile, availability, pricing, and storytelling. Knowing country context helps buyers match flavor goals and manage risk. South America: Brazil dominates supply ~40% (65M bags, 2024), wide quality...
Red Velvet Underground Assume Nothing Drink Recipe
By Katie Briggs "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,...
Brazil Weather Update
Editor's Note August 19th: StoneX estimates frost losses at about 424,000 bags in Cerrado Mineiro, with damage across roughly 3.9% of the region’s area. That figure could climb even where leaves look fine: cold at this stage can trigger flower bud drop, cutting future yield. We saw this after the...
Empowering Women at Origin: Ethiopia
By Lauren Cropper, Junior Trader & Certifications Manager, with Caitlin McCarthy-Garcia, Trader Article Summary: Royal Coffee highlights two women-led Ethiopian exporters, Ephtah and Dumerso, that are transforming the country’s coffee industry through equity, quality, and community impact....
July 2025 Crown Jewel Updates
Explore July 2025 Crown Jewel coffee arrivals from Sumatra, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and more. Bold flavors, innovative processing, and standout producers.
Tariff Updates: What’s Changing and What to Watch
Editor's Note August 20th: Brazil: A 50% tariff on green coffee takes effect August 6, with no exemption granted. The increase is tied to recent political tensions and was confirmed by Commerce Secretary Lutnick, who also stated no extension will be offered. Indonesia: Officially at 19% for...
Exploring the Global Journey of Green Coffee Beans
Article Summary: Green coffee has traveled a long and complex global path from its origins in Africa to modern supply chains linking farmers to roasters worldwide. History: Arabica originated in Ethiopia and South Sudan before spreading to Yemen, where commercial cultivation began in the 15th...
Mycotoxin, My Condolences
Article Summary: Coffee is safe to drink and not a meaningful source of mycotoxins. While molds can occur in agricultural products, roasting significantly reduces ochratoxin A (OTA) to levels well below global safety standards. Industry-wide efforts led by the ICO and UN since 2001 have further...
Understanding Coffee Fermentation from Classic to Experimental
Article Summary: Fermentation is the key process shaping coffee flavor. Traditional natural and washed methods rely on microbial activity. Naturals ferment in the whole cherry, creating fruit-forward flavors, while washed coffees ferment after depulping for cleaner, brighter profiles. Poorly...
The Second Annual Development Stage
Article Summary: Royal Coffee will host its Second Annual Development Stage Symposium on September 12–13, 2025, at The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room in Oakland, CA. This multi-day event brings together innovators from across the coffee industry and beyond. The 2025 theme centers on...
The Theory of Relative Humidity – Part 1 (Excerpts)
Article Summary: Royal Coffee’s study examines how green coffee storage conditions and moisture levels affect green coffee’s quality and flavor over time. Two coffees, a high-moisture Sumatra (15%) and a low-moisture Bolivia (8.7%), were stored in jute and Ziploc packaging under stable conditions....
Buying Green Coffee 101
This is a simplified version of an eBook and booklet published by Royal Coffee. Prefer to download a pdf or read the full eBook online as a flip book? Go for it! Portions of this booklet are adapted from Green Coffee: A Guide for Roasters and Buyers, available at roastmagazine.com/greencoffee....