Builds, Builds, Builds

We had a Build-Outs triple dip this week, featuring some gobsmacking cafes. First up was the new Zen Coffee Co inside the Downtown Omaha Centra Library, and it has to be in the running for one of the coolest cafes in all of Nebraska. Next up, in Indonesia, Kopikina’s new Bogor City cafe blends stunning design, natural materials, vintage tech, and traditional art into a one-of-a-kind experience. Finally, Hypnos Coffee in Portland, while still in the build phase, based on the renderings is looking to be another stunner.

Everyone loves AI, until they use it and find it’s not quite up to snuff just yet. That’s what happened to Starbucks, whose AI agent responsible for managing inventory couldn’t manage the inventory. It would miscount items, sometimes skipping them entirely, and so Starbucks decided to let the humans do it. For now at least.

The 2026 US Barista Championship is next week in Denver, and for those looking to take a little breather from the competition, Huckleberry Roasters and Somebody People are hosting a cupping of the top coffees from this year’s Best of Congo Cooperatives competition, before the lots are even made available for auction.

Despite the common conception that coffee’s bitterness is due to caffeine, it is actually quite the opposite. Turns out, some compounds in coffee mask the distinct bitter taste of caffeine, and scientists believe they have figured out how.

Portland recently banned the production and sale of force fed foie gras, following other US cities like Pittsburgh, NYC, Brookline, and all of California as well as 20 countries that have banned it nationally. And making foie is eerily similar to a certain process in coffee production, and so it had us wondering: is kopi luwak next? We pontificate.

Making espresso has gone more or less unchanged since its inception. It’s hot water passed through coffee grounds using pressure. But scientists have found an energy-saving new approach. Using room temperature water and ultrasonic sound waves, they were able to replicate an espresso-like drink and it uses a quarter of the energy of the traditional method.

Mexico City is one of the world’s great cities, and Condesa is one of its best neighborhoods. It is a blend of new and old, European influenced but wholly Mexican. And the cafe scene is one of the best in all of CDMX. And this week on Sprudge, we’re exploring the coffee shops in Mexico City’s Condesa neighborhood. Bookmark this for your next vacation.

There’s so much happening on this week’s Coffee Sprudgecast. Oreo Tiramisu Thins, Americanos with coffee from Thailand, and a tastly lil cupping of coffee from Tug Hill. And then there’s Gwar. Yes, Gwar. The I-don’t-know-what-you-want-to-call-them metal band from the grosser parts of outer space. They have their own coffee now, and your hosts drank it. They have thoughts.

We’re highlighting outstanding coffees from some of our favorite roasting partners each week here in the newsletter. This week’s selection of tasty coffees are…

Portland Coffee Roasters – OPBEANS
8th & Roast – Elefante
Equator Coffees – Decaf Colombia El Vergel Pink Bourbon
Partners Coffee – Honduras Edin Lopez Gesha
Blueprint Coffee – Colombia Nidia Lasso
Klatch Coffee – El Salvador Jasal Orange Geisha Anaerobic Natural
Night Swim Coffee – Colombia Yessica and Diego Parra
La Barba Coffee – Colombia Los Patios Solsticio
Joe Coffee Company – Cafè Feminista
Stumptown Coffee Roasters — Wild Flower
Phil & Sebastian – Sure Thing
Onyx Coffee Lab – Geometry
Madcap Coffee – Eureka
Olympia Coffee – Big Truck
Mr. Espresso – Java Garut
Presta Coffee Roasters – 120 PSI Blend
PERC – Super Power Plum
Verve Coffee Roasters – Wilder Blend
Caffe Umbria – Bizzarri Blend

A bi-weekly selection of coffee gear from some of the best manufacturers in the industry, both big and small. This week’s selection is…

BOOKOO Puckgo 3-in-1 Impact Tamper — All-in-One Solution for Puck Prep
Acaia Horizon — Post-Extraction Pressure Modulator
Hario V60 “Simply” Glass — Pour-Over Kit
MiiR The New Standard Carafe — Serving Vessel
Comandante C40 Lab Series Hammerhead — Hand Grinder
Dwell Dripper by Verve Coffee — Coffee Brewer
Flair Espresso Flair Wizard — Stovetop Milk Steamer
Slow Pour Supply Kimera — Milk Pitcher
La Marzocco Home Linea Micra — Home Espresso Machine

19grams Coffee Roasters - Head Roaster - Berlin, Germany
Kauai Coffee Co - Roast Plant Operator - Kauai, HI
Keffa Coffee - Sales Representative - Baltimore, WA
Visions Espresso - Field Service Technician - Seattle, WA
Stumptown Coffee Roasters - Area Manager - New York, NY
Bear Lake Coffee Co - Roaster - Barronett, WI
Temple Coffee Roasters - Production Roaster - Sacramento, CA
Joe Coffee - Baristas in Training - New York, NY
Joe Coffee - Cafe Supervisor - New York, NY
Joe Coffee - Cafe General Manager - New York, NY
Joe Coffee - Human Resources Generalist - New York, NY

Do you have a news tip? Feedback? A funny joke? Send us an e-mail, use the contact form on Sprudge, leave a message at 1-888-55-SPRUDGE, or send us a letter at PO Box 86342 Portland, OR 97286.