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A Boss Barista Primer
How to navigate this newsletter, plus a selection of our most popular articles
 • 
Ashley Rodriguez
1
A Short Lexicon of Coffee Buzzwords
“Sustainable,” “ethical,” and “responsible” are all words used to describe coffee, but what do they mean? Companies use them constantly to denote…
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Ashley Rodriguez
2
A Fundraiser for Gaza Hopes to Wake Up the Coffee Industry
For 18 months, the coffee industry has remained mostly silent about the ongoing destruction of Gaza. A new fundraiser hopes to raise money—and jolt the…
 • 
Ashley Rodriguez
Most Popular
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How the Pizza Party Became the Symbol of Bad Bosses Everywhere
 • Ashley Rodriguez
26
Let’s End Two Weeks’ Notice
 • Ashley Rodriguez
17
The Fourth Wave Of Coffee Is...Not Coming.
 • Ashley Rodriguez
6
A Small Gesture of Kindness
 • Ashley Rodriguez
9
Foxtrot Is Just Another Example of Careless Expansion
 • Ashley Rodriguez
10
On Finding Joy in Coffee
 • Ashley Rodriguez
16
"How do you take care of your mental health?"
A student asked me this during a journalism Q&A and I gave an inadequate answer. I haven't stopped thinking about it.
 • 
Ashley Rodriguez
How Tariffs and Private Equity Are (Loosely) Connected
Two stories dominated my coffee news cycle this week. I found some interesting resonances between them.
 • 
Ashley Rodriguez
2
Against Interpretation (In Coffee)
How Susan Sontag's seminal essay speaks to the constraints we place on coffee—and what breaking free could look like.
 • 
Ashley Rodriguez
Revisiting the Question: Does Coffee Taste the Same as it Did Five Years Ago?
Pondering a question I had in 2022 and how, due to climate change, coffee's flavors have morphed over time.
 • 
Ashley Rodriguez
11
Q&A: Peace Sakulclanuwat Wants To Give Thai Coffee the Spotlight
The coffee professional won second place at last year’s U.S. Brewers Cup Championships with a Thai coffee blend. Now, she’s on a mission to give…
 • 
Ashley Rodriguez
What Everyone Gets Wrong About Unions
Too many people still operate under the assumption that unions are only necessary in “bad workplaces.” Here’s why that’s wrong—and why it’s time to…
 • 
Ashley Rodriguez
What if Coffee Cost As Much as Wine?
Running the numbers reveals an interesting truth about how we value these two beverages—and where the oft-repeated comparisons between them fall flat.
 • 
Ashley Rodriguez
1
BOSS BARISTA
BOSS BARISTA
A newsletter and podcast about a thing you drink everyday. Interviews and articles about big ideas in coffee, the service industry, and collective action.
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