Weber Grinder Update 🤑, Coffee Recall 📉, More RTD expansion 📈: This Week in Coffee
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The Big Three
Weber Launches the Hg-2 Mk2
Link
I’m a Weber fan boy but sadly this is, it seems, a little disappointing.
The HG-2 has long been the pinnacle of hand grinders and has effectively ascended out of the category both in price and results. A typical hand grinder is maybe 25cm long and weighs less than a kilogram but this thing is a beauty which sits on your bench and acts more like a “manually operated” electric grinder.
The burrs are much larger than a hand grinder as is its overall footprint and the double gearing means you can grind consistently and perhaps a little faster. On top of that you have Weber’s consistent amazing design standards, manufacturing tolerances and the iconic tumbler.
However, this is the Mark Two which is being announced and the marketing material is a little unclear - let me see if I can break down exactly is going on.
The press release claims three improvements: “Integrated Bean Feeder housing a new bottom bearing, a 30% increase in loading capacity, and an improved Magic Tumbler to eliminate the need for RDT”. Let’s take them one by one.
Well, I’m sure an ‘integrated bean feeder’ is lovely but I think what they’re describing is a smaller channel at the bottom of the feeder so that only one bean can enter at a time. Maaaaybe that has some advantage but it’s not immediately obvious.
“30% larger loading capacity” - Well, it seems to be able to comfortably grind 18g in one go so maybe this is aimed at people who want to do filter and maybe it can’t do that already. It’s a nice-to-have I guess.
“Improved Magic Tumbler to eliminate the need for RDT” this I really don’t get. The existing magic tumbler already has the rotating RDT device on the underside of the outlet and the tumbler was patented back in 2018.
It looks to me that they’ve made some minor improvements to the HG-2 which is always welcome but then someone in the marketing department decided that it should be a “Mark Two” instead of just a minor improvement.
In any case, if you’ve suddenly fallen out of the love with you disgusting and out-of-date Mark One with its uselessly low bean hopper capacity - please get in touch and I will be happy to take it off your hands when you upgrade to the Mark Two.
Coffee Recall 📉
Snapchill LLC of Green Bay, Wisconsin, has initiated a voluntary recall of hundreds of coffee products due to potential botulinum toxin contamination. The recall affects over 250 items sold under various coffee roaster names in the United States, including online sales.
The issue stems from low acid levels in the canned products, which may create conditions conducive to botulinum growth. While no illnesses have been reported, the recall is a precautionary measure.
Affected products are in metal cans ranging from 7 to 12 oz, labelled "Produced and distributed by Snapchill LLC" below the nutrition facts panel. Some may also display "Snapchill Coffee" on the packaging.
We’ve talked before about the growing popularity of RTD drinks - producers like Snaphill will typically handle the entire process on behalf of the brand. Will this encourage brands to bring that functionality in-house?
More RTD expansion 📈
The growth of the US RTD sector has not gone unnoticed by other companies.
Westrock Coffee Company has unveiled North America's largest roast to ready-to-drink manufacturing facility in Conway, Arkansas. The 570,000-square-foot complex, representing a $315 million investment, includes a comprehensive beverage development laboratory.
The state-of-the-art facility features cutting-edge production capabilities, robotics, and end-to-end automation, allowing for seamless manufacturing from green coffee receiving through to bottling and packaging. A nearby 530,000-square-foot warehousing and distribution centre ensures efficient product distribution.
CEO Scott Ford emphasised that this launch positions Westrock Coffee as a leading force in beverage production across all channels and formats. The company offers a complete range of services, from coffee bean sourcing to final product distribution, with an on-site Research and Development lab modelling full-scale operations.
In other news
Ediya Coffee signs master franchise agreement to launch in Malaysia
United States asks EU to delay deforestation law, letter shows
Coffee Prices Settle Higher on Dry Weather in Brazil and Vietnam
Another newsletter to consider
Last week, we were featured in the Newsletter: The Skinny.
Do check them out if you’re interested in more information on healthy eating.