Monday Morning Coffee News

Happy Monday! New in coffee news: Ben & Jerry’s brings back a much loved ice cream flavor with coffee fudge swirls, Pet Poison Helpline warns against the dangers of caffeine on pets, and Starbucks test-launches a program using 100% reusable cups. Caribou Coffee announced the annual release of their charitable Amy’s Blend.

Ben & Jerry’s Dublin Mudslide is back after 15 years in the Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard. The fan favorite Irish cream ice cream with chocolate chocolate chip cookies and coffee fudge swirls was retired back in 2007, but has been given new life and a new spirit in 2022 – Wheyward Spirit to be exact. Described as “what would happen if sake had a baby with vodka”, the spirit is made from whey, the liquid left behind when making cheese (somebody let Little Miss Muffet know), working towards preventing food waste and allowing a more environmentally sustainable spirit production model. Delicious and environmentally conscious, exactly what we’ve come to love and respect about Ben & Jerry’s.

Pet Poison Hotline recently released a list of 10 potentially toxic pantry items that can be poisonous to pets. Just like with people, coffee acts as a stimulant on pets and can lead to tremors and a racing heart. Tea posts a similar warning, with a single bag possibly containing too much caffeine for smaller animals (additionally there could be difficulty in passing the bag and string).

In an effort to cut their carbon, water, and waste footprints in half by 2030, Starbucks is testing out getting rid of disposable cups and switching over to 100% reusable cups at their Seattle office Starbucks café. Customers at the café will have two options, bring their own cup or use a provided Borrow-a-Cup. After finishing their drink, customers return the Borrow-a-Cup to a kiosk, where cups will be picked up to be professionally washed and sanitized, and then reused.

Caribou Coffee announced the annual release of their charitable Amy’s Blend. In honor of the company’s first roastmaster Amy Erickson’s leadership and legacy, the company annually donates a portion of Amy’s Blend sales to a chosen cause. This year the company is again partnering with Girl on the Run, donating 10% of sales to the non-profit organization “dedicated to inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.” Amy’s Blend with be available, in both light and dark roast, for a limited time at retail locations and online starting March 31st.