A TikTok posted by recruiter Caitlin Wehniainen criticizing Gen Z candidates for bringing iced coffee to interviews drew over 5,000 comments and numerous response videos. Commenters split between those defending the practice as harmless and others calling it unprofessional. Monster career expert Vicki Salemi was subsequently asked to weigh in on interview etiquette, including other behaviors she considers bigger missteps than carrying a drink.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-09-23
Coffee industry sourcing expert Jose Lepe of Sightglass Coffee explains that high-end coffee shops often use reverse osmosis systems to strip tap water down to pure H2O, then remineralize it to a specific balance for optimal flavor. The report notes this same process can be replicated at home without expensive equipment, and contrasts tap water mineral profiles in cities like New York, Los Angeles and London to show how local water quality affects both coffee taste and machine longevity.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-23
Caraway, known for ceramic-coated cookware, has released a new drip coffee maker built without any plastic in the brew path. The machine uses a stainless steel brew basket, a reusable stainless steel filter, and a 10-cup glass carafe with a stainless steel lid interior, though silicone is used around the lid's exterior.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-22
Kitchenware brand Caraway has released a new coffee maker priced at $495, built entirely from scratch to eliminate plastic components from its design. The company, known for producing non-toxic, non-stick cookware, applied the same philosophy to this new appliance, aiming to keep plastic out of the brewing process.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-22
Keurig plans to officially launch AltaRounds pods in late September, marking a redesign of its familiar K-Cup format to eliminate plastic. The pods are built for a new brewing system called Alta, representing the company's latest step in the decades-long evolution of home coffee machines.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-18
A new product called The Milk Pod offers single-serve capsules that work in standard Keurig brewers, producing frothy, latte-style milk instead of plain hot water. The pods, made from milk powder and natural ingredients, are shelf-stable for 15 months without refrigeration and come in plain, vanilla and caramel flavors. A reviewer tested the pods and found them simple to use, requiring no special setup beyond inserting them like a normal K-Cup and brewing milk and coffee separately at six-ounce settings.
cnet.com
· 2026-09-17
Megi Endeladze, co-owner of Penny's Coffee Shop in Buffalo, New York, used ChatGPT to design a printed menu poster after the barista who usually hand-drew chalkboard signs moved away. She spent about $350 on printing and framing, then posted the result to Instagram, where customers quickly criticized the shop for relying on AI-generated artwork instead of human design.
businessinsider.com
· 2026-09-16
Historian Katja Hoyer recounted how East Germany (GDR), through agrarian specialists like Hellmut Naderer, partnered with Vietnam to establish coffee collectives such as Viet Duc in the mid-1980s. That Cold War-era cooperation laid groundwork that eventually helped Vietnam grow into one of the world's largest coffee producers.
katjahoyer.uk
· 2026-09-10
J. Crew rolled out a new take on its classic rollneck sweater, styled with Gen Z flair and modeled by 25-year-old influencer Emma Chamberlain. The campaign quickly went viral, prompting mixed reactions online about crop tops, generational marketing, and whether J. Crew was chasing trends too hard. CMO Julia Collier discussed the strategy and the backlash exclusively with Fast Company.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-09-04
New scientific findings highlight that the brain remains in a restorative state during the first hour after waking, still completing processes tied to its overnight cleaning cycle. Reaching immediately for a phone, coffee, or email disrupts this natural transition and can affect mental clarity for the rest of the day.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-08-27
New reporting highlights research and personal anecdotes showing that people who deliberately postpone small pleasures, like a weekly treat, tend to build stronger discipline and reach long-term goals more efficiently. Psychologists compare the practice to physical exercise, noting that the self-control benefits compound with repeated use.
fastcompany.com
· 2026-08-27
Colleen Sundlie discovered pure date syrup while living in the UAE for her husband's job and, unable to find anything similar back home in the U.S., launched Date Lady to sell organic date-based syrups, spreads, sauces and sugar. The company, manufactured in Springfield, Missouri, has grown from over $2 million in revenue in 2021 to $6.8 million four years later, and is projecting $10 million this year.
entrepreneur.com
· 2026-08-24
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