March 11, 2025

2025: The Year Coffee Changes Forever.

And our first ever blog!

Welcome to the Yellow Bear Journal – think of this as sneaking a peek into our Secret Diary containing our deepest thoughts and reading exactly what we think.

If you love great coffee, crave insider knowledge, need to be ahead of the next big trend, or just enjoy a good bit of gossip, you’re exactly where you need to be.

For years, Yellow Bear have focused on roasting great coffee and keeping our heads down, but we’ve realised that staying quiet doesn’t cut it anymore. The coffee industry is changing fast – consumer shifts, climate change and increasing farmer challenges, are shaping its future. And if independent roasters like us don’t speak up, who will?

So, this is where we start. We’ll be diving into the real stories behind your morning cup, lifting the lid on the industry, and sharing the highs, lows, and everything in between. Expect bold takes, inside scoops, and the occasional wild experiment – all fuelled by a genuine love for exceptional coffee.

TL;DR – Here’s What You’ll Learn in the Next 5 Minutes

Why Yellow Bear never blogged before—and why we must now.
The Urgent Future of Coffee and why Speciality roasters are key.
How independent voices (including yours) can reshape the industry.
Why you, the coffee drinker, have more power than ever.

We Never Thought Our Voice Mattered. We Were Wrong.

We thought that roasting great coffee, building relationships, and letting the coffee do the talking was enough. But we’ve realised something huge: the future of coffee depends on the people willing to do more. To stand up for it and call out the biggest issues that nobody else talks about.

The coffee industry is at a crossroads. Climate change, shifting global economics, and the rise of mass-market, soulless coffee threaten the farmers, roasters, and independent voices who make specialty coffee what it is. If we don’t speak up now, we risk losing the quality, ethics, and innovation that define the craft.

So, this is us, stepping up to the mic. Welcome to the Yellow Bear blog—where we keep things honest, engaging, and full of caffeine-fuelled curiosity.

What Changed? A Trip to Origin Opened Our Eyes

In November 2024, we entered the prestigious Mercanta International Roasting Competition. We expected to go down, taste some great coffee, mix with top level roasters and be richer for the experience. We managed to do all of that, but something else happened that we never expected. We won.

First prize was an all-expenses-paid trip to Mexico, a dream come true. We basked in the glow of victory for the following 2 months, and quicker than a poorly extracted espresso, it was January 2025 and our chief roaster and co-founder, Fran, was on a plane, heading to origin. What started as a prize win has undeniably become a monumental turning point.

Walking through the high-altitude farms where the world’s best coffee grows, Fran sat with farmers, listening to their stories. Tales of resilience, craftsmanship, and the sheer grit it takes to turn a coffee cherry into something extraordinary. It was eye-opening. Every single stage—sorting, grading, checking, and rechecking—was done with obsessive precision to ensure only the very best beans made the cut. At one particular farm, we learned that less than 2% of an entire harvest was deemed good enough to be sold as specialty grade. The farmers work tirelessly, day in and day out, perfecting their craft to bring exceptional coffee into the world. Yet, at the end of it all, their financial reward barely reflects the effort, skill, and dedication that filled countless sacks.

From this humbling experience realised that small roasters like us, just like these farmers, have voices worth hearing. And if we don’t tell these stories—who will?

Take Jairo and Felipe Arcila, Sebastian Ramirez, and Wilton Benitez to name but a few—Coffee producers who have turned their craft into an art, commanding prices that let them thrive, not just survive. These are the rock stars of coffee, proving that small-scale farming can lead to global recognition and fair pay when quality is prioritised.

Amongst these success stories, there is an ever growing cloud looming. The effects of climate change are real. Warmer temperatures are forcing farmers higher up the mountains just to keep their crops alive. There's another cloud too. Labour shortages show that fewer young people see coffee farming as a viable future. If we don’t champion the farmers pushing for quality and sustainability, the next generation might not stick around to grow the coffee we love.

And that’s why we’re here—to amplify these voices, to celebrate what’s possible, and to challenge the industry to do better. Welcome to the Yellow Bear Journal.

For generations, farmers have been passing down their craft, fine-tuning techniques, changing landscapes and battling challenges most of us never see. But in a world of mass production, their voices are often drowned out. That’s where we step in.

As independent roasters, we get to tell the stories that matter. The ones about hard work, innovation, and why every detail—from the altitude of the farm and the carefully chosen varietal, to the way the beans are processed and roasted—helps to shape the flavour in your cup. In an age where people crave authenticity, storytelling isn’t just important—it’s essential. Because behind every great coffee is a great story, and it’s about time more people heard them.

The Power of Storytelling in Coffee

Specialty coffee is all about connection. Every great conversation starts with a cup of coffee. Whether it’s a morning ritual, a moment for yourself, or just an excuse to take a breather, coffee has a way of bringing people together. That’s exactly what we’re here to do—start a conversation worth having.

Studies even show that when you know the story behind your coffee, it literally tastes better. That’s science (thanks, SCA). More importantly, it’s why independent coffee matters.

While Big Coffee floods the market with generic blends and £multimillion ad campaigns (featuring dreamy Ocean's Eleven actors), small roasters and independent farmers are starting to tell the real stories. And you, as a coffee drinker, will apparently listen! 65% of specialty coffee consumers say they’d pay more for ethically sourced beans—not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it makes for significantly better coffee.

Your coffee choices aren’t just about flavour—they shape the future of the industry. Every time you buy from an independent roaster or talk about where your coffee comes from, you’re helping to shift the balance towards quality, fairness, and sustainability.

2025: The Year Coffee Changes Forever

The next few years will define the future of coffee. Here’s why:

Climate change is already altering where coffee can grow. By 2050, nearly half of current coffee farmland could become unusable. Farmers are being forced to move uphill, experiment with resistant crops, or leave coffee altogether.
Pricing crises are devastating small farmers. Coffee prices fluctuate wildly. When they drop too low, farmers lose money. Even specialty coffee, which generally pays more, isn’t immune.
The power is shifting to conscious consumers like you. The specialty coffee industry is growing fast—by billions every year. More than ever, your purchasing decisions shape what kind of coffee gets produced.

And here’s the kicker: small, independent coffee brands are gaining influence. Authenticity, transparency, and ethics are now as important as flavour. We’re at a tipping point where small voices—farmers, roasters, and drinkers together—can actually lead the change for a better coffee future.

What to Expect from Yellow Bear’s Blog

This blog is our open-book experiment in shaking up the coffee scene. No fluff, no corporate spiel or snobbery—just real stories, real insights, and the occasional caffeine-fuelled rant. Here’s what’s coming:

Behind-the-scenes truths: What it’s really like running a micro coffee company. The highs, the lows, the unexpected.
Industry myths, busted: Is light roast stronger than dark? Do you need a fancy espresso machine for good coffee? We’ll call out the nonsense and offer a common sense honest insight into what really matters.
Radical transparency: Where your money goes when you buy a bag of Yellow Bear coffee. Who gets paid what? No secrets here.
Coffee experiments gone wrong (and right): Orange Juice with your Espresso? Brewing with glacier water? WHY IS MY ESPRESSO COMING OUT TOO FAST? We’re trying it all.

Join Us – Your Weekly Caffeine Fix Awaits

We’re beyond excited (and yes, slightly terrified) to launch this blog. Here’s how you can be part of it:

Subscribe for fresh brews: Get our latest posts straight to your inbox.
Our Next Journal Entry; we’re diving into the rise and fall of a beloved specialty coffee roastery—what went wrong, who dropped the ball, and most importantly, what small roasters like us can learn to stay ahead. You won’t want to miss this one!
Follow the journey on social: Find us at @bearbeans_ for daily coffee nerdery and behind-the-scenes chaos on instagram
Start a conversation: Got a topic you want us to cover? A question about coffee pricing? A weird brewing method you want tested? Tell us.
Support independent coffee: Whether it’s buying from us or another ethical roaster, every purchase is a vote for the future of coffee.

Welcome to the Yellow Bear blog. We’re here to celebrate what makes coffee special, challenge the status quo, and—most importantly—have a damn good time doing it.

Now, how about that cup of coffee?

References;

Fairtrade

Coffee Supply Chain & 3 Major Companies Domination

The Challenges facing Coffee Farmers

SCA - Speciality Coffee Association

The Impact of Storytelling on the Perception of Flavour

The Coffee Price Crisis

Storytelling in Coffee and the Impact

XLIII Coffee

Trends in the Speciality Coffee Industry

Carbon Neutrality Referencing