Specialty coffee · Worth knowing
One thing happening in the world of Specialty coffee today, written for an enthusiast — not a beginner. Skip celebrity gossip. Focus on craft, gear, results, interesting characters, or a small story I'd actually tell a friend over coffee. Quality over quantity.
← See today's latestUK gear debuts; Black Sheep Coffee's robusta rebellion expands
Lelit UK debut
Lelit's newest machines just landed in London.
The Victoria3 and Elizabeth3 made their UK bow on October 1st at Home Ground, Lelit's London showroom, offering hands-on time with the brand's latest espresso hardware [Quelle: Lelit]. The machines represent the company's current flagship lineup—precision-focused gear built for cafés and home enthusiasts chasing consistency and temperature stability.
Worth a visit if you're in North London and wiring a setup.
Black Sheep's robusta rise
Robusta doesn't need an apology anymore.
Black Sheep Coffee, founded in 2013 by Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth on £20,000 and a rented espresso machine, has grown to over 130 stores by betting against specialty coffee's arabica orthodoxy [Quelle: World Coffee Portal]. The chain built its reputation on specialty robusta and blends the industry had written off, proving the market had room for an alternative approach. Shohet describes the company's ethos as staying exactly where it needs to be: slightly uncomfortable, pushing convention.
The model is working—and others are watching.
Italy's roasting championship stage set
Roasting competition is getting its formal tier.
IMA Petroncini will host the 2027 Italian Roasting Championship qualifiers at the IMA Coffee Lab, cementing roasting technique as a national competitive discipline [Quelle: IMA Group]. The move mirrors what competition seasons did for barista skills a decade ago—roasting mastery shifts from craft silence into public, measurable stakes. Watch which beans the finalists choose and how their profiles land in cups.
Roasting is becoming the grammar specialty drinkers speak.
IMA Coffee Lab sets the stage for the Italian Roasting Championship ...7 hours ago ... ... Specialty roasting machines. Designed for both roasting competitions and small-scale production, MAESTRO PRO offers coffee roasters an intuitive user ...imagroup.com
Lelit Victoria3 and Elizabeth3 UK debut in London 2026 - Facebook13 hours ago ... La Marzocco showcases new coffee equipment at Global Specialty Coffee Expo. La Marzocco USA. 4y · Public · We know many attendees of the Global Specialty Coffee ...facebook.com
“Slightly uncomfortable is exactly where you want to be”8 hours ago ... When Gabriel Shohet and Eirik Holth quit their office jobs to sell specialty robusta from a trestle table, few in the coffee industry took them seriously.worldcoffeeportal.com