{"slug":"coffee","title":"Coffee","edition":"2026-10-05","eyebrow":"THE EVERYDAY FIELD GUIDE · EL SEGUNDO & BEYOND","headline":"A better cup.\nA bigger picture.","intro":"Beans, brewers, neighborhood counters and the market behind the morning ritual. Start with what you drink. Follow the questions wherever they lead.","hero":{"src":"/images/pantry/coffee-cherries.jpg","alt":"Red coffee cherries and green leaves on a coffee branch","credit":"Jan-Pieter Nap · Coffee beans, Wikimedia Commons","url":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coffee_beans.jpg","license":"CC BY-SA 1.0","licenseUrl":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0/","changes":"Resized and cropped for display; image adaptation under CC BY-SA 1.0. This is a coffee plant, not a local farm or product photograph."},"lead":"The route from a cherry to a cup is also a route through farming, freight, roasting, labor and hospitality. Knowing which part you are paying for makes comparisons much more useful.","connectionTitle":"The neighborhood, already mapped.","connectionText":"The University of El Segundo coffee atlas is the existing field study: a selected set of cafés and roasters within 25 miles of City Hall. Its merchant sources, approximate geography and October 3 observations stay together on their original pages.","connections":[{"title":"Explore the 25-mile coffee atlas","href":"/ues/coffee/","text":"Places, methods, source notes and a café economics worksheet."},{"title":"Read the local business studies","href":"/ues/business/","text":"The operating model behind a shop, and the limits of public evidence."},{"title":"Visit the original coffee room","href":"/coffee/room/","text":"The pixel pot, pour history and existing Coffee Mugs interface."}],"priceIntro":"Read a café drink by size and preparation; a bag by roasted weight; a green-coffee indicator by its method and month. A futures quotation also needs its contract and expiry. Those are four different comparisons.","prices":[{"id":"tcb-espresso","title":"Espresso","seller":"The Coffee Bar","display":"$3.50","kind":"Prepared cup","unit":"one drink · 2 fl oz","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://brewtcb.com/pages/menu","detail":" Applicable tax, tip, modifiers, delivery/service fees. Not stated by menu; observation date is not a publication date","status":"dated menu listing; current service unverified"},{"id":"tcb-latte-10","title":"Latte","seller":"The Coffee Bar","display":"$5.60","kind":"Prepared cup","unit":"one drink · 10 fl oz","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://brewtcb.com/pages/menu","detail":" Applicable tax, tip, modifiers, delivery/service fees. Not stated by menu; observation date is not a publication date","status":"dated menu listing; current service unverified"},{"id":"tcb-latte-14","title":"Latte","seller":"The Coffee Bar","display":"$7.10","kind":"Prepared cup","unit":"one drink · 14 fl oz","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://brewtcb.com/pages/menu","detail":" Applicable tax, tip, modifiers, delivery/service fees. Not stated by menu; observation date is not a publication date","status":"dated menu listing; current service unverified"},{"id":"tcb-drip","title":"Drip","seller":"The Coffee Bar","display":"$3.25 / $4.50","kind":"Prepared cup","unit":"one drink · size unverified","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://brewtcb.com/pages/menu","detail":"Two menu prices; sizes not specified in menu image. Applicable tax, tip, modifiers, delivery/service fees. Not stated by menu; observation date is not a publication date","status":"dated menu listing; current service unverified"},{"id":"yls-drip","title":"Drip","seller":"YLS Bakery + Cafe","display":"From $3.50","kind":"Prepared cup","unit":"one drink · size unverified","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://ylsbakeryelsegundo.toast.site/order","detail":" Applicable tax, tip, modifiers, delivery/service fees. Not stated by menu; observation date is not a publication date","status":"dated menu listing; current service unverified"},{"id":"yls-latte","title":"Latte","seller":"YLS Bakery + Cafe","display":"From $5.00","kind":"Prepared cup","unit":"one drink · size unverified","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://ylsbakeryelsegundo.toast.site/order","detail":" Applicable tax, tip, modifiers, delivery/service fees. Not stated by menu; observation date is not a publication date","status":"dated menu listing; current service unverified"},{"id":"two-guns-drip","title":"Drip","seller":"Two Guns North Manhattan","display":"$3.20","kind":"Prepared cup","unit":"one drink · size unverified","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://twogunskitchenelsegundo.toast.site/order/two-guns-espresso-north-manhattan-3516-highland-ave","detail":" Applicable tax, tip, modifiers, delivery/service fees. Not stated by menu; observation date is not a publication date","status":"dated menu listing; current service unverified"},{"id":"two-guns-latte","title":"Latte","seller":"Two Guns North Manhattan","display":"$6.10","kind":"Prepared cup","unit":"one drink · size unverified","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://twogunskitchenelsegundo.toast.site/order/two-guns-espresso-north-manhattan-3516-highland-ave","detail":" Applicable tax, tip, modifiers, delivery/service fees. Not stated by menu; observation date is not a publication date","status":"dated menu listing; current service unverified"},{"id":"smoke-12","title":"Smoke Stack 12 oz","seller":"Smoky Hollow","display":"$19.00","kind":"Roasted retail bag","unit":"12 oz net weight · 340.2 g","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/smoke-stack","detail":"$25.33/lb derived. Dark-roast blend; whole bean or specified grind. Excludes Tax, shipping and optional services.","status":"research observation: Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","raw":{"id":"smoke-12","name":"Smoke Stack 12 oz","roaster":"Smoky Hollow","geography":"El Segundo","price_usd":19,"net_weight_oz":12,"net_weight_g":340.194,"usd_per_lb":25.3333,"bean_cost_per_20g_brew_usd":1.117,"currency":"USD","price_kind":"roasted_retail","purchase_type":"one_time_product_price","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_id":"smoke_stack","source_url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/smoke-stack","price_evidence_url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/smoke-stack.js","availability":"Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","notes":"Dark-roast blend; whole bean or specified grind.","excludes":"Tax, shipping and optional services"}},{"id":"smoke-80","title":"Smoke Stack 5 lb","seller":"Smoky Hollow","display":"$100.00","kind":"Roasted retail bag","unit":"80 oz net weight · 2268.0 g","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/smoke-stack","detail":"$20.00/lb derived. One bulk bag. Sharing and repacking are not included in this price. Excludes Tax, shipping and optional services.","status":"research observation: Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","raw":{"id":"smoke-80","name":"Smoke Stack 5 lb","roaster":"Smoky Hollow","geography":"El Segundo","price_usd":100,"net_weight_oz":80,"net_weight_g":2267.962,"usd_per_lb":20,"bean_cost_per_20g_brew_usd":0.8818,"currency":"USD","price_kind":"roasted_retail","purchase_type":"one_time_product_price","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_id":"smoke_stack","source_url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/smoke-stack","price_evidence_url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/smoke-stack.js","availability":"Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","notes":"One bulk bag. Sharing and repacking are not included in this price.","excludes":"Tax, shipping and optional services"}},{"id":"lost-12","title":"Lost Wallet 12 oz","seller":"Smoky Hollow","display":"$19.00","kind":"Roasted retail bag","unit":"12 oz net weight · 340.2 g","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/lost-wallet","detail":"$25.33/lb derived. Medium-dark espresso blend; whole bean or specified grind. Excludes Tax, shipping and optional services.","status":"research observation: Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","raw":{"id":"lost-12","name":"Lost Wallet 12 oz","roaster":"Smoky Hollow","geography":"El Segundo","price_usd":19,"net_weight_oz":12,"net_weight_g":340.194,"usd_per_lb":25.3333,"bean_cost_per_20g_brew_usd":1.117,"currency":"USD","price_kind":"roasted_retail","purchase_type":"one_time_product_price","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_id":"lost_wallet","source_url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/lost-wallet","price_evidence_url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/lost-wallet.js","availability":"Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","notes":"Medium-dark espresso blend; whole bean or specified grind.","excludes":"Tax, shipping and optional services"}},{"id":"decaf-12","title":"Dekaf 12 oz","seller":"Smoky Hollow","display":"$20.00","kind":"Roasted retail bag","unit":"12 oz net weight · 340.2 g","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/dekaf","detail":"$26.67/lb derived. Medium-dark decaf option. Excludes Tax, shipping and optional services.","status":"research observation: Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","raw":{"id":"decaf-12","name":"Dekaf 12 oz","roaster":"Smoky Hollow","geography":"El Segundo","price_usd":20,"net_weight_oz":12,"net_weight_g":340.194,"usd_per_lb":26.6667,"bean_cost_per_20g_brew_usd":1.1758,"currency":"USD","price_kind":"roasted_retail","purchase_type":"one_time_product_price","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_id":"dekaf","source_url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/dekaf","price_evidence_url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/dekaf.js","availability":"Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","notes":"Medium-dark decaf option.","excludes":"Tax, shipping and optional services"}},{"id":"two-guns-12","title":"Espresso 12 oz","seller":"Two Guns","display":"$23.00","kind":"Roasted retail bag","unit":"12 oz net weight · 340.2 g","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://twogunsespresso.com/products/espresso-blend","detail":"$30.67/lb derived. Medium-roast blend; whole bean. Excludes Tax, shipping and optional services.","status":"research observation: Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","raw":{"id":"two-guns-12","name":"Espresso 12 oz","roaster":"Two Guns","geography":"South Bay","price_usd":23,"net_weight_oz":12,"net_weight_g":340.194,"usd_per_lb":30.6667,"bean_cost_per_20g_brew_usd":1.3522,"currency":"USD","price_kind":"roasted_retail","purchase_type":"one_time_product_price","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_id":"two_guns_beans","source_url":"https://twogunsespresso.com/products/espresso-blend","price_evidence_url":"https://twogunsespresso.com/products/espresso-blend.js","availability":"Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","notes":"Medium-roast blend; whole bean.","excludes":"Tax, shipping and optional services"}},{"id":"hologram-12","title":"Hologram 12 oz","seller":"Counter Culture","display":"$20.00","kind":"Roasted retail bag","unit":"12 oz net weight · 340.2 g","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/12-oz-hologram","detail":"$26.67/lb derived. Medium-roast blend; one-time price, separate from subscription. Excludes Tax, shipping and optional services.","status":"research observation: Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","raw":{"id":"hologram-12","name":"Hologram 12 oz","roaster":"Counter Culture","geography":"National direct-to-consumer","price_usd":20,"net_weight_oz":12,"net_weight_g":340.194,"usd_per_lb":26.6667,"bean_cost_per_20g_brew_usd":1.1758,"currency":"USD","price_kind":"roasted_retail","purchase_type":"one_time_product_price","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_id":"hologram","source_url":"https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/12-oz-hologram","price_evidence_url":"https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/12-oz-hologram.js","availability":"Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","notes":"Medium-roast blend; one-time price, separate from subscription.","excludes":"Tax, shipping and optional services"}},{"id":"hologram-80","title":"Hologram 5 lb","seller":"Counter Culture","display":"$103.00","kind":"Roasted retail bag","unit":"80 oz net weight · 2268.0 g","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/12-oz-hologram","detail":"$20.60/lb derived. One bulk bag; one-time product price. Excludes Tax, shipping and optional services.","status":"research observation: Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","raw":{"id":"hologram-80","name":"Hologram 5 lb","roaster":"Counter Culture","geography":"National direct-to-consumer","price_usd":103,"net_weight_oz":80,"net_weight_g":2267.962,"usd_per_lb":20.6,"bean_cost_per_20g_brew_usd":0.9083,"currency":"USD","price_kind":"roasted_retail","purchase_type":"one_time_product_price","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_id":"hologram","source_url":"https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/12-oz-hologram","price_evidence_url":"https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/12-oz-hologram.js","availability":"Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","notes":"One bulk bag; one-time product price.","excludes":"Tax, shipping and optional services"}},{"id":"peets-16","title":"Major Dickason’s 16 oz","seller":"Peet’s","display":"$21.95","kind":"Roasted retail bag","unit":"16 oz net weight · 453.6 g","observed":"2026-10-05","url":"https://www.peets.com/products/major-dickasons","detail":"$21.95/lb derived. Dark-roast blend. Net coffee weight from product page; shipping weight is not net weight. Excludes Tax, shipping and optional services.","status":"research observation: Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","raw":{"id":"peets-16","name":"Major Dickason’s 16 oz","roaster":"Peet’s","geography":"National direct-to-consumer","price_usd":21.95,"net_weight_oz":16,"net_weight_g":453.592,"usd_per_lb":21.95,"bean_cost_per_20g_brew_usd":0.9678,"currency":"USD","price_kind":"roasted_retail","purchase_type":"one_time_product_price","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_id":"peets","source_url":"https://www.peets.com/products/major-dickasons","price_evidence_url":"https://www.peets.com/products/major-dickasons.js","availability":"Available in live public variant data; confirm at checkout","notes":"Dark-roast blend. Net coffee weight from product page; shipping weight is not net weight.","excludes":"Tax, shipping and optional services"}},{"id":"bls-ground-coffee","title":"U.S. city average ground-roast coffee","seller":"BLS","display":"$9.299","kind":"National retail average","unit":"USD/lb of roasted ground coffee","observed":"2026-10-05","period":"2026-08","url":"https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000717311","detail":"Specific grocery category; not whole-bean specialty or cafe drinks Series APU0000717311. Not seasonally adjusted.","status":"published observation; not a live quote"},{"id":"ico-september","title":"ICO Composite Indicator Price","seller":"ICO","display":"262.18","kind":"Green coffee indicator","unit":"US cents/lb of green coffee","observed":"2026-10-05","period":"2026-09","url":"https://ico.org/documents/prices/I-CIP_09.2026.pdf","detail":" ","status":"published observation; not a live quote"},{"id":"ico-latest","title":"ICO latest populated daily composite","seller":"ICO","display":"258.31","kind":"Green coffee indicator","unit":"US cents/lb of green coffee","observed":"2026-10-05","period":"2026-10-02","url":"https://ico.org/documents/I-CIP.pdf","detail":"October 5 row blank when checked; October 1–2 revised on October 5. Current-month URL will change. ","status":"published observation; not a live quote"},{"id":"ice-ny-august","title":"ICO-reported New York Arabica futures indicator","seller":"ICO","display":"313.2","kind":"Monthly futures indicator","unit":"US cents/lb","observed":"2026-10-05","period":"2026-08","url":"https://www.ico.org/documents/cy2025-26/cmr-0826-e.pdf","detail":"Monthly average reported by ICO; not an October settlement or a specific executable contract quote. ","status":"published observation; not a live quote"},{"id":"ice-london-august","title":"ICO-reported London Robusta futures indicator","seller":"ICO","display":"167.63","kind":"Monthly futures indicator","unit":"US cents/lb, converted by ICO","observed":"2026-10-05","period":"2026-08","url":"https://www.ico.org/documents/cy2025-26/cmr-0826-e.pdf","detail":"Native ICE RC quote is USD/metric tonne; this monthly ICO comparison is converted to cents/lb. ","status":"published observation; not a live quote"}],"gear":[{"title":"Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper 02","tier":"Pour-over dripper","price":"$13.00 / 1 dripper","text":"Low-cost route into hands-on pour-over, especially if you already own a kettle and scale. Requires compatible size-02 filters and attentive pouring; maker cup count is not a promise of four large mugs. Maker specifications: Maker capacity: 1–4 cups; 137 × 116 × 102 mm; Spiral ribs and open bottom.","url":"https://www.hario-usa.com/products/v60-plastic-coffee-dripper-02?variant=32782967144581","source":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live public manufacturer Shopify product JSON, plus product-page USD/US context. Available in live official product data at this check; inventory may change. Prices exclude tax, shipping and optional accessories.","raw":{"id":"hario-v60-plastic-02","name":"Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper 02","category":"Pour-over dripper","variant":"White / 02, HR-VD-02W","price":13,"unit":"1 dripper","url":"https://www.hario-usa.com/products/v60-plastic-coffee-dripper-02?variant=32782967144581","specs":["Maker capacity: 1–4 cups","137 × 116 × 102 mm","Spiral ribs and open bottom"],"useCase":"Low-cost route into hands-on pour-over, especially if you already own a kettle and scale.","limitations":"Requires compatible size-02 filters and attentive pouring; maker cup count is not a promise of four large mugs.","availability":"Available in live official product data at this check; inventory may change.","variantId":32782967144581,"sku":"HR-VD-02W","available":true,"priceSource":"https://www.hario-usa.com/products/v60-plastic-coffee-dripper-02.js","verification":"Live public manufacturer Shopify product JSON, plus product-page USD/US context.","priceCaveat":"Red is also $13; clear is $14. Both were available in live official product data."}},{"title":"1Zpresso Q Air","tier":"Hand grinder","price":"$69.00 / 1 grinder","text":"Single-cup filter coffee and lightweight travel kits. Small capacity and manual effort make multiple servings less convenient. Official price is tax-exclusive USD from an international store; shipping/import charges can change the landed cost. Treat as a filter-focused choice. Maker specifications: 15–20 g grounds capacity; Stainless-steel burr construction; Fits inside an AeroPress plunger according to maker.","url":"https://1zpresso.coffee/product/qair/","source":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Official product page opened by web tool on 2026-10-05; direct live HTML request blocked by network. Do not imply checkout stock guarantee. Grinder has an Add to cart control; stock not independently confirmed. Ignore the stale February holiday banner. Prices exclude tax, shipping and optional accessories.","raw":{"id":"1zpresso-q-air","name":"1Zpresso Q Air","category":"Hand grinder","variant":"Q Air, blue/gray/purple","price":69,"unit":"1 grinder","url":"https://1zpresso.coffee/product/qair/","specs":["15–20 g grounds capacity","Stainless-steel burr construction","Fits inside an AeroPress plunger according to maker"],"useCase":"Single-cup filter coffee and lightweight travel kits.","limitations":"Small capacity and manual effort make multiple servings less convenient. Official price is tax-exclusive USD from an international store; shipping/import charges can change the landed cost. Treat as a filter-focused choice.","availability":"Grinder has an Add to cart control; stock not independently confirmed. Ignore the stale February holiday banner.","verification":"Official product page opened by web tool on 2026-10-05; direct live HTML request blocked by network. Do not imply checkout stock guarantee."}},{"title":"Baratza Encore","tier":"Electric filter grinder","price":"$149.95 / 1 grinder","text":"Daily filter brewing when you want to replace hand-grinding with a straightforward electric workflow. Its wider adjustment steps can leave espresso's ideal setting between clicks; choose an espresso-oriented grinder if that is your main method. Maker specifications: Conical burr grinder; 40 stepped grind settings.","url":"https://www.baratza.com/en-us/product/encoretm-zcg485","source":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Official product page opened by web tool on 2026-10-05; direct live HTML request blocked by network. Do not imply checkout stock guarantee. Official page shows Add to cart. Prices exclude tax, shipping and optional accessories.","raw":{"id":"baratza-encore","name":"Baratza Encore","category":"Electric filter grinder","variant":"Encore ZCG485, U.S. product","price":149.95,"unit":"1 grinder","url":"https://www.baratza.com/en-us/product/encoretm-zcg485","specs":["Conical burr grinder","40 stepped grind settings"],"useCase":"Daily filter brewing when you want to replace hand-grinding with a straightforward electric workflow.","limitations":"Its wider adjustment steps can leave espresso's ideal setting between clicks; choose an espresso-oriented grinder if that is your main method.","availability":"Official page shows Add to cart.","additionalSources":["https://www.baratza.com/en-us/blog/product-guides/stepped-vs-stepless"],"verification":"Official product page opened by web tool on 2026-10-05; direct live HTML request blocked by network. Do not imply checkout stock guarantee."}},{"title":"Baratza Encore ESP","tier":"Espresso-capable electric grinder","price":"$199.95 / 1 grinder","text":"A reasonably priced grinder for an entry espresso setup that can also handle filter brewing. Still stepped rather than stepless; dial-in depends on the coffee and recipe. It is a separate appliance and expense from the espresso machine. Maker specifications: 40 stepped settings; Settings 1–20 are the finer espresso range; 21–40 cover filter coffee; Dosing cup included.","url":"https://www.baratza.com/en-us/product/encoretm-esp-zcg495","source":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Official product page opened by web tool on 2026-10-05; direct live HTML request blocked by network. Do not imply checkout stock guarantee. Official page shows Add to cart. Prices exclude tax, shipping and optional accessories.","raw":{"id":"baratza-encore-esp","name":"Baratza Encore ESP","category":"Espresso-capable electric grinder","variant":"Encore ESP ZCG495, U.S. product","price":199.95,"unit":"1 grinder","url":"https://www.baratza.com/en-us/product/encoretm-esp-zcg495","specs":["40 stepped settings","Settings 1–20 are the finer espresso range; 21–40 cover filter coffee","Dosing cup included"],"useCase":"A reasonably priced grinder for an entry espresso setup that can also handle filter brewing.","limitations":"Still stepped rather than stepless; dial-in depends on the coffee and recipe. It is a separate appliance and expense from the espresso machine.","availability":"Official page shows Add to cart.","additionalSources":["https://assets.breville.com/ZCG495/manual-encoreesp-v1-0-en-010923.pdf"],"verification":"Official product page opened by web tool on 2026-10-05; direct live HTML request blocked by network. Do not imply checkout stock guarantee."}},{"title":"Hario V60 Drip Scale Black","tier":"Scale","price":"$60.00 / 1 scale","text":"Weigh coffee and water while timing pour-over recipes. Not water resistant; resolution becomes coarser as load rises. Do not describe it as 0.1 g across the whole range or assume it fits an espresso drip tray. Maker specifications: Built-in timer; 2,000 g maximum; Resolution: 0.1 g at 2–200 g, 0.5 g at 200–500 g, 1 g at 500–2,000 g; 120 × 190 × 29 mm; batteries included.","url":"https://www.hario-usa.com/products/v60-drip-scale?variant=34513919115427","source":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live public manufacturer Shopify product JSON, plus product-page USD/US context. Available in live official product data at this check; inventory may change. Prices exclude tax, shipping and optional accessories.","raw":{"id":"hario-v60-scale","name":"Hario V60 Drip Scale Black","category":"Scale","variant":"VSTN-INT-2000B, black","price":60,"unit":"1 scale","url":"https://www.hario-usa.com/products/v60-drip-scale?variant=34513919115427","specs":["Built-in timer","2,000 g maximum","Resolution: 0.1 g at 2–200 g, 0.5 g at 200–500 g, 1 g at 500–2,000 g","120 × 190 × 29 mm; batteries included"],"useCase":"Weigh coffee and water while timing pour-over recipes.","limitations":"Not water resistant; resolution becomes coarser as load rises. Do not describe it as 0.1 g across the whole range or assume it fits an espresso drip tray.","availability":"Available in live official product data at this check; inventory may change.","variantId":34513919115427,"sku":"HR-VSTN-INT-2000B","available":true,"priceSource":"https://www.hario-usa.com/products/v60-drip-scale.js","verification":"Live public manufacturer Shopify product JSON, plus product-page USD/US context."}},{"title":"Hario V60 Buono Drip Kettle 1L","tier":"Manual gooseneck kettle","price":"$60.00 / 1 kettle","text":"Controlled manual pouring without paying for an electric temperature-control base. No electric heating base or temperature display. Use the maker's practical fill guidance and check the manual for your heat source. Maker specifications: Stainless-steel body and lid; 600 mL practical capacity despite 1 L product name; Slim pouring spout.","url":"https://www.hario-usa.com/products/v60-buono-drip-kettle-1000ml?variant=34513912463523","source":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live public manufacturer Shopify product JSON, plus product-page USD/US context. Available in live official product data at this check; inventory may change. Prices exclude tax, shipping and optional accessories.","raw":{"id":"hario-buono-1l","name":"Hario V60 Buono Drip Kettle 1L","category":"Manual gooseneck kettle","variant":"VKBR-100-HSV, silver","price":60,"unit":"1 kettle","url":"https://www.hario-usa.com/products/v60-buono-drip-kettle-1000ml?variant=34513912463523","specs":["Stainless-steel body and lid","600 mL practical capacity despite 1 L product name","Slim pouring spout"],"useCase":"Controlled manual pouring without paying for an electric temperature-control base.","limitations":"No electric heating base or temperature display. Use the maker's practical fill guidance and check the manual for your heat source.","availability":"Available in live official product data at this check; inventory may change.","variantId":34513912463523,"sku":"HR-VKBR-100-HSV","available":true,"priceSource":"https://www.hario-usa.com/products/v60-buono-drip-kettle-1000ml.js","verification":"Live public manufacturer Shopify product JSON, plus product-page USD/US context."}},{"title":"Fellow Stagg EKG Pro","tier":"Temperature-control gooseneck kettle","price":"$179.95 / 1 kettle with base","text":"Frequent pour-over brewing when adjustable temperature and automatic heat hold are worth the extra cost. Premium convenience purchase with a small capacity and deliberately slow pour. Price is for Pro / Matte Black; do not apply it to other colors or Studio editions. Maker specifications: 0.9 L capacity; 40–100°C / 104–212°F selectable temperature range; 110–120 V Type-B U.S./Canada plug; 15–60 minute selectable hold; scheduling.","url":"https://fellowproducts.com/products/stagg-ekg-electric-pour-over-kettle?variant=18635551080563","source":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live public manufacturer Shopify product JSON, plus product-page USD/US context. Available in live official product data at this check; inventory may change. Prices exclude tax, shipping and optional accessories.","raw":{"id":"fellow-stagg-ekg-pro","name":"Fellow Stagg EKG Pro","category":"Temperature-control gooseneck kettle","variant":"Pro / Matte Black, 1222PRO-MB-US","price":179.95,"unit":"1 kettle with base","url":"https://fellowproducts.com/products/stagg-ekg-electric-pour-over-kettle?variant=18635551080563","specs":["0.9 L capacity","40–100°C / 104–212°F selectable temperature range","110–120 V Type-B U.S./Canada plug","15–60 minute selectable hold; scheduling"],"useCase":"Frequent pour-over brewing when adjustable temperature and automatic heat hold are worth the extra cost.","limitations":"Premium convenience purchase with a small capacity and deliberately slow pour. Price is for Pro / Matte Black; do not apply it to other colors or Studio editions.","availability":"Available in live official product data at this check; inventory may change.","priceCaveat":"Matte White is also $179.95. Wood-handle Pro colors are $199.95; Studio edition prices differ.","variantId":18635551080563,"sku":"1222PRO-MB-US","available":true,"priceSource":"https://fellowproducts.com/products/stagg-ekg-electric-pour-over-kettle.js","verification":"Live public manufacturer Shopify product JSON, plus product-page USD/US context."}},{"title":"Breville Bambino","tier":"Entry espresso machine","price":"$249.95 / 1 machine","text":"Compact home espresso and milk drinks when paired with an espresso-capable grinder. Out of stock on the official page at this check; sale price is not a guaranteed purchase opportunity. Requires learning dose, grind and milk steaming. No grinder is included. Maker specifications: 54 mm portafilter; 3-second ThermoJet heat-up claim; Low-pressure pre-infusion, then 9-bar extraction; Manual steam wand; Single/double-wall baskets, milk jug and tamper listed as included.","url":"https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bes450","source":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Official product page opened by web tool on 2026-10-05; direct live HTML request blocked by network. Do not imply checkout stock guarantee. Out of stock; Notify Me. Prices exclude tax, shipping and optional accessories.","raw":{"id":"breville-bambino","name":"Breville Bambino","category":"Entry espresso machine","variant":"BES450, default U.S. product listing","price":249.95,"regularPrice":299.95,"priceType":"Displayed sale price, out of stock","unit":"1 machine","url":"https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bes450","specs":["54 mm portafilter","3-second ThermoJet heat-up claim","Low-pressure pre-infusion, then 9-bar extraction","Manual steam wand","Single/double-wall baskets, milk jug and tamper listed as included"],"useCase":"Compact home espresso and milk drinks when paired with an espresso-capable grinder.","limitations":"Out of stock on the official page at this check; sale price is not a guaranteed purchase opportunity. Requires learning dose, grind and milk steaming. No grinder is included.","availability":"Out of stock; Notify Me.","verification":"Official product page opened by web tool on 2026-10-05; direct live HTML request blocked by network. Do not imply checkout stock guarantee."}},{"title":"AeroPress Original","tier":"Manual travel brewer","price":"$39.95 / 1 brewer","text":"Compact immersion-and-press brewing for one person at home, at work or while traveling. Needs hot water and a sturdy compatible mug; espresso-style concentrate is not pump-machine espresso. A larger serving requires dilution or another brew. Maker specifications: 10 oz capacity; Polypropylene body; Paper Micro-Filters, stirrer and scoop listed as included.","url":"https://aeropress.com/products/aeropress-coffee-maker?variant=43833842598131","source":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live public manufacturer Shopify product JSON, plus product-page USD/US context. Available in live official product data at this check; inventory may change. Prices exclude tax, shipping and optional accessories.","raw":{"id":"aeropress-original","name":"AeroPress Original","category":"Manual travel brewer","variant":"Original, standard 10 oz","price":39.95,"unit":"1 brewer","url":"https://aeropress.com/products/aeropress-coffee-maker?variant=43833842598131","specs":["10 oz capacity","Polypropylene body","Paper Micro-Filters, stirrer and scoop listed as included"],"useCase":"Compact immersion-and-press brewing for one person at home, at work or while traveling.","limitations":"Needs hot water and a sturdy compatible mug; espresso-style concentrate is not pump-machine espresso. A larger serving requires dilution or another brew.","availability":"Available in live official product data at this check; inventory may change.","variantId":43833842598131,"sku":"85A01","available":true,"priceSource":"https://aeropress.com/products/aeropress-coffee-maker.js","verification":"Live public manufacturer Shopify product JSON, plus product-page USD/US context."}},{"title":"OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker","tier":"Batch drip brewer","price":"$219.99 / 1 coffee maker","text":"Households that want one-button brewing for a mug or a shared batch. Eight cups means eight 5 oz servings, not eight large mugs. Needs filters, a grinder or pre-ground coffee, and routine descaling. Maker specifications: Thermal carafe; Single-mug brewing accessory; SCA-certified according to maker; 8 × 5 fl oz cups = 40 fl oz / about 1.18 L.","url":"https://www.oxo.com/8-cup-coffee-maker.html","source":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Official product page opened by web tool on 2026-10-05; direct live HTML request blocked by network. Do not imply checkout stock guarantee. Official page has an Add control; stock not independently confirmed. Prices exclude tax, shipping and optional accessories.","raw":{"id":"oxo-8cup","name":"OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker","category":"Batch drip brewer","variant":"SKU 8718800, thermal-carafe model","price":219.99,"unit":"1 coffee maker","url":"https://www.oxo.com/8-cup-coffee-maker.html","specs":["Thermal carafe","Single-mug brewing accessory","SCA-certified according to maker","8 × 5 fl oz cups = 40 fl oz / about 1.18 L"],"useCase":"Households that want one-button brewing for a mug or a shared batch.","limitations":"Eight cups means eight 5 oz servings, not eight large mugs. Needs filters, a grinder or pre-ground coffee, and routine descaling.","availability":"Official page has an Add control; stock not independently confirmed.","additionalSources":["https://www.oxo.com/media/wysiwyg/Brew_8718800_8CupCoffeeMaker_Manual_M03.pdf?im_rewards=1&irgwc=1"],"verification":"Official product page opened by web tool on 2026-10-05; direct live HTML request blocked by network. Do not imply checkout stock guarantee."}}],"articles":[{"id":"bean-to-cup","label":"01 · BEANS","title":"Read the bag before the tasting notes.","dek":"A practical starting point for choosing beans and learning what you like.","paragraphs":["Begin with the intended brew method, the bag’s net weight and any roast-date information the seller provides. Origin and tasting notes help describe a coffee, but they do not establish how it will taste in your kitchen. Ask whether the product is a blend or a single lot, whether decaffeination is specified, and whether the seller offers a preparation recipe.","For a useful comparison, hold the method, dose and water amount constant. Brew two coffees separately, label the cups and record what you notice in your own words. This is a learning activity, not a professional quality score. If you change the grind, dose and brewer together, you will have a harder time knowing why the cup changed.","Record cost per gram of roasted coffee, then the grams used per serving. A smaller bag may have a higher unit cost while reducing the chance that an infrequent drinker buys more than they use. Roasted retail weight is already downstream of green-bean grading, transport and roast loss; do not compare it directly to a green-coffee benchmark.","Use the calculator as a personal scenario. Its default price and dose are invented teaching inputs; they are not a quote from any café or roaster. Milk, filters, water, energy, equipment, tax, shipping and your time are separate costs."],"sources":[{"title":"Existing UES coffee sources and assortment notes","url":"/ues/coffee/"},{"title":"ICO market reports","url":"https://ico.org/resources/market-reports/"}]},{"id":"local-cup","label":"02 · NEIGHBORHOOD","title":"A local counter is more than a bean price.","dek":"Compare places without turning a menu into a business census.","paragraphs":["A café drink includes a prepared product and a place to receive it. Service labor, occupancy, equipment, waste and the operating schedule matter alongside the beans. An online menu can establish a dated listed price; it cannot establish a shop’s revenue, margin, customer count or payroll.","The existing UES atlas preserves the location-specific merchant sources where those exist. A brand-wide online bean catalog is a different kind of evidence: it does not prove that a particular café stocks that bag today. The atlas’s 25-mile radius is a study boundary, not a catchment forecast or travel-time estimate.","For a neighborhood exercise, choose two publicly documented drinks with the same size and preparation. Record the location, observation date, price, additions, tax and source URL. Leave unavailable details blank instead of substituting the price from a different shop. Ask what the comparison still cannot tell you.","Then try the existing café scenario at UES. Adjust average ticket, daily orders, trading days, variable-cost share and the fixed budget. An attractive result is a hypothesis to investigate, not a reported profit or a reason to assume that a named operator is thriving."],"sources":[{"title":"University of El Segundo coffee atlas","url":"/ues/coffee/"},{"title":"UES business studies","url":"/ues/business/"}]},{"id":"market-language","label":"03 · MARKETS","title":"Four prices hiding inside “coffee.”","dek":"A cup, a roasted bag, a green benchmark and a futures contract.","paragraphs":["The price of a prepared cup is a retail service price. The price of a roasted bag is a product price for a stated net weight. The ICO composite indicator describes a green-coffee market benchmark. Each has a different product, unit, source and time basis. Movement in one does not translate one-for-one into the others.","ICE describes Coffee C futures as an Arabica benchmark covering exchange-grade green beans. A standard contract represents 37,500 pounds, is quoted in cents per pound, and provides for physical delivery under exchange specifications. It is not a subscription for a few friends’ roasted bags. The contract symbol is KC; the expiry month matters when reading a quote.","Futures introduce margin, leverage, daily settlement and delivery-related obligations. A small adverse price change can have a large financial effect relative to posted margin. This guide provides market literacy, no positions, brokerage, financial exchange or personalized trading strategy. Any financial-product participation proposal requires qualified professional review.","For practical procurement, focus first on the supplier’s physical product, quantities, lead time, delivery, cancellation and refund terms. A voluntary group purchase of packaged beans has different questions from a tradable financial claim. Keep the two designs separate when discussing the future of local buying."],"sources":[{"title":"ICE Coffee C contract specifications","url":"https://www.ice.com/products/15/Coffee-C-Futures"},{"title":"ICO market reports","url":"https://ico.org/resources/market-reports/"}]},{"id":"friends-first","label":"04 · COMMUNITY","title":"A buying circle starts with a clear physical promise.","dek":"A small, voluntary concept to explore with friends before any order exists.","paragraphs":["A sensible first experiment would use one named roasted product, one package size and a quantity that participants can realistically use. Compare the supplier’s ordinary retail offer with a written group quote, including shipping and any coordination cost. A larger quantity does not automatically save money.","Before inviting an actual purchase, an accountable adult organizer would need approved supplier terms, a delivery plan, cancellation and refund rules, substitution choices, food-handling responsibilities and a privacy process. A café or roaster is not a partner merely because it appears in the atlas. No vendor has agreed to this concept.","A participant would be buying a specified physical product for delivery. This draft does not create a transferable claim, token right, investment return or automatic recurring commitment. The planner uses invented inputs and does not collect names, orders, payment details or commitments.","An agent can prepare dated comparisons and surface missing terms for human review. It cannot accept an order, spend funds or operate a wallet here. A human checks the quote and the actual product before deciding whether a pilot should exist."],"sources":[{"title":"Existing UES merchant evidence","url":"/ues/coffee/"}]}],"activities":[{"title":"Two cups, one changed variable","text":"Use your own beans and maker’s recipe. Record dose, water, grind, method and your observations. Change only one input on the second brew."},{"title":"A menu evidence walk","text":"Record a public menu’s date, location, size, preparation and URL. Compare like with like; do not photograph people or infer shop finances."},{"title":"Follow one bag upstream","text":"List what is known about the product and what is missing: origin, roast information, weight, shipping and the seller’s preparation guidance."}],"safety":"For a future gathering, obtain permission for the venue, provide ingredient and allergen information, and plan safe service and clean equipment. Milk and other perishable additions need appropriate handling. Event and selling requirements depend on the actual format and location; the proposed program has no operator or approved process yet.","roles":[{"title":"Source editor","text":"Keep a dated merchant-source ledger, normalize weights and units, and flag price changes for review."},{"title":"Learning facilitator","text":"Prepare a small comparison activity with a supervisor; avoid sensory claims attributed to someone who did not make them."},{"title":"Agent research steward","text":"Review agent outputs against original pages, publish uncertainty and prevent purchases or wallet actions."}],"readingLinks":[{"title":"The coffee pot, on · original post","href":"/b/0352/"},{"title":"Coffee Mugs FA2 · source history","href":"/b/0364/"},{"title":"Nouns Money Coffee Masterclass","href":"/downloads/nouns-money-coffee-masterclass.pdf"}],"sources":[{"title":"ICE Coffee C Futures · specifications","url":"https://www.ice.com/products/15/Coffee-C-Futures","note":"Read 2026-10-05; 37,500 lb contract, cents/lb, physical delivery. No live quote supplied."},{"title":"UES coffee atlas · original source set","url":"/ues/coffee.json","note":"Edition 2026-10-03; selected merchant records and economics sources, preserved without re-research claims."},{"title":"PointCast Coffee Mugs · Ceramic Mug provenance","url":"https://pointcast.xyz/token/coffee-mugs/0/","note":"Public search result read 2026-10-05; confirms contract, token 0 and 333 cap. Does not establish current supply or a successful mint."},{"title":"BLS coffee average-price series","url":"https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000717311","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Official statistics; August 2026 latest populated observation."},{"title":"FRED release metadata for BLS coffee series","url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/APU0000717311","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · August observation released September 11; next listed release October 14, 2026."},{"title":"ICO September 2026 indicator table","url":"https://ico.org/documents/prices/I-CIP_09.2026.pdf","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · PDF table visually checked; September average."},{"title":"ICO current-month indicator table","url":"https://ico.org/documents/I-CIP.pdf","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Latest populated day October 2; October 5 blank. October 1–2 revised October 5."},{"title":"ICO August 2026 Coffee Market Report","url":"https://www.ico.org/documents/cy2025-26/cmr-0826-e.pdf","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Monthly context and August average futures indicators; no live settlement quote."},{"title":"The Coffee Bar official menu","url":"https://brewtcb.com/pages/menu","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live menu image inspected; menu itself undated."},{"title":"The Coffee Bar official location","url":"https://brewtcb.com/","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · 520 Center St, El Segundo."},{"title":"YLS El Segundo linked merchant menu","url":"https://ylsbakeryelsegundo.toast.site/order","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · From prices; sizes not verified. Linked by official yourlandingstop.com."},{"title":"Two Guns North Manhattan merchant menu","url":"https://twogunskitchenelsegundo.toast.site/order/two-guns-espresso-north-manhattan-3516-highland-ave","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · South Bay location, not El Segundo; menu-base prices, size not verified."},{"title":"Blue Butterfly official site","url":"https://bluebutterflycoffee.com/","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Identifies sister-roastery relationship."},{"title":"Smoky Hollow official site","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Roastery location; no negotiated relationship implied."},{"title":"Smoky Hollow Smoke Stack","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/smoke-stack","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live public product JSON overrides older indexed prices."},{"title":"Smoky Hollow Lost Wallet","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/lost-wallet","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live product JSON price and availability checked."},{"title":"Smoky Hollow Dekaf","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/dekaf","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live product JSON price and availability checked."},{"title":"Two Guns Espresso beans","url":"https://twogunsespresso.com/products/espresso-blend","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live product JSON price and availability checked."},{"title":"Counter Culture Hologram","url":"https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/12-oz-hologram","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Live product JSON price and availability checked."},{"title":"Peet’s Major Dickason’s","url":"https://www.peets.com/products/major-dickasons","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · 16 oz from product page; live product JSON available=true despite theme sold-out string."},{"title":"ICE Coffee C Metric Futures AC","url":"https://www.ice.com/products/83048906/Coffee-C-Metric-Futures","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Current official specification; not a market quote."},{"title":"ICE Robusta Futures RC","url":"https://www.ice.com/products/37089079/Robusta-Coffee-Futures","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Current official specification; not a market quote."},{"title":"CFTC futures basics","url":"https://www.cftc.gov/LearnAndProtect/AdvisoriesAndArticles/FuturesMarketBasics/index.htm","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · General educational framework."},{"title":"CFTC designated contract markets","url":"https://www.cftc.gov/IndustryOversight/TradingOrganizations/DCMs/index.htm","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Retail futures venue oversight; not an opinion about a proposed product."},{"title":"CFTC commodity pool advisory","url":"https://www.cftc.gov/LearnAndProtect/AdvisoriesAndArticles/seeing_commodity_pools_clearly.htm","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Pooling funds for trading differs from buying consumable goods."},{"title":"FTC internet-order shipping guidance","url":"https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/business-guide-ftcs-mail-internet-or-telephone-order-merchandise-rule","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Shipment promises, delays and refunds."},{"title":"DOL internship fact sheet","url":"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/71-flsa-internships","note":"Checked 2026-10-05 · Employment framework; compensation and supervision remain undecided."}],"feature":{"title":"Coffee from the neighborhood cup to the world market","author":"PointCast research desk · sourced 2026-10-05","sections":[{"heading":"From the neighborhood cup to the world market","paragraphs":["Coffee is a useful place to make an economy understandable. A bag has a weight, a roast date and a price. A café adds equipment, people, space and hospitality. Friends can coordinate an order and see whether the savings survive shipping and the work of getting everyone their coffee. Global markets explain another part of the story, provided the numbers keep their labels.","PointCast’s coffee hub can connect those experiences: where to drink locally, what to brew at home, what the inputs cost, and which small experiments might make buying together worthwhile. The strongest first experiment is a voluntary buying club with a real roaster, a defined delivery and ordinary merchant checkout. A financial exchange would be a separate, heavily regulated undertaking. The club, participation roles and market ideas below are proposals, with no orders or positions being taken."]},{"heading":"Four prices worth keeping separate","paragraphs":["A café price buys a prepared drink and service. A roasted-retail price buys coffee ready to grind. A green-coffee indicator describes an upstream commodity. A futures quotation describes a particular standardized contract, delivery month and settlement framework. Converting them all to dollars does not make them interchangeable.","For the national household baseline, BLS reports $9.299 per pound for ground-roast coffee in August 2026, the latest observation verified for this guide. That is the U.S. city average for a specific grocery category, not the average café drink or specialty whole-bean bag. Its April reading was $9.723. BLS series APU0000717311","The International Coffee Organization’s September composite averaged 262.18 U.S. cents per pound of green coffee, equivalent to $2.6218/lb. The latest populated daily observation found in the October sheet was October 2 at 258.31 cents/lb; October 5 was blank when checked. These are dated indicators rather than executable offers. September ICO prices, current ICO sheet"]},{"heading":"A local price walk through El Segundo and the South Bay","paragraphs":["The Coffee Bar at 520 Center Street gives a useful, specific El Segundo reference. Its posted menu lists a 2-fluid-ounce espresso at $3.50 and a 10-fluid-ounce latte at $5.60, rising to $7.10 for 14 fluid ounces. Drip is listed at $3.25 or $4.50, but the image does not identify those two sizes. That missing unit should stay visible rather than be guessed. The Coffee Bar menu","YLS Bakery + Cafe at 247 Main Street lists drip from $3.50 and latte from $5 on its linked ordering menu. Farther south, Two Guns’ North Manhattan location lists drip at $3.20 and latte at $6.10. Those are menu-base snapshots, before applicable tax, tip, delivery charges and modifiers. They are useful shopping references, not a statistically representative local average. YLS ordering menu, Two Guns North Manhattan menu","There is a natural neighborhood story behind the beans too. Blue Butterfly identifies Smoky Hollow as its sister roastery and coffee supplier; Smoky Hollow lists its roastery at 118 Sierra Street. A local guide can follow that relationship from roasting to the café counter without pretending it has negotiated a partnership. Blue Butterfly, Smoky Hollow"]},{"heading":"Buy the amount you will actually brew","paragraphs":["Live Smoky Hollow product data checked October 5 lists Smoke Stack and Lost Wallet at $19 for 12 ounces, or $100 for five pounds. That is $25.33/lb in the small bag and $20/lb in bulk. Older indexed pages still show lower prices, which is why every listing here needs a checked date and a link back to the seller. Smoke Stack, Lost Wallet","For comparison, Two Guns Espresso is $23/12 ounces; national roaster Counter Culture’s Hologram is $20/12 ounces; Peet’s Major Dickason’s is $21.95/16 ounces. These are specific direct-to-consumer offerings, not substitutes for the BLS average. Taste, roast style, delivery cost and the amount wasted can matter more than the lowest sticker price. Two Guns, Counter Culture, Peet’s","At an illustrative 20-gram dose, a 12-ounce bag contains about 17 brews before waste. Five pounds contains about 113. One person making one daily brew would take almost four months to finish that bulk bag. Splitting a roast with friends can make the quantity practical, but the useful saving is coffee consumed in good condition. Ask for roast dates and the roaster’s storage guidance; prefer sealed, seller-packed portions over a casual repacking operation."]},{"heading":"Put gear money where the routine needs it","paragraphs":["Start with the drink and the number of people. A single-cup pour-over setup can use a $13 white Hario V60 02, a $69 1Zpresso Q Air hand grinder and a $60 Hario scale: $142 before coffee, filters, tax and shipping, using an existing kettle and mug. The grinder’s international-store shipping or import charges may add to that subtotal. The V60 alone is a small upgrade for someone who already owns the rest. Hario dripper, Q Air, Hario scale","For several people, the $219.99 OXO eight-cup brewer with a $149.95 Baratza Encore makes a $369.94 equipment core. OXO’s eight cups total 40 fluid ounces, so count actual mugs. For travel, AeroPress Original plus Q Air is $108.95, with hot water and a sturdy mug still needed. OXO, Encore, AeroPress","Espresso deserves its own budget and learning curve. The $199.95 Encore ESP is the espresso-oriented grinder in this selection. Breville’s Bambino page displays $249.95 sale and $299.95 regular pricing but reports out of stock, so the $449.90 sale-price machine-and-grinder sum is only an illustration. Temperature-controlled gooseneck kettles, premium finishes and extra accessories can wait until the basic routine reveals a real need. These are specification-based options, without a claim of hands-on testing. Encore ESP, Bambino"]},{"heading":"Make the economics inspectable","paragraphs":["Use a common recipe when comparing home costs. At 20 grams per brew, a $19/12-ounce bag contributes about $1.12 in beans. A $100/five-pound bag contributes about $0.88. The BLS grocery-category baseline implies about $0.41, although it represents a different product basket. Add filters, water, power, milk, waste and equipment allocation separately. A $142 kit spread over 500 brews contributes another $0.284 per brew. Change the number of brews rather than presenting one universal break-even date.","A café needs a different worksheet. Consider a purely illustrative $5.60 drink with $0.90 in coffee, $0.60 in milk, $0.25 in packaging and $0.22 in payment costs. It leaves $3.63 before labor, rent, utilities, maintenance, insurance, spoilage and tax. That remainder is not profit. Connect the coffee page to the neighborhood-business economics discussion so readers can change the assumptions and understand what each business must pay for."]},{"heading":"A buying club that can earn trust","paragraphs":["The first version could be a four-week test with a small, voluntary group. Collect nonbinding interest in one everyday coffee and one decaf, with each person choosing quantity, whole-bean or grind, pickup or shipping, and a maximum acceptable landed cost. Do not collect money while those details are unresolved. A roaster would need to accept the arrangement before it becomes an offer.","The proposed order card should show the named seller, coffee and net weight, roast window, minimum and maximum group quantity, order deadline, every fee, fulfillment date, pickup location or delivery area, substitution rules and refund contact. If the minimum is missed, the offer expires without a charge. Each participant approves their own purchase and pays the merchant directly. The platform can coordinate the information without keeping a pooled balance or controlling an agent wallet.","The discount should survive honest arithmetic. As a model, five people could share five pounds at the listed $100 bulk price. Add hypothetical shipping of $10 and handling/packaging of $5: $115 total, or $23 per pound. The small-bag price normalized to one pound is $25.33, so the modeled saving is $2.33 each, about 9.2%. Add $30 of paid coordination work and the total becomes $145, or $29 per person. A discount can disappear quickly. These assumptions are not a roaster quote or permission to repackage food; seller-packed portions need their own price and handling review.","Agree on delayed-order choices and damaged or wrong-item remedies before payment. For shipped internet orders, FTC guidance requires a reasonable basis for shipment promises and addresses customer consent or refunds when shipment is delayed. A perishable-goods return policy and the seller’s legal obligations both need attention. FTC shipping guidance","Judge the pilot on complete, on-time fulfillment, effective cost per pound, freshness, repeat interest, support incidents and actual paid labor. A subscription could follow if people want repetition: clearly disclosed cadence, price, renewal, skip and cancellation choices, with direct merchant billing. A preorder should identify the physical coffee and delivery, with clear cancellation terms. The value is reliable coordination."]},{"heading":"What a coffee futures idea would involve","paragraphs":["ICE’s traditional Arabica Coffee C contract, symbol KC, covers 37,500 pounds and is quoted in cents per pound. Its Coffee C Metric contract, AC, covers 10 metric tonnes and is quoted in dollars per tonne. Robusta RC also covers 10 tonnes. All three specifications provide for physical delivery under exchange rules. These are industrial-scale instruments with obligations beyond buying a bag for next month. ICE KC, ICE AC, ICE RC","A useful PointCast feature is an educational market monitor with source dates, units and plain explanations of supply, inventory and contract months. No tradable position is needed to learn from it. The CFTC says venues offering retail access to futures generally require designated-contract-market status unless an exemption or exclusion applies. Pooling friends’ money to trade introduces a different set of commodity-pool issues. Labels such as club, NFT or physical delivery do not settle legal classification. Any actual derivatives product needs qualified legal and regulated-market expertise before design or solicitation. CFTC market oversight, CFTC commodity pools"]},{"heading":"People and agents can each do useful work","paragraphs":["Agents can compare dated offers, normalize bag sizes, flag stale menus, calculate quantities, prepare reminders and suggest the next order. People choose their coffee and authorize purchases, payments, subscriptions and information sharing. A suggestion should identify its source and uncertainty, and every correction should remain traceable. No transaction authority is implied by joining a team.","Proposed supervised roles could include a research editor who checks prices and citations; a roaster-relations coordinator who prepares questions and confirms fulfillment terms; a quality-and-economics assistant who tests calculations and records tasting feedback; and community support that helps with pickup and problems. Those are possible workstreams, not advertised vacancies. Compensation, hours, supervision and learning goals remain to be determined. Any internship must be reviewed for applicable employment requirements; the Labor Department’s framework does not make productive work automatically unpaid. DOL internship guidance"]},{"heading":"Coffee art and collectible culture","paragraphs":["Coffee artwork can sit alongside the practical guide as part of PointCast’s cultural layer. For any existing coffee NFT, show the verified work, creator, chain, contract, token identifier and source link where available. Describe only rights actually granted by its terms. Ownership alone should not be presented as coffee redemption, copyright ownership, revenue participation or a promised return. Keep artwork, optional community recognition and a real merchant’s fulfillment promises clearly described so people know exactly what they are getting."]}],"sources":[{"title":"BLS coffee average-price series","url":"https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000717311"},{"title":"FRED release metadata for BLS coffee series","url":"https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/APU0000717311"},{"title":"ICO September 2026 indicator table","url":"https://ico.org/documents/prices/I-CIP_09.2026.pdf"},{"title":"ICO current-month indicator table","url":"https://ico.org/documents/I-CIP.pdf"},{"title":"ICO August 2026 Coffee Market Report","url":"https://www.ico.org/documents/cy2025-26/cmr-0826-e.pdf"},{"title":"The Coffee Bar official menu","url":"https://brewtcb.com/pages/menu"},{"title":"The Coffee Bar official location","url":"https://brewtcb.com/"},{"title":"YLS El Segundo linked merchant menu","url":"https://ylsbakeryelsegundo.toast.site/order"},{"title":"Two Guns North Manhattan merchant menu","url":"https://twogunskitchenelsegundo.toast.site/order/two-guns-espresso-north-manhattan-3516-highland-ave"},{"title":"Blue Butterfly official site","url":"https://bluebutterflycoffee.com/"},{"title":"Smoky Hollow official site","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/"},{"title":"Smoky Hollow Smoke Stack","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/smoke-stack"},{"title":"Smoky Hollow Lost Wallet","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/lost-wallet"},{"title":"Smoky Hollow Dekaf","url":"https://www.smokyhollowcoffee.com/products/dekaf"},{"title":"Two Guns Espresso beans","url":"https://twogunsespresso.com/products/espresso-blend"},{"title":"Counter Culture Hologram","url":"https://counterculturecoffee.com/products/12-oz-hologram"},{"title":"Peet’s Major Dickason’s","url":"https://www.peets.com/products/major-dickasons"},{"title":"ICE Coffee C Futures KC","url":"https://www.ice.com/products/15/Coffee-C-Futures"},{"title":"ICE Coffee C Metric Futures AC","url":"https://www.ice.com/products/83048906/Coffee-C-Metric-Futures"},{"title":"ICE Robusta Futures RC","url":"https://www.ice.com/products/37089079/Robusta-Coffee-Futures"},{"title":"CFTC futures basics","url":"https://www.cftc.gov/LearnAndProtect/AdvisoriesAndArticles/FuturesMarketBasics/index.htm"},{"title":"CFTC designated contract markets","url":"https://www.cftc.gov/IndustryOversight/TradingOrganizations/DCMs/index.htm"},{"title":"CFTC commodity pool advisory","url":"https://www.cftc.gov/LearnAndProtect/AdvisoriesAndArticles/seeing_commodity_pools_clearly.htm"},{"title":"FTC internet-order shipping guidance","url":"https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/business-guide-ftcs-mail-internet-or-telephone-order-merchandise-rule"},{"title":"DOL internship fact sheet","url":"https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/71-flsa-internships"}]},"researchModels":{"calculator":{"purpose":"Scenario model; never presents estimate as a purchase quote or realized profit","inputs":{"bag_price_usd":19,"bag_weight_g":340.1942775,"dose_g":20,"waste_fraction":0,"equipment_usd":142,"equipment_lifetime_brews":500,"filter_per_brew_usd":0.03,"milk_per_brew_usd":0,"water_energy_per_brew_usd":0.02,"shipping_per_bag_usd":0,"tax_per_bag_usd":0},"formulas":{"usable_brews":"bag_weight_g * (1 - waste_fraction) / dose_g","beans_per_brew":"(bag_price_usd + shipping_per_bag_usd + tax_per_bag_usd) / usable_brews","equipment_per_brew":"equipment_usd / equipment_lifetime_brews","total_per_brew":"beans_per_brew + equipment_per_brew + filter_per_brew_usd + milk_per_brew_usd + water_energy_per_brew_usd"},"validation":["Reject negative prices and zero or negative dose, weight or lifetime","Waste must be at least 0 and less than 1","Keep weight ounces separate from fluid ounces","Show partial-brew mathematical yield separately from whole brews","Do not compare latte and black coffee as identical drinks"]},"group_buy_example":{"status":"Illustration, not a quote or launched offer","participants":5,"net_weight_lb":5,"listed_bulk_product_usd":100,"assumed_shipping_usd":10,"assumed_handling_packaging_usd":5,"total_before_coordination_usd":115,"per_person_lb":1,"per_person_usd":23,"comparison_12oz_price_usd":19,"comparison_usd_per_lb":25.333333333333332,"saving_per_person_usd":2.333333333333332,"saving_percent":9.210526315789469,"optional_paid_coordination_usd":30,"total_with_coordination_usd":145,"per_person_with_coordination_usd":29,"warning":"Bulk product is one 5 lb bag. Seller-packed portions require a separate quote. No authority to repackage, collect funds or promise a discount. Apply actual tax and delivery costs if offered."},"cafe_economics_example":{"status":"Hypothetical inputs, not any cafe’s accounts","drink_revenue_usd":5.6,"coffee_usd":0.9,"milk_usd":0.6,"packaging_usd":0.25,"payment_cost_usd":0.22,"contribution_before_overhead_usd":3.63,"excluded":["Labor","Rent","Utilities","Maintenance","Insurance","Spoilage","Tax"],"warning":"Contribution before overhead is not net profit."},"futures_contract_specs":[{"symbol":"KC","name":"Coffee C Arabica","exchange":"ICE Futures U.S.","quantity":37500,"quantity_unit":"lb","quote_unit":"US cents/lb","tick_size":0.05,"tick_unit":"US cents/lb","tick_value_usd":18.75,"settlement":"Physical delivery under exchange specifications","source_id":"ice_kc","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_url":"https://www.ice.com/products/15/Coffee-C-Futures"},{"symbol":"AC","name":"Coffee C Metric Arabica","exchange":"ICE Futures U.S.","quantity":10,"quantity_unit":"metric tonnes","quote_unit":"USD/metric tonne","tick_size":1,"tick_unit":"USD/metric tonne","tick_value_usd":10,"settlement":"Physical delivery under exchange specifications","source_id":"ice_ac","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_url":"https://www.ice.com/products/83048906/Coffee-C-Metric-Futures"},{"symbol":"RC","name":"Robusta Coffee","exchange":"ICE Futures Europe","quantity":10,"quantity_unit":"metric tonnes","quote_unit":"USD/metric tonne","tick_size":1,"tick_unit":"USD/metric tonne","tick_value_usd":10,"settlement":"Physical delivery under exchange specifications","source_id":"ice_rc","checked_at":"2026-10-05","source_url":"https://www.ice.com/products/37089079/Robusta-Coffee-Futures"}],"national_monthly_series":{"source_id":"bls","unit":"USD/lb roasted ground coffee","values":[["2026-01",9.366],["2026-02",9.459],["2026-03",9.608],["2026-04",9.723],["2026-05",9.511],["2026-06",9.457],["2026-07",9.317],["2026-08",9.299]]},"proposed_roles":[{"name":"Research and editorial","deliverables":["Check 10 dated prices","Normalize units","Maintain corrections and citations"],"supervision":"Editor approves publication","status":"Proposed role, not an open vacancy","pay_hours_supervisor":"To be agreed before work begins; employment compliance review required"},{"name":"Roaster relations","deliverables":["Prepare supplier questions","Compare written quotes","Confirm packing and fulfillment terms"],"supervision":"Human lead approves outreach and commitments","status":"Proposed role, not an open vacancy","pay_hours_supervisor":"To be agreed before work begins; employment compliance review required"},{"name":"Quality and economics","deliverables":["Test calculator edge cases","Record blind-tasting feedback if organized","Compare expected with actual costs"],"supervision":"Project lead reviews methods; no invented tasting results","status":"Proposed role, not an open vacancy","pay_hours_supervisor":"To be agreed before work begins; employment compliance review required"},{"name":"Community support","deliverables":["Prepare pickup instructions","Track fulfillment issues","Document refund routing"],"supervision":"Named accountable human handles customer decisions","status":"Proposed role, not an open vacancy","pay_hours_supervisor":"To be agreed before work begins; employment compliance review required"}],"corrections":[{"subject":"Smoky Hollow price","old_indexed":"USD 17/12 oz and 90/5 lb","verified_live":"USD 19/12 oz and 100/5 lb","date":"2026-10-05","reason":"Live product variant data superseded stale indexed extracts."},{"subject":"Peet’s availability","old_indexed":"Theme included Sold out wording","verified_live":"Whole-bean and grind variants available=true","date":"2026-10-05","reason":"Do not use generic hidden theme text as stock evidence."}]},"kits":[{"name":"Pour-over core","itemIds":["hario-v60-plastic-02","1zpresso-q-air","hario-v60-scale"],"subtotal":142,"notes":"Uses your existing kettle and mug. Filters and coffee are extra. International shipping/import charges for the hand grinder may apply.","itemNames":["Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper 02","1Zpresso Q Air","Hario V60 Drip Scale Black"]},{"name":"Pour-over with manual gooseneck","itemIds":["hario-v60-plastic-02","1zpresso-q-air","hario-v60-scale","hario-buono-1l"],"subtotal":202,"notes":"Gear-only subtotal; requires a suitable way to heat water, filters, coffee and mug/server.","itemNames":["Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper 02","1Zpresso Q Air","Hario V60 Drip Scale Black","Hario V60 Buono Drip Kettle 1L"]},{"name":"Travel coffee core","itemIds":["aeropress-original","1zpresso-q-air"],"subtotal":108.95,"notes":"Uses available hot water and a sturdy mug. Add a scale for repeatable recipes; hand-grinder landed cost may be higher.","itemNames":["AeroPress Original","1Zpresso Q Air"]},{"name":"Electric batch core","itemIds":["oxo-8cup","baratza-encore"],"subtotal":369.94,"notes":"Gear-only subtotal. Filters, coffee, scale if desired, taxes and shipping are extra.","itemNames":["OXO Brew 8-Cup Coffee Maker","Baratza Encore"]},{"name":"Entry espresso core","itemIds":["breville-bambino","baratza-encore-esp"],"subtotal":449.9,"regularPriceSubtotal":499.9,"notes":"Illustrative machine-plus-grinder subtotal only. Bambino is out of stock at its displayed sale price, so this is not an available bundle. Add a suitably sized scale and maintenance consumables; milk jug and tamper are already listed with the machine.","itemNames":["Breville Bambino","Baratza Encore ESP"]}]}