Urnex Blog

In The Importance of Being Urnex, #3, Dr. Erika Koss visits Jingbo Deng, founder of Bicerin Coffee Lab in Ontario, Canada—a women-owned, SCA-certified coffee lab and roastery. Jingbo was one of the co-creators of SCA’s Barista Skills course, so Urnex products are an essential tool of her teaching and cuppings.  As Jingbo emphasizes, “Cleaning is the most important part for a barista!” 

In a male-dominated coffee world, UK roaster Girls Who Grind Coffee is flipping the script—sourcing 100% of its beans from women producers and redefining what “quality” means. Founder Casey Lalonde isn’t stopping at coffee—her next venture is a women-led beer brand, proving that your purchase can fuel real change across industries.

In “10 Things to Know about Indonesian Coffee,” Dr. Erika Koss spotlights Evani Jesslyn, founder of Strada Coffee, who is leading efforts to make Indonesia’s coffee industry more equitable and sustainable. As Indonesia prepares to host World of Coffee in Jakarta, the article highlights the country’s rich coffee heritage, its reliance on 1.8 million smallholder farmers, and its unique coffee varieties. Evani advocates for better local appreciation of specialty coffee, greater inclusion of women, and sustainable business practices—helping shift Indonesia from an exporter of high-quality beans to a thriving local coffee culture.

In The Importance of Being Urnex, #2, Erika Koss visits Brit Horn, founder of Pacific Coffee Research (PCR) in Kona, Hawai’i—a women-owned, SCA-certified coffee lab and training campus. Brit and her team are passionate about supporting coffee quality from seed to cup, offering roasting, cupping, education, and equipment maintenance to local farmers and cafes. A key part of their mission includes promoting proper coffee equipment cleaning using Urnex products like Grindz and Cafiza, which they use daily and teach in all training courses. As Brit emphasizes, “Coffee will taste better if you clean!”

Discover the inspiring journey of Dehab Mesfin Bitewlign, a trailblazing coffee farmer from Ethiopia’s Kaffa region — the birthplace of coffee. From managing 330 hectares of forest coffee to empowering local women with fair wages, her dedication blends sustainability with exceptional coffee quality. Follow Erika Koss as she reunites with Dehab, explores the lush Kaffa Biosphere, and reflects on the impact of women in coffee production. Sip the story behind your cup and celebrate International Women’s Month by learning more about the remarkable women shaping the coffee industry.

Cleaning matters in the coffee industry, and there’s many reasons why.  In this occasional series, Dr. Erika Koss interviews coffee professionals who consider cleaning as seriously—and as important—as Urnex.

Read about the incredible opportunity for a barista, Dario Pieber to serve coffee at the World Economic Foum. 

Fika has a long history in Sweden, and the tradition remains alive. But while the ritual is broad enough to include many different interpretations, it is neither a ‘coffee break’, nor ‘afternoon tea.’  
To “have fika” does not mean grabbing a quick coffee at your desk or in an office kitchen. Fika lingers because it means pleasurable conversation with others. Our writer Erika sits down to learn about a part of the coffee drinking culture in Sweden and fika. 

The Women-Powered Coffee Summit in Córdoba, Veracruz brought together over 250 women from across Latin America and beyond to celebrate gender equity, sustainability, and empowerment in coffee. Hosted by Bean Voyage, the event featured inspiring talks from producers, activists, and global leaders—highlighting coffee as a force for good and women as key changemakers. From dancing at the Museo del Café to discussions on data, art, and policy, the summit radiated collaboration, creativity, and a shared belief in women’s power to transform the coffee industry.