Latest news with #BestCoffee
Eater
01-07-2025
- Business
- Eater
Nestle-Owned Seattle's Best Coffee Is Trying to Force a Local Canned Coffee Brand to Change Its Name
Evan Oeflein woke up on April 1 to an email that seemed almost like a prank: Nestle, one of the largest food and beverage brands in the world, was trying to force him to scrap the name of his small business. Oeflein is the founder of Seattle Strong, a canned cold brew company that grew out of a class project for the University of Washington business school. It's been around since 2017 and was granted a trademark on its name in 2023. Seattle Strong's coffee is sold at local grocery chains as well as a few stores outside the state, but it's still a tiny business compared with the Switzerland-based conglomerate Nestle. 'They own over 2,000 brands,' says Oefleign, 'and each individual brand that they own is 50 to 100 times larger than us.' One of those brands is Seattle's Best Coffee, which Nestle purchased from Starbucks in 2022. Though the company's 'our story' section leans heavily on its local roots — it was founded in the '70s as Stewart Brothers Coffee — Seattle's Best has little to do with its namesake city these days. It appears to have closed all of its U.S. coffee shops and mainly sells its coffee in stores like Target and Walmart. Last year, Nestle reached out to Oeflein, claiming that Seattle Strong was infringing on its Seattle's Best Coffee trademark. 'They even went so far as to offer to kindly provide me with all the paperwork to abandon my trademark, because it looked like I didn't have legal representation,' he says. 'All I had to do was sign.' But Oeflein doesn't want to give up the name Seattle Strong has been using for years. He also says that if Nestle thought that 'Seattle Strong' constituted infringement, it could have filed a complaint in 2023, when the trademark was published. He refused to change the name, which led Nestle to escalate its dispute by filing a petition for cancellation with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on April Fools' Day. Oeflein says that you generally can't trademark generic phrases or place names; Seattle Strong only got its trademark after several years of using the name and obtaining what's known as 'acquired distinctiveness.' Since the only overlap between the two brands is the word Seattle and the fact that they sell coffee in grocery stores, Oeflein says this action is tantamount to a declaration that 'they own the word Seattle for coffee.' Seattle Strong hired a lawyer to respond to the initial petition, and Nestle's lawyer responded with a motion to immediately dismiss all of Seattle Strong's arguments. 'The signal that we read from it is that they're going to be very aggressive,' says Oeflein, and force Seattle Strong to pay a lot of legal fees to defend its name. Last week Seattle Strong launched a GoFundMe to cover costs, and has raised $5,000 of its $10,000 goal. Nestle did not respond to a request for comment. Oeflein is determined to fight this out. 'I don't think they have a case. I don't think they have a strong argument,' he says. 'It's our name. We earned it.' See More:
SoraNews24
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
What did our Japanese reporter think of his first visit to American cinnamon roll chain Cinnabon?
Takuya knew that his visit was destined to be sweet, but exactly how sweet…? Our Japanese-language writer Takuya Inaba has been enjoying the American TV show Adam Eats the 80's (2022), in which the host devours anything hot in the 1980s with a heaping side dose of nostalgia. In particular, the episode where he eats a Cinnabon cinnamon roll piqued Takuya's interest. He could almost sense the overly sweet sugar shock of the roll through his TV screen. He decided the only way to quench his curiosity was to visit Cinnabon and try one of the famous pastries for the first time. ▼ Founded in Washington State in 1985, Cinnabon is commonly found at shopping malls across the U.S., where its presence is revealed by the heavenly wafting scent of cinnamon on the air. Luckily for Takuya, Cinnabon exists in a number of locations throughout Japan, often paired with Seattle's Best Coffee. He promptly headed to the nearest Futako-Tamagawa Rise Shopping Center location in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo. His excitement intensified when he entered the store and saw rows of showy cinnamon rolls. It was as if his American '80s food dream were coming true right before his eyes. Takuya started off with the Cinnabon Classic for 540 yen (US$3.69). It was a thing of beauty, with the cream cheese frosting flowing over the sides of the pastry. It wasn't until he held it in his hand that he realized just how enormous it was. He continued to watch in amazement as the frosting dripped dangerously lower. His fingers couldn't hold it for long, though, because it was still piping hot. With premonitions of a scalded tongue, he decided the safest way to consume his prize was to cut it open to allow some steam to escape. The inside was unexpectedly pretty, with layers of the roll clearly visible in a spiraling pattern. Takuya finally took a bite and was spellbound by its delicious sweetness. If he had to describe the taste in words, he would go with 'THE American' (verbatim). Curiously, there wasn't a heavy aftertaste, and the dough was plenty springy and soft. He also appreciated the fact that the cinnamon flavor wasn't too strong, but added just the right balance of spice to stimulate his appetite. Despite its size, Takuya still had plenty of room, so he next decided to spring for a convenient cup version called Roll on the Go (480 yen). This one featured a cinnamon roll pre-cut into bite-sized pieces in a paper cup. He appreciated the fact that his fingers didn't have to get sticky while eating this one. Even that addition didn't leave Takuya fully satiated, so he peeked at the menu to see what kinds of special flavors there were. First, the Caramel Pecanbon (600 yen regular/420 yen mini size) was a done deal. It looked so pretty with its flowing caramel frosting and pecan nut topping. Once he took a bite, he could only laugh because it felt like every cell in his body had been jolted awake from the sheer sweetness of it all. People could probably get addicted to this exact taste. Second, the Red Cherrybon (620 yen regular size/450 yen mini size) as his last order was a no-brainer. He thought it looked somewhat seductive with its drizzling of deep crimson cherry sauce. It also turned out to be his personal favorite, with the sour cherry flavor causing him to lose all remaining sense of sanity until he had devoured the whole thing. Luckily, coffee paired very well with all of the sweetness and helped settle his stomach at the end of this gastronomic adventure. We haven't gotten word yet if Takuya's still recovering from his Cinnabon-induced food coma, but whenever he wakes up, he can probably raise his blood sugar again through Lawson's current double-sized food offerings. Sweet, sweet dreams, Takuya! All images © SoraNews24 ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! [ Read in Japanese ]
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
SEATTLE'S BEST COFFEE BREWS UP SMOOTHER DAYS WITH FRESH LOOK, NEW FLAVOR, AND NATIONAL CAMPAIGN STARRING COMEDIAN JOEL MCHALE
McHale brings humor and relatability to everyday coffee moments in new campaign aimed at giving coffee drinkers a smooth moment to start their days SEATTLE, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle's Best Coffee® is brewing up a new creative campaign in partnership with Joel McHale to celebrate fresh packaging and a new flavor addition: Campfire S'mores™ Flavored Coffee. In pursuit of bringing one smooth moment to start the day, the brand blended decades of smooth roasting expertise with a modern approach to deliver flavorful experiences and comfort, quality and consistency in every cup. As part of the brand's refresh, Seattle's Best Coffee just unveiled "May Smoother Coffee Bring Smoother Days," a national campaign starring McHale, a Seattle-native and coffee aficionado. This humorous campaign shows how Seattle's Best Coffee helps make the toughest moments feel a little bit easier from the all-too-relatable challenges of daily routines. Created by LA-based creative agency, HAYMAKER, the campaign is running across national television, digital and social platforms this spring. View on the Seattle's Best Coffee YouTube channel here. "Much like Seattle's Best, I have West Coast roots in coffee. In fact, my first job was working at a coffee cart, so being part of this campaign was a satisfying, full-circle moment," said Joel McHale. "I rely on my daily brew from Seattle's Best Coffee to survive my not-so-smooth days, and I know my fellow caffeinated comrades do too!" The brand's bold new packaging features distinct color-coded flavor panels for easy selection, hand-drawn illustrations for each blend, and a dedicated panel for highlighting roast level, name, and tasting notes. And with a new look comes a new flavor offering – Seattle's Best Coffee® Campfire S'mores™, a smooth-roasted blend with notes of toasted marshmallow, milk chocolate and a hint of honey graham cracker. "Since 1970, Seattle's Best Coffee has been dedicated to delivering a perfectly roasted, consistently smooth cup of coffee. While our mission remains unchanged, we recognize that life is anything but smooth – things go wrong, plans fall apart, and sometimes you just have to roll with it," said Courtney Backman, brand manager for Seattle's Best Coffee. "By embracing those unpredictable moments with humor and relatability, we're showing that while you can't always control your day, you can always count on the smooth, satisfying taste of Seattle's Best Coffee to help you power through." Seattle's Best Coffee® Campfire S'mores™ Flavored Coffee is available at retailers nationwide in both ground (MSRP of $8.99 for an 11 oz. bag) and K-Cup (MSRP of $7.99 for a 10-count box) formats. To learn more, follow @SeattlesBestCoffee on Instagram and Facebook or visit About Nestlé USANestlé USA is committed to unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come. The company's food and beverage portfolio includes some of the most recognizable brands in the United States, including Coffee mate, DiGiorno and Nestlé Toll House. Nestlé USA also boasts the largest coffee portfolio in the U.S., including Nescafé, Starbucks Coffee at Home and Seattle's Best. Nestlé USA is part of Nestlé S.A., headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland — the world's largest food and beverage company, which has been named among "The World's Most Admired Food Companies" by Fortune magazine for more than 25 consecutive years. For more information, visit Contacts: Rachel Cooper Madeline Ruberg Weber Shandwick Nestlé USA 301-412-2180 571-457-3884 Rcooper@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Seattle's Best Coffee® Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Girard firefighter honored for 65 years of service
A.F. Dobler Hose & Ladder Company celebrated one of their own. Current Fire Police Captain Robert 'Doc' Orr was honored for 65 years of serving the Girard community. Doc Orr first started as a volunteer firefighter when he was 18 years old and now, even at 83-years-old he continues to go on emergency calls. Bicentennial Tower lighting up for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week Whether it's a house fire, forest fire, EMS call, or even the delivery of a baby, Robert 'Doc' Orr has seen it all in his time as a first responder. It all started when he was 17, and before he was able to join the company. 'The chief of the fire police was always giving me the devil because I was chasing the fire trucks to a fire, or whatever. He said, 'Why don't you join the fire department?' I wasn't old enough, I was only 17. They didn't have junior firemen back then,' he said. And just a month before he turned 18, he put in his application so by his 18th birthday, he could be approved to join them. Erie coffee shops go cup-to-cup at Erie's Best Coffee competition In the time since Orr has held almost every title the department has to offer and has gone on thousands of calls. 'I've been the chief, assistant chief, deputy, all of that,' he said. He even fought forest fires across the country in his prime and to this day serves as a council member for the Borough of Girard, something he's done for 37 years now. Today, Orr is the captain of the fire police and even at 83, company officials told us he went on about 140 emergency calls last year alone. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Orr said he recognizes volunteerism is down and said young people need to carry the torch. 'We've got a lot of nice young people in the department. We're not really hurting for people, but we need more commitment of the younger people to carry on because lord knows we all aren't going to last forever,' he explained. Being a volunteer isn't just taxing on the member but their family as well. And his wife said they've done a lot to make it work. 'We've been married for 58 years and that's a commitment itself. I truly admire all of the things he's done for the community and I help wherever I can. We make a good team,' said Sue Orr, Doc's wife. FBI offering active shooter safety advice after weekend shooting 'Thanks to my wife for helping do everything in the fire department. She's backed me every minute of the way,' Doc went on to say. Doc said his fire hasn't gone out yet. As long as he continues to be in good health, he says he'll still do his part in keeping his community safe as he's done for a lifetime already. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tickets available for annual Erie's Best Coffee fundraising event
(WJET/WFXP) – Calling all coffee connoisseurs and caffeine consumers — One local non-profit needs help determining the best coffee in Erie. The St. Martin Center will host their Erie's Best Coffee fundraiser on Sunday, February 23, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Zem Zem Shrine Club, located at 2525 West 38th Street. Church of Nativity hosts International Cuisine Fest as way to celebrate diversity The event will, of course, feature coffee and samples from several local vendors as well as bakery treats, live music, raffles and a photo booth. Those in attendance will be able to vote on their favorite coffee alongside special 'celebrity guests.' Proceeds from Erie's Best Coffee will go towards the St. Martin Center to help further its mission to 'feed the hungry, educate children, and empower families toward self-sufficiency.' The CEO of the St. Martin Center David González emphasized the importance of Sunday's event. Orphan Angels Cat Sanctuary hosts grand re-opening after months of renovations 'This event is more than just great coffee—it's about coming together as a community to make a real difference,' said David González, CEO of St. Martin Center. 'Every sip supports families in need, helping them build a brighter future.' Tickets to Erie's Best Coffee fundraiser cost $10, with children under 12 receiving free entry. Those interested in attending Sunday's event can buy tickets online, at Erie Federal Credit Union or at the door on Sunday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
