The coffee industry, one of the world’s most vital commercial value chains, faces severe challenges, especially among its small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) actors. These challenges encompass social, economic, and environmental crises, with climate change being particularly menacing. This perspective article highlights business model innovation (BMI) as a proactive strategic option for SMEs in the coffee industry, providing a roadmap from the field to the coffee cup for navigating these uncertainties. Drawing on recent BMI research within the coffee sector and related fields, the piece explores transferable strategies and potential implementations, with an emphasis on sustainability-oriented BMI. The discussion identifies both potential benefits and challenges of implementing BMI. Ultimately, the article positions BMI as a promising field for both researchers and practitioners, offering sustainable solutions to the multifaceted challenges faced by the coffee industry.

‘Freshly roasted’ has long been considered the ultimate indicator of coffee quality. This study challenges this concept by arguing that coffee, as a complex processed agricultural product, undergoes a critical developmental ‘maturation’ phase after roasting that is significant for its sensory experience. Thus, this study investigates whether there is (i) a discernible sensory effect and (ii) a perceptible consumer preference for ‘freshly roasted’ coffee beans by means of a triangle test (ISO 4120:2021) combined with a hedonic preference test (ISO 8587:2013) on 42 untrained participants. The triangle test results indicate that there is a significant difference between the samples, and a slight majority expressed a preference for not ‘freshly roasted’ coffee, encouraging a more nuanced approach to the issue.

Zusammenfassung: Die COVID-19-Pandemie stellt die Tourismusbranche vor enorme Herausforderungen, da internationale Reisen, Inlandstourismus, Tagesausflüge und so unterschiedliche Bereiche wie Flugverkehr, Kreuzfahrten, Bustransfers, Cafés und Gästeführungen von einem Tag auf den anderen stark eingeschränkt oder gar untersagt wurden. Der Forschungsansatz besteht darin, aus einer multidisziplinären Perspektive von Tourismus und Entrepreneurship neue Erkenntnisse über die COVID-Krise als Auslöser für Digitalisierung und Geschäftsmodellinnovation zu gewinnen, wobei der Fokus auf eine Flusskreuzfahrtdestination gerichtet ist.

Inhaltsangabe: Dieses Open-Access Buch befasst sich mit der krisenbedingten Transformation touristischer KMU infolge von COVID-19. Fokussiert auf eine Flusskreuzfahrtdestination gelingt es, aus einer multidisziplinären Perspektive von Tourismus und Entrepreneurship heraus, neue Erkenntnisse über die COVID-Krise als Auslöser für Digitalisierung und Geschäftsmodellinnovation zu gewinnen. Business Model Innovation wird dabei als eine neue proaktive Maßnahme für touristisches Krisenmanagement identifiziert. Zudem lassen sich im Gegensatz zu den Wachstumsstrategien vor der Krise nun krisenbedingte Exit- und Innovationsstrategien bei den Akteuren feststellen. Einen besonderen Beitrag leisten die Ausführungen zu Flusskreuzfahrt und Destination, der Implementierung von Business Model Innovation im Krisenmanagement von Destinationen, aber auch die konkreten Praxisbeispiele wie z. B. virtuelle und interaktive Gästeführungsangebote für Menschen mit Handicap.

The International Coffee Convention 2024 (ICC2024) continued the discussions initiated at ICC2023, focusing on coffee's transition and the industry's challenges. The event, held in October in Mannheim, started with a welcome speech from Vanúsia Nogueira, the Executive Director of the International Coffee Organization (ICO), and brought together leading industry figures, experts, and stakeholders. The convention examined multiple aspects of the coffee sector, including the future landscape of coffee species, particularly the potential of _Coffea canephora_ and other species such as _C. racemosa_ and _C. stenophylla_. A key highlight was an exclusive satellite workshop, organized in partnership with the Global Crop Diversity Trust, the Coffee Consulate, RD2Vision, and supported by the ICO, which addressed the use of coffee genetic resources within the framework of the Nagoya Protocol. Coffee production's environmental footprint emerged as a central theme of the conference, with discussions covering deforestation policies, fermentation techniques, and processing methods. The sessions explored innovations in coffee preparation and business, from roasting techniques to crafting the perfect Café Crème. The program included analyses of coffee's nutritional impacts, health benefits and risks, and the evidence supporting health claims. The sustainable use of coffee by-products was also featured, stressing both challenges and opportunities. ICC2024 gathered international experts who shared scientific knowledge and practical insights. The convention ended with the presentation of the Kaldi Award, recognizing significant contributions to the coffee industry. Through this comprehensive program, ICC2024 contributed to shaping coffee's future by facilitating truly interdisciplinary knowledge exchange and addressing key industry challenges and opportunities.