The Dark Side Of Coffee

Air Date:
Heard On The Morning Show
Local NESCAFE coffee farmer in Armenia, Colombia demonstrates the selection of ripe red cherries which ensures high quality coffee in this photo distributed on Thursday, March 2, 2017. NESCAFE Taster’s Choice visited the region to experience the coffee brand’s commitment to the future of coffee which includes training farmers on sustainable farming techniques and business management skills and distributing disease-resistant plantlets. (Joaquin Sarmiento/AP Images for Nestlé Nescafé Taster’s Choice)

When you think of dangerous jobs, you probably think of things like coal mining, logging, or construction work. Coffee roasting? Not so much. But new findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that a chemical byproduct of coffee roasting, diacetyl, might pose serious health risks to workers. We talk with the journalist whose investigative work prompted the study. Also, we look at how coffee gets from farms to our cups — and why coffee farmers are still struggling for fair prices.

Episode Credits

  • Kate Archer Kent Host
  • Colleen Leahy Producer
  • Raquel Rutledge Guest
  • Nick Brown Guest