Lab-Grown Coffee Sales Expand to Over 70 Cafés in the U.S.

Atomo's lab-grown coffee, based in Seattle, is transforming the coffee world, and five years after launching, its products are now sold in over 70 cafés across the U.S. This type of beverage is gaining traction as coffee prices in international markets have reached unprecedented levels this year. The coffee produced by researchers in the lab uses the same cellular agriculture principles increasingly applied to lab-grown meat. This is not the first time humans have sought coffee alternatives, but previous substitutes lacked caffeine and a coffee-like taste. However, Atomo's products have managed to replicate this globally popular beverage in terms of flavor and caffeine content. Coffee cultivation is a source of income for many small farmers worldwide. According to the World Wildlife Fund, coffee cultivation is currently the sixth leading cause of deforestation. Consequently, a new EU regulation is set to be implemented in December, banning the sale of products, including coffees linked to deforestation. Meanwhile, climate change has severely impacted coffee farms, forcing farmers to move to higher altitudes to escape the heat. This difficulty in coffee cultivation has driven prices up, leading to unprecedented levels this year. Under these circumstances, demand for Atomo's lab-grown coffee is expected to increase, particularly in countries where tea drinking is traditionally prevalent. Currently, lab-grown coffee is priced slightly higher than premium regular coffee, and its taste differs somewhat from regular coffee. Earlier reports from AFP indicated that lab-grown coffee contains less caffeine and has a more bitter taste than regular coffee. Additionally, previous research in the U.S. and Canada showed that people, especially older individuals, are skeptical of lab-grown food alternatives. Despite environmental benefits, some experts have warned that the further expansion of lab-grown coffee could threaten the livelihoods of coffee farmers. These experts welcome innovative approaches to tackle the deforestation issue caused by coffee cultivation but remain doubtful about the significant impact lab-grown coffee could have in solving this problem. The reason for this skepticism is that coffee cultivation is a source of income for many small farmers worldwide, and if they abandon coffee cultivation, they may turn to coca cultivation, which is used to produce cocaine. Lab-grown coffee producers disagree with the notion that their product is not beneficial enough. They believe that if lab-grown coffee can even meet the expected additional demand for coffee, it would be a win for the planet, and no one would be pushed out of work.