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Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters grind up JFK conspiracies with special limited-edition bean

We're in the throes of JFK Assassination week, with everyone doing their part to commemorate John F. Kennedy, and that includes coffee roasters. Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters is releasing a limited-edition set of beans called the Conspiracy Theory Series, that's themed after the still-lingering questions surrounding the assassination.

Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters founder Shannon Neffendorf was inspired to do a special release because of the role that Oak Cliff played in the tragedy, and because of his own personal interest.

"I love Oak Cliff history and Dallas history in general," he says. "Oak Cliff has burdensome ties to the event, being the brief home and then escape route for Lee Harvey Oswald."

He's named some of his prior blends after historical figures such as his Victor Prosper's Dark Roast, named for the founder of the La Reunion artistic community in Oak Cliff.

"I'm a local history geek," he says. "But I'm also more aware since we started working with the Sixth Floor Museum Café this year. I started to feel tied to the event, and thought we'd do something, but more in a fun way, while still acknowledging its solemnness."

The two coffees included in this set are:

Magic Bullet Theory. A single-origin coffee from a San Marcos honey-processed micro-lot from the CoopeDota Cooperative in Costa Rica.
Multiple Shooters Theory. A blend of two beans, one "wet-processed" and the other "dry-processed," from the Yirgacheffe Township in Ethiopia.

They'll roast only 200 tins, and on only two dates: Friday November 22 and Wednesday December 18. Orders must be placed the day before roasting. An order consists of two 12-ounce bags of coffee for $50, and can be placed on the website.

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Italian brand Lavazza Coffee opens training facility in Dallas

Lavazza

Lavazza Coffee

A coffee brand from Italy has planted a stake in Dallas: Lavazza, founded in the northern Italian city of Turin in 1895, has opened a state-of-the-art training center in Dallas, at 1722 Routh St. #960, where it will serve as a hub for coffee enthusiasts throughout the Southwest.

Dallas is the newest outlet in Lavazza's coffee training network, joining locations in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, West Chester Pennsylvania, and Toronto — part of their expansion across high-growth markets in the U.S., and its mission to elevate coffee culture globally. (They're also doling out endorsement dollars in commercials featuring Steve Carell and John Krasinski.)

The facility is equipped with espresso, brewing, and coffee innovation equipment, and will serve Lavazza partners, industry professionals, baristas, and distributors. They'll offer hands-on training, SCA certification, menu development, and emerging coffee trends.

Lavazza already partners with many respected hospitality groups and culinary destinations in Dallas including Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Coury Hospitality Group, Al Biernat's Steakhouse, and Vandelay Hospitality.

In October 2025, Lavazza also began serving coffee on flights by Fort Worth-based American Airlines — further strengthening their connection to the North Texas market. The facility will enable Lavazza to provide closer, more consistent support to these partners and help elevate their coffee programs through continued training and collaboration.

Lavazza has been owned by the Lavazza family for four generations. Today they're one of the leading players on the global coffee scene, with a portfolio of top brands that lead their respective markets, such as Lavazza, Carte Noire, Merrild, and Kicking Horse.

In a statement, Lavazza North America president Hossam Ashraf says that "Dallas has an incredible energy and an ever evolving coffee scene," while Lavazza North America Marketing VP Daniele Foti says that Dallas is great, and we must concur.

"As one of the fastest growing hospitality and culinary markets in the country, Dallas represents a tremendous opportunity for Lavazza," Foti says. "Our investment in this new Training Center demonstrates our commitment to the region and to the partners who bring the Lavazza experience to life every day. Dallas is a city of innovation and high standards, and we are excited to deepen our roots here."

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