How Does The Pope Take His Coffee?
Plus, a boutique coffee-focused hotel in India
The new Coffee Pope
Pope Clement VIII is often referred to as the Coffee Pope, due to his “baptizing” of coffee in 1600, making it acceptable for Catholics to drink. But the new pope is making a run at the name. Pope Leo is a coffee lover, dating back to his time in Peru. And being originally from Chicago, we can’t help but wonder, what Chicago cafe would Pope Leo visit?
A few new Build-Outs
Two Build-Outs of Coffee this week, starting first with a return to Denver. We last checked in on Blue Sparrow Coffee in 2018, and eight years later they have opened their fourth location. Then in San Francisco, SPRO Coffee Lab is opening another new cafe, along with The Wild Fox, which we featured not but last week.
The Regis are back!
After a few years of direct-to-Nationals, the regional round of competition is returning to the US Barista Championship for the 2027 season. And not just the USBC, but Brewers Cup, Roasters, and Cup Tasters as well. Latte Art and Coffee in Good Spirits will continue to go straight to the National level. It’s an exciting development and points to an increasing interest in coffee competitions.
Brooklyn’s Hyunah Coffee Club is an enthusiast’s paradise
Coffee people love to nerd out a little, try new gear, extraction methods, coffees, etc. But that can be cost prohibitive; you have to buy the stuff to try it out. That’s where Hyunah Coffee Club comes in. Paying a monthly membership fee, users are able to book time in the Brooklyn lab and test out all the high-end gear at their disposal. Sprudge associate editor Liz Clayton takes us there.
The decaffogato heads to Cleveland
La Marzocco’s summer event series The Ice Cream Social is hitting the road. And it’s next stop is Cleveland, Ohio. Taking place next week, The Ice Cream Social sees LM joining forces with Swiss Water for what may be the world’s best decaf affogato. Read on for more details.
Filter vs. Instant: which is better for you?
When it comes to flavor, the answer is of course filter. But what about in terms of health. Turns out, also filter. A new study explores the effect of different types of coffee on healthy aging. Instant coffee led to an increase in all markers for aging, while filter coffee showed a stark decrease.
Nitro cold brew goes Berserker Mode thanks to GWAR
Coming on the heels of their first coffee release, heavy metal band from outer space GWAR is back with another offering, this one in ready-to-drink form. Berserker Mode is a canned nitro cold brew using the same coffee as their previous release.
A gorgeous coffee-focused boutique hotel on the Indian coast
When thinking of traveling to India, cities like Mumbai, Agra, and Delhi are the first that come to mind. But Assagao in the western state of Goa is looking to draw in the coffee-inclined. It is the home of Unseen, a new coffee-centered boutique hotel. Featuring an in-house roaster, cafe and omakase experience, a coffee-focused cocktail bar, and well-appointed in-suite coffee making equipment, Unseen isn’t just a good option when visiting Goa, it is a reason to make the trip.
Roaster’s Village
We’re highlighting outstanding coffees from some of our favorite roasting partners each week here in the newsletter. This week’s selection of tasty coffees are…
Verve Coffee Roasters – Long Play Decaf
Equator Coffees – Colombia Jardines del Encanto
Klatch Coffee – Kenya Wang’era AA
Onyx Coffee Lab – Colombia Juan Jimenez Gesha
Partners Coffee – Burundi Gahahe
Night Swim Coffee – Colombia Ronaldo Hurtado Estate
La Barba Coffee – Ethiopia Musa Abalulesa Honey
Presta Coffee Roasters – Peru Gilmer Cordova Finca Ecologica Huabal Gesha
8th & Roast – Elefante
Portland Coffee Roasters – OPBEANS
Blueprint Coffee – Colombia Nidia Lasso
Joe Coffee Company – Cafè Feminista
Stumptown Coffee Roasters — Wild Flower
Phil & Sebastian – Sure Thing
Madcap Coffee – Eureka
Olympia Coffee – Big Truck
Mr. Espresso – Java Garut
PERC – Super Power Plum
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
Proud Mary Coffee - Sales Manager, Southwest - Austin, TX
Sonder Coffee - Operations Lead - Denver, CO
DONA - West Coast Sales Manager - Los Angeles or San Francisco Bay Area
Sightglass Coffee Roasters - Head of Retail - Los Angeles, CA
Equator Coffees - Shift Lead - Orinda, CA
Equator Coffees - Associate Roaster - San Rafael, CA
The Boy & The Bear - Assistant Cafe Manager, Coffee Quality Leader - Redondo Beach, CA
The Boy & The Bear - Cafe Manager - Pasadena, CA
Linea Caffe - Barista - San Francisco, CA
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