The Sprudge Report - A Labor of Love
The Sprudge Report - A Labor of Love
This Labor Day weekend, celebrate those who make your coffee (and those that make it for themselves).
How To Taste Coffee, a new book by Jessica Easto
After the success of her first book, Craft Coffee: A Manual, author and editor Jessica Easto is back with a new offering, How To Taste Coffee. Written with the home user in mind, Easto’s newest book breaks down the science, terminology, and practice of cupping coffee and packages it for an audience that probably hasn’t had formal palate training (which of course she provides exercises for that as well). Ahead of the October 24th release date, we sat down with Easto to learn more about How To Taste Coffee.
Oaxaca City coffee guide
Oaxaca City, the capital of Oaxaca, is one of Mexico’s culinary hubs, absolutely bursting with delicious things to eat and drink: mole, cacao, chapulines, tlayudas, quesillo, mezcal, and so, so much more. And one of those things is coffee. So this week, we took a tour of some of the best and most exquisite cafes the city has to offer.
Big into minis
What do you do when you have an outsized love of coffee that can’t be contained by any single coffee shop? Why, you make a miniature of one of course. For that, there is the Robotime Cafe Miniature House, a to-scale replica of a cozy nostalgic coffee shop that “embraces the art of fast assembly, ensuring that the joy of creation is accessible to all.” It’s like decaf for the soul.
The three-time Build
One of the cool things about the Build-Outs of Coffee feature series is getting to watch brands grow and come into their own. And with Salt Lake City’s Urban Sailor Coffee, we’ve done just that. Started as a pop-up cafe in a motorcycle sidecar in 2021, they opened their first brick and mortar (and roasting operation) the following year, with a second cafe opening this year. And the Build-Outs were there every step of the way.
The 2023 Build-Outs of Coffee feature series is proudly presented by Dona. Explore the world of fine Dona products at DrinkDona.com and enjoy free shipping on each order over $50.
Water calibration with Third Wave Water
Third Wave Water, the water mineralization company looking to maximize your coffee brewing, released an all-new white paper on how calibrating water affects cupping. In short, they found that the right water can see a score improvement of 1 to 3 points for a coffee on the cupping table.
Dr. Nancy Cordoba: The Sprudge Twenty Interview
When Peter Giuliano nominates you for Sprudge Twenty membership, that says something about the quality and importance of your work in the coffee industry, and we were honored to be able to sit down with her for the interview. Here’s what Giuliano had to say: “It is impossible to overstate Dr. Cordoba’s current and future influence on coffee science. Although she is little known outside of coffee science circles, she is well on her way to being one of the most influential coffee scientists in history.”
Conscious Coffee Fest
Sustainability is a central theme of the specialty coffee industry at all parts of the supply chain, and now it is the focal point of a coffee festival. The zero-waste Conscious Coffee Fest is coming to Portland, Oregon in September to highlight local roasters who share a commitment to sustainable practices in their cafes and roasters.
Mass resignations at Kansas City’s Second Best Coffee
Last week, 9 of 10 baristas at Kansas City, Missouri’s Second Best Coffee, all but the general manager, unexpectedly quit, leaving the company unable to open. The outgoing baristas have since alleged “an escalation of toxic behavior” at the cafe as well as a “hostile work environment.” Second Best has yet to officially respond.
The Coffee Sprudgecast: The One With Walnut Whips And La Llama From Monogram Coffee
On this week’s episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast, hosts Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen are doing whips and taking sips. Walnut whips and sips of Monogram Coffee’s La Llama from Bolivia. And of course, they will be talking builds.
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…
Amavida: Honey Peru Huabal—Located high in the Andes mountain range, above the city of Jaen, is the Huabal district. The producer group CENFROCAFE was founded in 1999 and represents more than 2,000 coop members of local associations in Cajamarca. Our Honey Peru Huabal is from a special prep program organized by CENFROCAFE. This organic honey-processed lot has a velvety body and very mild acidity. An aroma of raspberry and figs gives way to berries, figs, and cream in the cup.
Camber Coffee: Ecuador La Papaya Box Set—Our first Artist Series coffee drop features a box set with two exquisite coffees from the same lot, each showcasing a different processing method. Ecuador La Papaya Washed brews a beautifully subtle cup with notes of lime, passionfruit, honeydew melon, and honeysuckle. Ecuador La Papaya Anaerobic is sweet and complex with flavors of pineapple, milk chocolate, strawberry, and maraschino cherry.
Equator Coffees: Ethiopia Ardi Natural —Ethiopia Ardi is back! We are excited to announce the return of this single-origin coffee that has been a staple Equator’s menu and a team favorite since 2013. This natural processed coffee is fruity, floral, and sweet with flavors of blueberry, jasmine tea, and cocoa nibs.
Intelligentsia Coffee: Summer Solstice Blend—Each year Intelligentsia takes a fresh approach to their seasonal blends, curating flavors that will best evoke the spirit of the season. This year features a deliciously juicy, sweet blend of coffees from Ethiopia, Colombia, and Peru. Sip and indulge in alluring notes of blueberry, honey, and lime. Perfect for a sun-drenched Summer morning.
Monogram Coffee: La Llama—This version of La Llama is a super fun, naturally processed Java and Caturra coffee that brings bright notes of grape candy, cherry liqueur and dark chocolate. Located in Caranavi, Bolivia, La Llama is Agricafe’s highest farm. This particular coffee has been processed using Agricafe’s Coco Natural process, which leaves the coffee to ferment for longer than the average natural and gives the coffee bean the appearance of a cocoa bean—hence the name Coco Natural.
Night Swim Coffee: Rosalio Gutierrez – Natural—This sundried, Bourbon variety comes to us from Cusco, Peru and the Valle Inca cooperative. Located in Calca in the south of Peru, they launched in 2014 and Red Fox Coffee Merchants have been buying coffee from them ever since. Rosalio is a young producer from the Valle Inca cooperative, only 38 years old. He and his wife Gladys cultivate the 10 hectares they share, only 2.75 of which are dedicated to coffee production.
Olympia Coffee Roasters: Jose Hernan Salazar Aji Ethiopian Landrace—This unique coffee was produced by José Hernán Salazar, from the town of Pitalito in southern Colombia. This lot is what José calls the “Ají” varietal, which is the Spanish word for chili pepper. José named it after noticing the spicy smell of its cherries. These delicate chili pepper-like qualities are also subtly present in the cup, giving this coffee a truly one-of-a-kind flavor—berry, caramel, and floral.
Onyx Coffee Lab: Costa Rica Las Lajas Natural—This naturally processed coffee has become a staple in our offerings from Central America. Las Lajas is the premier coffee mill in costa rica and this lot highlights precisely why they're heralded as the best. Expect notes of berries and a vanilla sweetness throughout.
Partners Coffee: Ethiopia Samuel Degelo—Samuel is one of several hundred farmers who deliver coffee to the Bishan Dimo Washing Station. He is also a teacher at a primary school in nearby Danbi Uddo. Samuel’s commitment to education extends to his coffee production, and he believes that by sharing knowledge with his neighboring farmers he can improve the lives of others in his community. Fans of Ethiopian coffee will recognize that single-farm traceability remains quite rare, and we’re delighted to share Samuel’s coffee again.
PERC Coffee: Mexico Pocitos—We love coffee from Mexico, especially ones like the Pocitos – it’s a gulper! Pocitos is exciting and comforting at the same time. Look for a sweet, smooth cup with flavors that reminds us of ripe red fruit and brown sugar. Grab a bag today if you like good things!
Olympia Coffee Roasters: Jose Hernan Salazar Aji Ethiopian Landrace—This unique coffee was produced by José Hernán Salazar, from the town of Pitalito in southern Colombia. This lot is what José calls the “Ají” varietal, which is the Spanish word for chili pepper. José named it after noticing the spicy smell of its cherries. These delicate chili pepper-like qualities are also subtly present in the cup, giving this coffee a truly one-of-a-kind flavor—berry, caramel, and floral.
Onyx Coffee Lab: Costa Rica Las Lajas Natural—This naturally processed coffee has become a staple in our offerings from Central America. Las Lajas is the premier coffee mill in costa rica and this lot highlights precisely why they're heralded as the best. Expect notes of berries and a vanilla sweetness throughout.
Partners Coffee: Ethiopia Samuel Degelo—Samuel is one of several hundred farmers who deliver coffee to the Bishan Dimo Washing Station. He is also a teacher at a primary school in nearby Danbi Uddo. Samuel’s commitment to education extends to his coffee production, and he believes that by sharing knowledge with his neighboring farmers he can improve the lives of others in his community. Fans of Ethiopian coffee will recognize that single-farm traceability remains quite rare, and we’re delighted to share Samuel’s coffee again.
PERC Coffee: Mexico Pocitos—We love coffee from Mexico, especially ones like the Pocitos – it’s a gulper! Pocitos is exciting and comforting at the same time. Look for a sweet, smooth cup with flavors that reminds us of ripe red fruit and brown sugar. Grab a bag today if you like good things!
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
Verve Coffee Roasters - RTD Production Operator - Santa Cruz, CA
Roseline Coffee - Production Assistant/Wholesale/Lab Support - Portland, OR
Utopian Coffee - Roaster & Green Coffee Manager - Fort Wayne, IN
New cafes on Sprudge Maps
Here are new cafes discoverable on our global cafe portal Sprudge Maps. Register your cafe for free—thanks to the support of La Marzocco and Pacific Barista Series.
Elemental Coffee - Oklahoma City, OK
Expat. Roasters - Bali, Indonesia
Do you have a news tip? Feedback? A funny joke? Send us an e-mail, use the contact form on Sprudge, leave a message at 1-888-55-SPRUDGE, or send us a letter at P.O. Box 3943 Portland, OR 97218.