But first, wholesale
But First, Coffee, the new book by Sprudge co-founders Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen is on bookshelves now. And thanks to a partnership with Porchlight, buying wholesale copies of the book to sell in your cafe is easier than ever. The more you buy, the deeper the discount. Follow the link to learn more!
Coffee design
Before we close book on Coffee Design for 2023, we check in on two coffee companies celebrating new looks for their packaging. First up is Olympia Coffee Roasting Co out of Olympia, Washington. The brand’s new design earned them a Finalist spot in the Sprudge Design Awards, and we take a deeper look at what went into creating them. And then, a little over 100 miles north in Victoria, Canada’s Fernwood Coffee is rolling out a new look after 10 years.
Mercon goes under
The Mercon Coffee Group is one of the biggest exporters in the world, and this week the Netherlands-based group filed for bankruptcy protections in America. They are said to owe over $360 million worldwide.
Equator Coffees in Laguna Beach
The Bay Area’s Equator Coffees continues their SoCal expansion with an all-new cafe in Laguna Beach. The brand has teamed up with electric car maker Rivian for the recently-opened outpost on the Pacific Coast Highway.
A lightweight portafilter
Everyone loves a sturdy piece of gear, except when you have to use it hundreds of times a day. The portafilter is one such piece, but the Hummingbird by Canal offers a lightweight option. 75% lighter than traditional portafilters, the Hummingbird puts ergonomics and ease of use at the forefront.
Get rizzed up at Watson’s Counter
The word of the year for 2023, according to the Oxford Dictionary, is “rizz”. What it means, you’ll have to ask a Gen Z’er, because I have no idea. But thanks to Seattle’s Watson’s Counter, it’s also a drink. The Rizz is a spicy sweet latte, and honestly, it sounds pretty delicious.
World of Coffee Panama 2026
We haven’t made it to 2024 yet, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start planning your 2026. The SCA announced that Panama will host a World of Coffee event that year. It will be the first time a producing country hosts WoC.
Roaster’s Spotlight
As part of our Roaster Spotlight series, we are checking in with Charlie May Coffee in Oakland, California. Owned and operated by Annalysa and Arianna Cruz, the two sisters use their family’s Filipino and Chamorro heritage to create an exciting drink menu.
Lab-grown coffee process made public
Lab-grown coffee is, much to my chagrin, here to stay, for the near future at least. And now, one of those non-coffee coffee designers is releasing their formula into the world. The VTT Technical Research Center of Finland has made public “the exact process the scientists used to produce coffee.”
Chobani buy La Colombe
It wasn’t but five months ago that Keurig Dr. Pepper bought a minority stake in La Colombe Coffee Roasters. That appears to have been a short-lived ownership as Chobani has purchased the Philadelphia coffee company outright for $900 million. That’ll buy a lot of draft lattes.
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 Coffee Roasters: Holiday Blend—Amavida’s Holiday Blend is comprised of two of our most popular single origin offerings, Honey Honduras and Ethiopia. The end result is a sweet and cozy, beautifully aromatic cup of coffee that has great texture and is really approachable. We hope that you will share this coffee gift with your family and friends this holiday season.
Camber Coffee: Ethiopia Seid Adem Boruu—Seid Adem Boruu’s coffee was a national jury selection at this year’s Cup of Excellence competition. This naturally processed microlot was handpicked before being dried on raised beds on Seid’s farm. His coffee was carefully processed and sorted specifically for the COE competition. In the cup we taste refined notes of key lime, grapefruit, cacao nib, and strawberry.
CXFFEEBLACK: Baile Funk: Afro Brazilian Natural Process—Brought to you straight from an all-Black supply chain, we proudly present Baile Funk. Grown by resilient Black farmers in the heart of Brazil, this coffee is a testament to their unwavering spirit. It’s a blend of Yellow Catuca and Mundo Novoi, and every sip pays tribute to Brazil’s rich coffee heritage. This coffee is a cultural anthem.
Equator Coffees: Ethiopia Hada Molecha—This vibrant single origin coffee came to us by way of Catalyst Coffee: a women-led importer dedicated to innovation and traceability in Ethiopian coffee. This lot underwent a 120 hour extended fermentation, yielding flavors of watermelon, jasmine, and lemon zest—fruit-forward and explosive while not reaching over-fermented characteristics.
Greater Goods Roasting: El Paraiso—The mastermind behind the YN-09 lot, Diego Bermudez, has concocted a symphony of flavor that is nothing short of brilliant. This blend strikes the perfect balance between the sweetness of peach and the tartness of guava, creating a nuanced and complex cup of coffee that is equal parts refreshing and complex. It’s a true work of art, a testament to the power of experimentation and creativity in the coffee world.
Joe Coffee: Colombia La Familia Guarnizo—This coffee comes to us through a strong relationship between Joe Coffee and the El Paraiso growers’ association in Huila, Colombia. This bright and light-bodied selection was grown by a special group of El Paraiso’s member farmers: the Guarnizo family. Featuring notes of stone fruit and almonds with a medium acidity, this coffee is a customer favorite.
Madcap Coffee Company: Yenni Reinoso—This coffee is a collaborative effort between husband-and-wife duo Yenni and Luis Reinoso. They work as a true team on the coffee farm that surrounds their home in Herrera, Tolima, Colombia. Luis tends to the fields while Yenni oversees the drying. In between raking the coffee to ensure even drying, Yenni cares for their three children and keeps the household running. The special terroir the Reinoso’s coffee is grown on surely distinguishes their coffees from the rest.
Monogram Coffee: Figgy Pudding—We blended a washed Ethiopian with an anaerobic Costa Rican to make a seasonal coffee with wonderful pops of dried fruit and warming spices. It’s warm, cosy and perfect for the holidays.
Night Swim Coffee: Aurora – Mensur Ahabika Natural—Say hello to our featured coffee offering for the holidays! Mensur Abahika was the first single producer that Osito purchased coffee from in Ethiopia, four harvests ago. These coffees are fundamental to our coffee menu, so it’s a no-brainer to take this opportunity to put Mensur’s work on a pedestal for all to enjoy.
Olympia Coffee Roasters: Holiday Blend—Our annual Holiday Blend is back! This year’s blend draws inspiration from our beloved Pacific Northwest, paying tribute to the iconic, decked-out evergreen trees that usher in the holiday season and brighten our homes during the darkest time of the year.
Onyx Coffee Lab : Framily—We are excited to release our seventh edition of this heartwarming Holiday coffee that embodies the joy of spending time with friends and family. This washed coffee from Banko Gotiti is a developed medium roast creating complex cocoa notes mixed with sweet berry cobbler-like flavors. Designed to accommodate the coffee nerd or the heavy-handed cream and sugar in-laws… you’re welcome, my friends.
Partners Coffee: Guatemala – Santa Elisa—Finca Santa Elisa sits on the western side of Acatenango, one of the three volcanoes that surround the charming city of Antigua Guatemala. This lot, consisting entirely of red bourbon, was processed by our friends Los Volcanes at Beneficio La Esperanza in Antigua. The result is a sweet, pristine coffee that reminds us of blood orange and tangerine supported by warm confectionary and caramels—delightful in a host of brewing methods from filter to espresso.
PERC Coffee: Holiday Blend—The roasting team has been in the workshop, tinkering away, mixing a little of this and a little of that. Now, the team has emerged with the perfect concoction. It’s smooth and sweet, with the perfect hint of roastiness to satisfy everyone in the family, even the grinchiest grinches and the scroogiest scrooges.
Stumptown Coffee: Guatemala El Injerto Pacamara —A seven-time winner of Guatemala’s prestigious Cup of Excellence competition, El Injerto Pacamara is one of the most highly anticipated coffees we roast all year. Known for its large size and award-winning profile, El Injerto Pacamara will captivate your senses like only a legendary coffee can. This year’s lot is pure decadence with notes of ripe peach and sugar cane complemented by a touch of sage.
Verve Coffee: Costa Rica Sumava Lactico Natural—Sweet Magnolia florals greet the nose at the first sip, complemented by the soft touch of White Peach. Concord Grape is woven throughout with a similar profile to natural wine, finishing the cup with a sparkling mouthfeel. Francisco Mena’s coffee has been sprinkled throughout our menu year after year, and he is someone that we are proud to partner with.
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
Bear Lake Coffee Co - Store Manager - Barronett, WI
Linea Caffe - Production Coffee Roaster/Production Assistant - San Francisco, CA
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