Coffee and cinema
When you think of coffee in film, the first movie that comes to mind is Coffee & Cigarettes, Jim Jarmusch’s 2003 vignette-based film revolving around its namesake vices. But it’s by no means the first or greatest film, coffee or otherwise. That honor, according to the British Film Institutes Site and Sound Poll goes to Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du commerce 1080 Bruxelles. Contributor Jackson O’Brien goes deep on the greatest film in history and how coffee plays a pivotal role.
The most funded coffee Kickstarter ever?
The Meticulous Espresso machine certainly won over quite a few enthusiasts this year, netting nearly $5 million as part of its Kickstarter. That makes it not only one of the most funded coffee crowdfunding campaigns of all time, but one of the most funded across all food products. Alas, it ultimately landed the second spot, after the Timemore Grinder around the same time eclipsed the $6 million mark.
Daddy is tired
Pedro Pascal is the internet’s favorite actor right now, and for good reason. He’s the lead in the biggest shows at two different networks—The Mandalorian on Disney+ and The Last of Us on HBO—and he seems like a genuinely nice guy. But beneath all that is a man calling out for help, and that cry rings out from his Starbucks drink order: Six shots of espresso over ice. Someone give this man some rest.
Watermelon coffee
Move over espresso and OJ, the new drink of the summer is coffee and watermelon, and the ways you can enjoy the pairing are myriad. You could, for instance, create a delicate iced coffee using a floral washed Ethiopia and combine it in exacting ratios with fresh-squeezed and ultra-filtered watermelon juice for a well-balanced, refreshing quaff. Or, you can just mash a cold brew stubby in a watermelon.
Emma Chamberlain has regrets
Emma Chamberlain is one of the modern internet’s biggest celebrities, amassing millions upon millions of followers across social media platforms. She is also the owner of Chamberlain Coffee, a heretofore mail-order situation trading mostly in blends, flavored coffees, and cold brew bags. And she kind of regrets starting it. In an exhausting expansive three-hour interview, Chamberlain discusses the trials and tribulations of running her VC-back coffee brand.
A 2023 guide to coffee in Tokyo
The coffee scene in Tokyo is one of the greatest in the world, with new cafes popping up seemingly everyday. Making a definitive guide to coffee in Tokyo is a fool’s errand; it would be incomplete the moment it was published. Instead, we want to record it at a specific moment in time, and that’s why we rounded up some of the exciting new cafes for 2023. In no way comprehensive, we found five cafes worth adding to your next Tokyo cafe crawl.
Pico!
La Marzocco made waves with the release of the Pico, their latest grinder, along with the Linea Mini or Linea Micra, meant to complete the home espresso coffee counter. It’s been over a decade in the making, and we talk with the team at La Marzocco about their exciting new gear.
Espresso makes no sense
There was a lot of coffee science in 2023, but perhaps no more definitive than a study that showed espresso makes no actual sense. It founda that, counterintuitively, the finer you grind espresso the lower the extraction, and it may have something to do with uneven extraction.
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: El Salvador Los Pirineos Orange Pacamara—We are happy to present another fine coffee from Finca Los Pirineos, a testament to the long-lasting partnership with the Baraona family that started over a decade ago. Here, Los Pirineos strikes a balance of sweet & savory notes by pairing the beloved Pacamara coffee variety with red honey-processing, yielding a complex & satisfying cup with flavors of black currant, chamomile, dried mango, and sage.
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: Colombia – Papayo—Papayo is one of a few curious varieties that have emerged in Huila in recent years. This lot, from Rubén Correa of Acevedo, Huila, is a great example of why it first caught our attention on the cupping table. In a clean, incredibly sweet cup, we taste spiced cherry and plum, dried mango, papaya, and pineapple.
PERC: Java Frinsa Estate—This is our second time sourcing this beauty from Java. If you tasted it last year, you’ll know why! It’s an intensely sweet and funky coffee. The anaerobic fermentation done at the farm contributes to its big fruity flavors, and the cup finishes with a deep, fudgy note that’ll keep you coming back for more. It’s truly a unique coffee that delivers all the wild vibes.
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.
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