The Sprudge Report- Buzzy It's Cold Outside
But the gift guides are coming in hot.
Bundles and box sets: a gift guide
The holiday season rec-fest rolls on this week with a look at some very cool coffee bundles. Whether you are looking for a collection of curated coffees or a coffee bundle featuring non-coffee gifts, this list has exactly what you are looking for, courtesy of some of the best coffee roasters in the country.
Aloha, coffee!
When one thinks of Hawaiian coffee, the first thing that comes to mind is Kona (what coffee person hasn’t received a bag of Kona as a gift?). But coffee in the Aloha State isn’t limited to growing. There’s an exciting scene brewing in Honolulu. And this week, Honolulu resident and coffee professional Kyle Conner takes on a tour of some of the best spots to check out in the Hawaiian capital.
No ice = more coffee?
There’s a debate going around Facebook, and it really is the most Facebook debate ever. The issue is this: if you order an iced coffee drink without the ice, should you receive more coffee? Put another way, is filling the cup paramount over drink integrity? The answer should be obvious (and if it’s not, then I suggest you do some soul searching. Or go work a bar shift), but still, Facebook has thoughts. And so do we.
The gear is getting too good
Back in my day, you got a grinder and a scale and you were thankful for it. But kids these days don’t know how good they have it. Case in point: these two new Kickstarters. One is the G64, a new grinder from HiBrew. With 64mm flat burrs, adjustable speed, dual anti-static coating, and a bellow for removing stuck fines, it’s chock full of features. Then there’s the Balance Pro by Cocinare. It’s got everything you need in a scale as well as a host of programmable options to suit your brewing habits.
Another delay for the EU Deforestation Law
The European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is headed for another delay. Already delayed a year, the European Parliament voted in favor of another postponement, this time until the end of 2026.
Anybody want to buy a Blue Bottle?
Blue Bottle Coffee, the Bay Area cafe and roaster that has ballooned to over 100 locations across the US and Asia, may soon be up for sale. Parent company Nestle is seeking to shift away from brick and mortar retail locations, which may mean they divest from the specialty coffee chain.
Press releases
From the press desk this week, we learned about a new collaboration between Poma Coffee and Slow Pour Supply. The holiday release features six different Geshas as well as an option to include an Origami dripper and other brewing supplies. Then, an announcement came for the official launch of the Specialty Coffee Association of Ethiopia. It will champion Ethiopia’s specialty coffee on the global stage, strengthen quality standards, and create new opportunities for producers, exporters, and the wider coffee community.
Why Coffee From Ghana Matters
For Special Projects this week, contributor Daniel Muraga takes us inside the exciting and growing world of Ghanian coffee. From the production side as well as the cafe side, the traditionally cacao-focused country is seeing new interest in coffee.
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…
Equator Coffees – Guatemala El Injerto Gesha
Onyx Coffee Lab – Kenya Elshadai Coffee Estate Natural
La Barba Coffee – Colombia Diego Bermudez Letty Gesha
Night Swim Coffee – Ethiopia Idido
Madcap Coffee – Guatemala Finca de Dios
Partners Coffee – Miracle On North 6th Street
Klatch Coffee – Kenya Berg Wu Championship Selection Meru AB
Heartwood Coffee – Colombia Yessica & Diego Parra Thermal Shock Natural Bourbon Sidra
Phil & Sebastian x Onyx Coffee Lab x La Cabra – Project III – Finca La Negrita
Verve Coffee – Holiday Blend
Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Costa Rica Sumava La Ladera
PERC – Holiday Recruitment Lot
Blueprint Coffee – Ethiopia Raro Nansebo
Caffe Umbria – Stella di Natale Holiday Blend
Portland Coffee Roasters – Holiday Roast
Mr. Espresso – Kenya Rung’eto Kii, Washed Process
Presta Coffee Roasters – Colombia Juicy Strawberry Co-ferment
Olympia Coffee – El Salvador Las Tres Estaciones – 1st Place Competition Lot
Coffee Gear!
A bi-weekly selection of coffee gear from some of the best manufacturers in the industry, both big and small. This week’s selection is…
MiiR 360 Traveler — Travel Tumbler
Ceado Hoop Brewer — Coffee Brewer
Slow Pour Supply Apax Lab — Water Minerals
Flair Espresso Flair 58 Plus 2 — Manual Espresso Machine
DiFluid OmniFlux — Roast Tracker
Acaia Umbra Lunar – Digital Scale
Dwell Dripper by Verve Coffee — Coffee Brewer
La Marzocco Home Linea Micra — Home Espresso Machine
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
La Marzocco - Technical Account Representative - Atlanta, GA
Counter Culture Coffee - Regional Team, Sales & Business Development - Somerville, MA
Equator Coffees - Production & Fulfillment Manager - San Rafael, CA
Counter Culture Coffee - Coffee Buyer - Durham, NC
Zaca Coffee - Coffee Roaster - Buellton, CA
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.