The Sprudge Report - Design Award Winners!
And checking in on the LA coffee scene in wake of the historic wildfires
Here are the winners of the 2025 Sprudge Design Awards
Welcome to the winners announcement for the Second Annual Sprudge Design Awards! Semi-finalists and finalist voting open voting absolutely blew our minds this year, with more than 50,000 votes cast across 23 categories. We’re thrilled by the response and enthusiasm for the Sprudge Design Awards, and look forward to making this an annual part of our content calendar for years to come. Congratulations to all of the nominees, finalists, and winners at the Second Annual Sprudge Design Awards!
Coffee in Kuala Lumpur
The Malaysian capital city of Kuala Lumpur has long been known as a hub for coffee culture. We’ve covered coffee there many times over the last decade, and for good reason. The coffee scene is exciting, and it’s constantly evolving. So that’s why we’re heading back once again to check in on some of the best new cafes in Kuala Lumpur.
Never refill a water tank again
Are you tired of having to refill the water tank on your coffee maker and plumbing it into the wall simply is not an option? Have I got the coffee machine for you. Introducing the Kara Pod, a coffee maker that pulls water out of thin air. It previewed as CES last week and essentially works like a dehumidifier, collecting and condensing ambient moisture. And don’t worry, the water gets filtered before used to brew.
There’s not enough coffee at the Australian Open
The Australian Open, the first tennis Grand Slam of the year, is currently taking place in Melbourne, one of the great coffee cities in the world. And yet, getting a coffee inside the Melbourne Park grounds is surprisingly difficult. It’s confusing, infuriating even, and is the coffee even any good? We investigate.
2025 coffee predictions by Nosprodamus
Where is coffee headed in 2025? No one really knows, but that hasn’t stopped our editors from making their best guesses, many of which are wild quite frankly. We’re taking some big swings with these predictions. Will any of them come true?
A brief history of the Arabica genome
Just about every coffee drinker knows at least something about Arabica. Over the last two decades, the name has become ubiquitous with high quality coffee. But where did Arabica come from? And how did we end up with so many different varieties of it? New for Sprudge Special Projects desk, contributor Tung Nguyen dives into the history of the Arabica genome.
Press releases
Love is in the air. Or is it coffee? Maybe it’s both. It certainly is at Klatch Coffee, who have just released Aphrodite No. 2 Coffee, the roaster’s Valentine’s Day limited release coffee that is part of their Pearl Reserve collection of premium coffees.
Host locations for four US Coffee Championships have been announced
Raleigh-Durham here we come! The US Coffee Championships have officially announced the host locations for four national level competitions, and they are all taking place in the Raleigh-Durham area. Taking place in late February and early March, the four national competitions will be spread out over the course of two weekends. First up is Durham, with the US Brewers Cup, Latte Art Championship, and Coffee in Good Spirits competition. Then two weeks later, in Raleigh, the US Barista Championship will be held at Black and White Coffee’s roasting space. Get your popcorn ready!
David Lynch loved coffee, and coffee loved him back
David Lynch, the iconic auteur of television and film, passed away on January 16th at the age of 78. Lynch had a cult-like following that he had garnered over his 40-plus years as a writer, director, and sometimes actor. He was also a big time lover of coffee, and it showed in his work. And coffee loved him back. To honor the memory of David Lynch, we take a look back of some of the reporting we have done on him over the last 15 years. From a high-concept experimental signature drink bar to a journey into the Pacific Northwest wilderness, Lynch’s work inspired tributes by coffee lovers that was appropriately unique and weird and, well, Lynchian.
The Los Angeles coffee community rallies amidst historic wildfires
Los Angeles has been beset by wildfire. Over 40,000 acres have been destroyed and over 150,000 individuals have been displaced; another 24 have lost their lives. As is often the case in times of tragedy, the coffee shops have rallied to provide support wherever possible. We spoke with members of the LA coffee community to understand how they have been affected by the wildfires and ways that folks can help.
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…
Night Swim Coffee—Illimani – Washed Bolivian
Illimani – Washed is a beautiful coffee that represents the profile that we’ve come to love in Illimani. It’s super sweet with a heavy, syrupy like mouthfeel and displays a taste profile descriptive of the region as a whole!
Passenger Coffee—Ethiopia AGARO
Remarkably complex and subtle, our current Agaro lot is soft and nuanced with vanilla and bergamot aromatics. In the cup one finds citrus, apricot, and a juicy melon character in the finish.
Phil & Sebastian—Bekele Yutute Natural
The Bekele Yutute Natural, newly arrived on our shelves, is bursting with fruity flavor. Coffees from the small region of Bensa are grown at a whopping altitude of 2300 meters and are winning nearly every competition in Ethiopia—it’s not hard to see why. This coffee is clean, intense, fruity, and embodies everything we love about Naturals.
Portland Coffee Roasters—Bridge Blend
The Ethiopia component comes from Mustefa Abakeno – a smallholder producer growing coffee varieties from the nearby Jimma Research Center. This coffee is from the Beshasha mill, which specializes in washed processing utilizing good agricultural practices (GAP). Mustefa ferments the pulped coffee for a short period before he moves it to drying beds, where the result is comparable to a beautiful light honey.
The other half of Bridge Blend is from Peru. In Peru, most coffee comes from small farms owned and managed by indigenous people who follow organic farm management practices attuned to their cultural connection to the land. This particular coffee is from the umbrella Norandino cooperative – who ensure meticulous traceability and quality control throughout post-harvest processing. It is fully washed and dried in the sun – preserving natural tasting notes of green grapes and apple blossoms.
Dune Coffee Roasters—Ethiopia Idido
This lot of coffee is processed as a natural, which receives particular attention for ripeness and sorting before drying on raised beds. At Idido, each lot is coded for traceability and tracked for consistency throughout the process, before the coffee is stabilized and exported. In the cup, Idido is full of berry and fruit flavors, with a sweet strawberry and juicy grape quality. As the coffee cools, black tea and dark chocolate complexity develops.
Madcap Coffee—Lake Effect
When creating seasonal blends like Lake Effect, we aim to capture the feelings and flavors reminiscent of that particular season. In the dead of Midwest winter, scattered glimpses of sunshine remind us that spring isn’t too far in the distance. Lake Effect is inspired by these warm and hopeful moments. Two coffees from Africa were selected for this year’s Lake Effect blend. Gatomboya from Karatina, Nyeri County, Kenya makes up two thirds of the blend. Bright and acidic like a perfectly ripened citrus, this coffee provides a welcomed contrast to rich winter sweets. The remaining third of the blend is Suke Quto from Guji, Odo Shakisso, Ethiopia, chosen for its delicate florality and complimenting citrus notes. Once blended, Lake Effect takes on a deliciously juicy body, with radiant notes of pomelo, apricot, and lemon sugar.
Equator Coffees—El Salvador Los Pirineos Pacamara Black Honey
For over a decade, we’ve partnered with the Baranoa family, who have been stewarding Finca Los Pirineos for more than a century. This light roast highlights the exceptional black honey-process and the renowned Pacamara variety, celebrated for its large bean size and exceptional cup quality. Expect a beautifully complex profile with notes of blackberry, vanilla, and chestnut.
Klatch Coffee—Aphrodite No. 2
Indulge in love’s essence with Aphrodite Pearl Reserve Blend from Klatch Coffee. Relish the smooth, sweet flavors of milk chocolate, cherry, and brown sugar, with a blueberry aroma. Perfect for sharing – or savoring solo this Valentine’s Day! Named in honor of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess worshipped for love and beauty.
La Barba Coffee—Guatemala | La Senda Arnoldo & Eugenia
This delightfully sweet anaerobic natural from José Arnoldo Perez & Maria Eugenia Escobar is full of tropical fruit notes along with delicate florals and subtle stone fruit (nectarine). The sweetness of this coffee persists from when it’s hot through as it cools, making you want a refill as soon as you finish the cup.
Floral – Passionfruit – Nectarine
Partners Coffee—Honduras – Carlos Damian
Continuing our Honduran offerings this season we have a lovely pacas produced by Carlos Damian. This fully washed selection of pacas was grown on his Bella Vista farm on the eastern side of the Santa Bárbara Mountain. This is a balanced, comforting coffee that we’ve been looking forward to for months. Presenting beautifully as either filter coffee or espresso, we’re tasting milk chocolate, toffee, and almond with a subtle, structured acidity reminding us of yellow peach and red apple.
PERC—Kenya Ndaro-ini
We’re super excited to bring in another stunner from Kenya. This coffee blew us away on the cupping table. It starts with a juicy punch of green apple and transitions to flavors of warm baking spice. It finishes with a sweet brown sugar note that will have you coming back for more before you put down that empty cup. Don’t miss out on this super tasty coffee, y’all.
The Barn Berlin—Volcan Azul H3
At the famous Volcan Azul estate in Costa Rica, producer Alejo has introduced modern fermentation methods to achieve extraordinary flavour profiles. We love coffees from Volcan Azul for their deep, complex flavour. The warm anaerobic process brings delicious character to this coffee, with vibrant fruit flavour. Expect an abundance of sweetness, with fig, blueberry, and blackcurrant. On the palate, this is a coffee with great structure and gentle acidity.
Sightglass Coffee—Winter Solstice
Returning for the fifth year, we’re excited to release something exceptional for the holiday season: our Winter Solstice Blend. Named for the longest night and shortest day of the year, Winter Solstice is the perfect accompaniment to cool weather and changing seasons. A time when we crave comfort, warmth, the familiar, and the surprising. For Winter Solstice, we combine two amazing coffees from Kenya and Colombia to evoke flavors of chocolate truffle, marzipan, and blackberry.
Onyx Coffee Lab—Colombia Tio Conejo Gesha Natural
In the high mountains of Caldas, Colombia, Tío Conejo cultivates coffee with a commitment to tradition, community, and resilience. Nestled at 2,000 MASL on rich volcanic soil, their farm’s high altitude and meticulous practices yield exceptional quality. That quality shows in the cup with pungent fruit characteristics throughout the drinking experience, culminating in pink guava and watermelon candy.
Stumptown Coffee Roasters —Guatemala El Injerto Pacamara
Pacamara is the result of a combination of teamwork, a unique microclimate and good plant genetics! All of these factors come together to produce one of the most award-winning flavorful coffees in the world. Each decadent cup features notes of ripe peach and sugar cane complemented by a touch of sage – truly exquisite!
Joe Coffee —Rubí Sisters Catuaí
Perched between the Sierra La Esperanza and Santa Bárbara mountains in Las Vegas, Honduras, lies Finca Ruland 2—a specialty coffee farm as beautiful as it is biodiverse, owned and operated by the Rubí-Landaverde family. Notes of Candied Lemon, Almond Paste, Cinnamon.
Pachamama Coffee Farmers—Guatemala
Grown on the volcanic shores of Lago Atitlán, this is an exceptional single origin medium roast coffee from the Manos Campesinas coop in Guatemala.
Olympia Coffee—Alexander Vargas Pink Bourbon
Alexander Vargas is a Cup of Excellence-winning producer for his Pink Bourbon varietal. He continues to innovate in processing and drying, making his coffees an absolute delight for us to roast. The variety is native to Colombia, specifically Huila, with the name inspired by the cherry ripening with a pinkish hue.
CXFFEEBLACK—Fruit Of Our Labor
A HIGA JUNT -NATURAL RWANDA KILIMBI STATION, 1650-1850 MASL
TASTING NOTES: Strawberry, Dark Chocolate, and Passionfruit
Verve Coffee Roasters—Seabright
From our house to yours, Seabright House Blend is undeniably inviting. Seabright showcases apricot and honeydew flavor notes composed of direct trade coffees from El Salvador and Guatemala. A balanced mouthfeel. And aromatics of toasted hazelnuts. Set yourself up for a winning day with one of our easiest drinking blends.
Mr. Espresso—Mexico Mayan Village — Women’s Lot
Rosalba Cifuentes Tovía came to the San Francisco Bay Area from Chiapas, Mexico, with two small children and without knowing any English. What she did know was coffee. Incredibly, she built a network within Bay Area coffee circles. It has been her passion to use her coffee expertise to uplift the people from her native community of Chiapas. Rosalba has grown Mayan Harvest into a source that represents some of the best in the region. Combined with direct traceability and an exquisite taste that brings to mind notes of cherry, cream, and panela, this is a coffee you’ll feel good about buying and better about drinking.
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
Rite Coffee - Senior Managing Partner - Brooklyn, NY
Madcap Coffee Company - Sales & Customer Service Coordinator - Grand Rapids, MI
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.
Presta Coffee Roasters - Tucson, AZ
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