The Sprudge Report - How to Help Lahaina Cafes

Plus other fundraisers, Build-Outs, interviews, and more.

Aug 12, 2023

Aid for Hawaii

On Tuesday, wildfires unexpectedly hit the town of Lahaina on the island of Maui in Hawaii. What is being called the deadliest wildfires in the US in years, the disaster has already killed 36 people, with hundreds of tourists and residents still missing and unaccounted for. Caused by a dry summer mixed with strong winds from Hurricane Dora, the wildfires have damaged, if not entirely destroyed, over 270 buildings by Wednesday’s count. Many of the companies affected by the Lahaina wildfires are coffee companies, and to aid, a GoFundMe has been set up to help with their recovery efforts.

A coffee guide to Minneapolis

Minneapolis is one of America’s lowkey great cities for all things food, drink, and culture. So it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that it is also one of the country’s great coffee cities as well. And even in a city full of big names like Dogwood and Spyhouse, there are tons of other great spots worth checking out. That’s why we headed back to one half of the Twin Cities to visit some cafes doing really great things here in 2023.

A Linea auction

Coffee and bikes, bikes and coffee. Two great tastes that go great together. And now, La Marzocco and bike maker Specialized have joined forces as part of Grind For Good, an auction and fundraiser benefitting charities Hands for Songwa and Outride.

The thrill of the Build

We had a full week of Build-Outs this week, featuring not one, not two, but three new cafes. We kicked things off with two stops in New York, first with a visit Upstate to Touchy Coffee in Troy and then to Williamsburg for dog-friendly cafe Boris & Horton. Then, all the way on the other side of the country in Los Angeles, we check in on Equator Coffees’ latest spot, their 10th overall.

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.

Ion blastin’

Static cling is the enemy of grinders everywhere, holding onto those tiny coffee particles that you meticulously weighed out to make your brew. But the new Ion Beam from Acaia may be just the answer. Using a continuous flow of ions, the Ion Beam negates static buildup inside a grinder, and it works on just about any grinder!

An interview with Felipe Croce

Felipe Croce of Brazil’s Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza is the subject of our latest installment of the Sprudge Twenty interviews. In it, Croce discusses his time working in cafes in America before returning to Brazil to work on the production side.

Drunkin’ Donuts

It is said that America runs on Dunkin’, but now it can also stagger, reel, and go ass over teakettle into a nearby garbage can, all for the amusements of the U S of A’s equally wobbly friends. This is thanks to brand’s latest creation, Dunkin’ Spiked, a new line of alcoholic and ready-to-drink coffee and tea beverages.

A new look for Pilot

Toronto’s Pilot Coffee Roasters has rolled out an all-new look for their packaging as well as a website to boot. The roaster has taken a simplified approach to their branding, making their coffee more accessible to coffee drinkers of every ilk.

A fundraiser for Anthony McRae

Anthony McRae is the owner of Espresso Technologies and has been servicing coffee equipment in the Seattle area for nearly three decades now. But McRae has recently had to undergo a (successful) heart transplant surgery that has sidelined him and his business. To help with the bills and to keep his business afloat until he can get back on his feet, a GoFundMe has been created, seeking to raise $50,000, all of which will go directly to McRae.

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: Peru Elmer Tineo—With round, ripe fruit character and a caramelized sugar finish, this standout lot from Peru was an immediate favorite when it hit the cupping table. We’ve been tasting notes of blueberry, apple, cocoa, and brown sugar.

Equator Coffees: Burundi Gishubi —This delicious coffee was brought to our attention by Long Miles Coffee Project, a micro-lot company focusing on farmer-driven coffee production in Burundi. We instantly fell in love with the lemon zest and allspice notes in this lot’s spicy and sweet flavor profile.

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: Murue Kianyangi AA—Owned by the Murue FCS, the Kianyangi factory receives ripe cherries from 750 different small holder farmers in the Embu region of Kenya. The rich volcanic soil and ideal growing conditions of this region are what makes this coffee unique for its high quality acidity and intense sweetness. This coffee is processed as a double washed, which brings out the vibrant notes of red grapefruit, hibiscus and raspberry.

Night Swim Coffee: Leonid Ramirez EF2 Castillo—This is a super classic Colombian profile. It’s expressive, sweet, and absolutely crushable. You’ll notice hints of dried berries, fresh pecan pie, and a sparkling lime-like acidity. This particular coffee comes from Leonid Ramirez of La Cortina de Hierro, in Quindio, Colombia. This coffee was dry aerobic fermented for 24 hours, then placed inGrainpro bags for 50 more hours before being pulped, gently washed, and dried on raised beds.

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: Block Party Summer Blend—Block Party is an ode to New York summers. Inspired by the spirit of community and leisure across the five boroughs, Partners Coffee crafted this sunny blend from some of their favorite relationships in Peru and Colombia. Find notes of strawberry, apple, and honeycomb in this versatile coffee enjoyed either hot or iced.

PERC Coffee: Kenya Thunguri Estate—Thunguri is the first natural processed Kenyan coffee we've ever gotten our hands on! Almost all the coffee Exported from the country undergoes the more traditional washed process, which is what we've come to expect here at Perc. When we tasted this one, we knew we had to share it with y'all.

Stumptown Coffee: Honduras El Puente Catuaí Natural—The same catuaí variety as our classic washed offering from Finca El Puente, with a completely different process and profile, this beauty delivers notes of berry jam and cacao nibs, balanced by refreshing tropical fruit and black tea in a complex cup.

Verve Coffee: Honduras Juan Benitez—A returning favorite, Juan Benitez's coffee is characterized by sweet tropical fruit and tart citrus throughout the tasting experience. Bright notes of starfruit pair with lime leaf and honey to create a balanced cup.

New job listings from Sprudge Jobs

Proud Mary Coffee Roasters - Sales Manager, Southwest - Austin, TX
La Marzocco - Quality Assurance Associate - Fort Wayne, IN
Oxbow Bakery - Retail Sales Manager - Seattle, WA

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.

Familia Cafe - Arcata, CA
Lost Paradise - Lalitpur, Nepal

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.