The Sprudge Report - Ice(land) Coffee
Plus grinders and good airport coffee
Coffee in Reykjavík
For such a small country, Iceland has an outsized position on folks’ bucket list destinations. It’s pretty easy to see why. There aren’t many place in the world where you can go watch an active volcano eruption as well as visit glaciers all on the same trip. Perhaps it’s due to the long summer days and endless winter nights, but the coffee scene in the island nation is worth the visit on its own. That’s why we took a stop in the capital city of Reykjavík to find out what is new and exciting in a city full of exciting coffee shops.
An eventful coffee calendar
It feels like it’s been years since the coffee calendar was this full. After everything came to a full stop during the pandemic—even going out to get coffee, which has now risen back to pre-pandemic levels—events big and small have slowly begun to dot the calendar, and it feels like things are getting back on track. This week, we previewed some of the many, many coffee events currently listed on the Sprudge Coffee Events Calendar.
A home grinder loaded with features
There’s never been a better time to be a home brewer, due in large part to the glut of grinders on the market at reasonable price points. The latest addition to that list is the Grinista. Currently on Kickstarter, the Grinista takes a maximalist approach to grinding, with features that include stepless grinding, built-in scale and timer, magnetic assembly, adjustable RPM speed, and “auto-knocking,” all in a $400 package (even less if you back the Kickstarter campaign now).
Twilight of the Build-Outs
Fall officially starts Monday, but we’re still raging against the dying light to bring you another full week of Build-Outs of Coffee features. We made three stops this week, kicking off with Ember & Bean, a new roasting operation out of Hudson, WI. From there, we headed to Albuquerque to checkin with Little Bear Coffee’s pitch perfect latest cafe. Then finally, we checked out the dress code-less Shirt Sleeves Coffee in Swannanoa, NC.
Good airport coffee?
Bad airport coffee is good with the proper mindset, but good airport coffee is even better. And at the Philadelphia International Airport, Elixr Coffee Roasters has opened a full-service new cafe space, where they will offer up espresso-based drinks, filter coffee, pastries, and light bites to the weary travels passing between Terminals B and C. Layovers just got a little bit better.
Indonesian coffee has a moment in America
You have already started to see them popping up. Avocado Kopi and Oat Pandan Cold Brew and Kopi Susu and a host of other coffee drinks popular in Indonesia are finding a footing with American consumers. This is thanks in part to coffee bars the nation over focusing on Indonesian style coffee drinks, bringing to a larger audience flavors originating from the island nation. This week on Sprudge, we talked with a few of those shops to learn more.
Press release news
We cast a wide net with the press releases that came our way this week. There’s a new collection of videos from Rancilio’s Extraction Lab as well as a revamped package design from Onyx Coffee Lab. And in the literal biggest news, Mill City Roasters has moved to a sprawling 40,000-square-foot facility in Minneapolis.
Phase Two of the Barista Exchange Program
Back in 2022, Cxffeeblack announced the Barista Exchange Program, a new initiative that would send Black American coffee professionals to origin in Africa as well as bring African baristas Stateside to hone their craft. It was an ambitious project to say the least, and this week, Phase Two—the final phase—officially kicked off. The Memphis coffee brand brought five baristas of African descent to America, where they will spend the next two weeks learning from coffee shops around the southern US.
We’re looking for the best coffee photography
Nominations for the Sprudge Design Awards are currently open, and in 2024 we’ve added a host of new categories. One of them is the Best Coffee Photograph of the Year. It’s impossible to overstate the impact photography has had on telling the story of specialty coffee, and this year we want to honor those behind the lens. We seek photographs that tell a story, evoke emotion, or simply showcase the beauty of coffee. Professional photographers, hobbyists, and coffee enthusiasts are all encouraged to submit their best coffee-themed photographs for consideration.
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…
The Barn—INSPIRATION ADVENT CALENDAR 2024
This Advent Calendar contains 24 Single Origin Coffees from producers that decided to change the way they grow and process coffee. They inspired not only us. They inspired their neighbours and whole regions to produce coffee in a different way. These coffees will change the way you think. And they shape your love for a new generation of coffee. EARLY ACCESS: Pre-order before September 15th and get a 15% discount!
Equator Coffees—Panama Hacienda La Esmeralda Pacamara
Beloved farm meets beloved coffee variety this week with our latest single-origin selection: a uniquely complex Pacamara from the talented team at Hacienda La Esmeralda in Boquete, Panama. With flavors of lemon verbena, roasted cashew, and chocolate cherry, this coffee offers an intriguing balance of brightness and depth.
The Peterson family, owners & operators of Hacienda La Esmeralda, are well known for the rediscovery, separation, and popularization of Gesha variety coffee. Their new Pacamara lot is another entry in their long history of remarkable coffees, given a light roast here at our roastery.
Night Swim Coffee—Karagoto AA
The Karagoto Factory is made up of smallholders with an average farm size of half a hectare. It has over 1,700 members supplying cherry. Karagoto is located in the Karatina region in Nyeri County, between the elegant Mount Kenya and the Aberdare range. Tasting Notes: Grapefruit, Mandarin, Raw Sugar, Green Tea
Greater Goods Coffee Co.—Vietnam Lâm Dông
At Greater Goods, we’re excited to introduce you to our latest find: the Robusta Black Honey from Vietnam. This coffee comes from a region with a rich history and a deep connection to its land. Vietnam’s coffee journey began with Arabica but truly found its footing with Robusta, which now dominates the country’s coffee production. We’re thrilled to offer this exceptional coffee and let you experience its vibrant and distinctive flavors: White Grape, Baker’s chocolate, Vanilla Ice Cream
Portland Coffee Roasters—Endless Summer
This summer, let your cup transport you to a place of endless sunshine and good vibes. Portland Coffee Roasters is proud to introduce Endless Summer, our brand new medium roast that captures the carefree spirit of the season in every delicious sip.
Sightglass Coffee—Autumnal Equinox
Named for the celestial shift from summer to autumn, marked by nearly equal amounts of daylight and darkness across all latitudes, our Autumnal Equinox blend is crafted from a 50/50 composition of washed and natural processed coffees from famed Mexican coffee farmer Jose Argüello. Persimmon, Cardamom, Toffee.
Pachamama Coffee Farmers—Ethiopia Sidama Natural
A fruity, natural processed coffee from the Sidama region. Natural Sun Dried, Always Shade Grown + Certified Organic. Blackberry, Honey, Cacao
Madcap Coffee—Finca Santa Cruz
Brother and sister duo José and Karina Argüello are third generation coffee growers based in the municipality of La Concordia, Chiapas, Mexico. Much of the duo’s knowledge is passed down from their father, who taught them everything he learned over his lifetime of operating the farm. For this lot, typica and bourbon coffee cherries are fermented in a tank for 24 hours, then dried on beds in cherry for about 14 days. The final cup is extremely clean for a naturally processed coffee, with vibrant citrus acidity and a tangy sweetness reminiscent of tamarind fruit.
PERC—Colombia Elkin Guzman El Mirador
This coffee from Elkin Guzman is a true marvel. It boasts an intense sweetness, with sweet notes that remind us of watermelon candy. The flavors then take a delightful turn, leading to a tropical experience that feels like sipping a Piña Colada out of a coconut on the beach, complete with a crazy straw. This unique flavor profile is a testament to the artistry of Elkin Guzman and his team at El Mirador, and we can’t wait for you to experience it.
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. From the beginning of our roasting adventure, El Paraiso, in association with importer/exporter Caravela, has connected us with a number of excellent, high quality Colombian coffees. 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.
Partners Coffee—Mexico – Hermanos Luna
The García Luna brothers belong to a producer group of mostly younger farmers in the community of San Vicente Yogondoy, Oaxaca. Most of the coffee planted here is a variety called pluma hidalgo (or simply pluma), a local mutation of typica. This lot is comforting and approachable with notes of milk chocolate, orange zest, caramel, baking spice, cashew butter, and dark honey elevated by red apple and white grape.
Olympia Coffee—Kamwangi AA Micro Lot 18
Out of hundreds of lots tasted at origin in Kenya, this was our top pick of the harvest. Produced at Kamwangi washing station as their 18th lot of the season, this coffee features plump AA beans packed with warm flavors of orange, brown sugar, and waffle cone.
DUNE Coffee—Chito Ecuador
We are excited to share this coffee and be a part of this project for these coffees and producers. In the cup, we find many of the characteristics that coffees from Ecuador have captivated us with: from soft melon and sweet orange, with a milk chocolate character throughout.
CXFFEE BLACK—GUJI LO-FI
Decaf Ethiopian Coffee, Mountain Water Process. Candy Corn, Semi-Sweet Chocolate, Molasses. Guji Mane, Diaspora Collection
Verve Coffee Roasters—Vancouver Swiss Water Decaf
Our Vancouver Swiss Water Decaf blend highlights candied almonds in a chocolaty background. The 100% chemical-free process results in 99.99% caffeine-free coffee. Anyone who enjoys a dessert-tasting coffee will love this.
Stumptown Coffee Roasters—Ecuador Rancho Carmen
This coffee is a combination of small lots from a group of 35 producers in Ecuador’s southernmost province. Rancho Carmen has a lush ganache body elevating notes of raspberry jam and brown sugar in a vibrant cup.
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.
Phil & Sebastian Coffee Roasters: ETHIOPIA ADDISU KIDANE LOT #2
Phil’s favourite washed Ethiopian coffee of the season! Addisu Kidane is back with some of the finest coffee you can find in Gedeb – a region already known for some of the best coffee in all of Ethiopia. Roasted for filter/drip brewing methods – expect flavours of peach, vanilla wafer, and black tea.
Onyx Coffee Lab—Tropical Weather
Tropical Weather is a seasonal blend that celebrates coffees from our favorite coffee producing country: Ethiopia. We take a fresh washed offering that provides delicate florals and juicy texture, and incorporate a natural processed coffee that promotes pungent fruits and natural sugars. The result is indeed better than the sum of its parts.
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
Stumptown Coffee Roasters - Account Representative - Los Angeles, CA
SteamVolt - Coffee Equipment Service Technician - Chicago, IL
DONA - Sales Manager - New York, NY
Macchinisti - Coffee Equipment Technician - Austin, TX
Stumptown Coffee Roasters - Social Media & Communications Manager - Portland, OR
Temple Coffee Roasters - Equipment Tech/Maintenance Assistant - Sacramento, CA
La Colombe - Sales Representative - Los Angeles, CA
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.
Goldchild Coffee Roasters - San Diego, CA
Ezerby’s Boutique Cafe & Tea Room - Foynes, Ireland
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.