Announcing the Semi-Finalists for the 2023 Sprudge Design Awards
After an overwhelming response to the call for submissions, we are proud to present the Semi-Finalists for six categories from the 2023 Sprudge Design Awards. Public voting for these categories will take place until Wednesday, November 8th, with Finalist announcements to follow on Monday, November 13th. Learn more about all the Semi-Finalists below.
Outstanding Packaging, Ready-To-Drink Semi-Finalists
Outstanding E-Commerce / Web Site Semi-Finalists
Outstanding Design Achievement, Vessels Semi-Finalists
Outstanding Packaging, Seasonal or Limited Edition Semi-Finalists
Outstanding Design Achievement, Print Materials Semi-Finalists
Outstanding Packaging, Whole Bean / Loose Leaf Semi-Finalists
Go Fund Bean’s new wage survey
The fight for better pay among hourly coffee workers is in flux. Factors like the pandemic and unionization efforts nationwide have left wages in a state of uncertainty. To this end, Go Fund Bean is asking US-based coffee workers to fill out a survey to figure out where wages are for baristas in 2023 and where they are falling short.
A growing crisis in Kenyan coffee
The Kenyan government is seeking to make reforms to regulations around the export of coffee, and it is causing turmoil amongst producers, millers, and traders alike. Licenses are being lost and regained, leading many in the industry unclear on what their status is and if they are still able to do business.
A coffee colorway for the Air Jordan 1 Elements
Just in time for a fall fit check, Nike has announced an all new caffeinated colorway for one of their most popular silhouettes. the Air Jordan 1 Elements gets a coffee, cream, and olive makeover, with a waterproof GoreTex to keep your feet dry in the slushier weather.
Get Ratioed, but in a good way
The Ratio brewer has returned with a new addition to their lineup. The Ratio Four is a compact, single-serving automatic brewer following the footsteps of the Six and Eight that came before it. And it’s live on Kickstarter now!
You can have a little sugar, as a treat
It has long been believed that the healthfulness of coffee comes with a caveat: not sweetened coffee. But a new study finds that, actually, in moderation, a little sugar in your morning coffee or tea isn’t really much of a problem.
Roaster Spotlight: White Horse Coffee
Our Roaster Spotlight features series continues this week with a visit to Jenkintown, Pennsylvania for a visit with White Horse Coffee Roasters, who have made the transitions from “the horse industry” to the coffee industry. Giddyup!
A brand refresh for Olympia
Olympia, Washington’s Olympia Coffee has officially rolled out a new look for their packaging. Six fresh bag designs feature bright, vibrant colors and were designed alongside Bogotá-based S&Co. with illustrations by artist Jonathan Calugi.
TikTok has learned about coffee enemas
Consider this your quinquennial reminder to not shoot hot coffee up your rectum. Or coffee of any temperature really. It’s a lesson the TikTok teens need to learn apparently, as the trend has re-emerged for a whole new generation to burn their butts with. But doctors strongly caution against it.
Coffee is for coolers
1989 Patrick Swayze vehicle Road House may seem like standard action movie fare for that particular era, but move past the bar fights, car crashes, and explosions and the film is a masterclass in “show, don’t tell,” using coffee and other beverages as a means of informing us about the characters imbibing them. In his latest feature for Sprudge and ahead of the reboot, Jackson O’Brien walks us through the semiotics of beverages in the classic ‘80s film.
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: Natural Bolvia AIPEP—This limited release offering is from the primary-level producer association AIPEP, located in the Yungas mountains of Bolivia. We found this natural processed coffee to be pleasantly dense, with notes of blueberry, grape and black tea in the cup.
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: OG Guji Mane—Brought to you by an all black supply chain. Grown by black farmers in the town of Uraga in the Guji Zone of Oromia in Ethiopia, exported by Black community leaders Ture Waji, aka the “King Of Guji”and the big homie Mike Mamo of Bmore. It was imported through the homies at Equatorial Coffee Consultants and roasted by Renata Henderson and Sydni Barnes.
Equator Coffees: Colombia Las Flores Mint Macerated —Produced by coffee producer John Vergara at Las Flores, this single origin coffee’s unique flavor profile is an example of what can be achieved using an alternative fermentation process. Fresh mint leaves were added to the coffee during both anaerobic fermentation and drying, resulting in intense flavor presence of mint.
Greater Goods Coffee Co.: Kolla Bolcha—Sparkling acidity, creamy citrus flavor, and a tea-latte-like body make Kolla Bolcha a beautiful way to start the morning (or the afternoon). 10/10 recommend on V60, Origami, or Aeropress if you’re feelin’ wild. This washed coffee was grown by farmers in the Agaro region of western Ethiopia and processed at the Kolla Bolcha washing station.
Intelligentsia Coffee: Otoño Blend—Fall is here, and with it, the next release in our seasonal blend lineup. Otoño is inspired by the reflection that autumn brings, when nature reveals its texture and each step outdoors is a chance to slow down and observe a beautiful transition unfold. It features three In-Season lots from our single-origin menu: our Ethiopia Washed Alaka, Kenya Kamviu, and Guatemala La Florida.
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: Elefante Tasting Set—About a decade ago, the Rodriguez family discovered mysterious coffee trees on their family farm. The cherries of these trees are much larger and denser than the average coffee cherry and produce 10x the juice when squeezed. Named for the cherries’ impressive density, the Elefante variety was born. For the first time on our menu, we are celebrating this unique variety with three special lots of Elefante. In this tasting set you will find a washed process Elefante, a natural processed Elefante, and 6th place 2023 Cup of Excellence Elefante Nueva Granada.
Madcap Coffee Company: Luis Reinoso—Luis Reinoso grows coffee in Tolima, Colombia, with his wife Yenni. Though this coffee bears his name, Luis is the first to emphasize that it’s an equal partnership between Yenni and himself. In this balanced cup of the Caturra and Bourbon varieties, expect notes of cherry, red apple, and nougat.
Monogram Coffee: Floripondio—Floripondio is an ideal farm for experimenting with growing different varieties of coffee. It is a breathtaking farm, growing incredible coffees, and under the guidance of the Rodriguez family the coffees are grown, harvested and processed with close attention to detail every step of the way. Floripondio is a batian coco natural that has super clean and juicy flavours of plum and nougat with a creamy body.
Night Swim Coffee: Rosalio Gutierrez – Natural—Rosalio is a young producer from the Valle Inca cooperative, only 38 years old. He and his wife Gladys cultivate the 10 hectares they share, only 2.75 of which are dedicated to coffee production. This sun-dried, bourbon varietal comes to us from Cusco, Peru and the Valle Inca cooperative.
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: Panama Creativa Giovana Boutet Anaerobic—This anaerobic natural processed by our friends at Creativa Coffee District checks all the boxes we love about anaerobic processing. Layered, complex, and immensely sweet, this Catuai reminds us of ripe mangos and chocolate truffle, with the complexity and tactile of a cabernet.
Partners Coffee: Honduras San Francisco—Roger Domínguez produces some of our favorite natural process coffees. With the most exacting standards of picking and processing Roger has delivered an exceptional coffee, dominated by jammy red fruits and intense dark chocolate. We taste strawberry and raspberry jam, spiced cranberries, pomegranate, candied orange, very dark chocolate, and cognac.
PERC Coffee: Holiday Blend—The roasting team has been in the workshop, tinkering away, mixing a little of this and a little of that. Now, the team has emerged with the perfect concoction. It’s smooth and sweet, with the perfect hint of roastiness to satisfy everyone in the family, even the grinchiest grinches and the scroogiest scrooges.
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.
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
Goshen Coffee Roasters - Head Roaster - Edwardsville, IN
Counter Culture Coffee - Regional Educator - New York, NY
Coava Coffee Roasters - Director of Sales - Portland, OR
Marco Beverage Systems - Customer Service Specialist - Seattle, WA
La Marzocco - Content 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.
PERC Coffee - Atlanta, GA
Succulent Coffee Roasters - Laguna Beach, CA
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