The Sprudge Report - The Good, The Bad, And The Slurpee
And Builds and bad science news.
Salut, Montreal!
Montreal is one of the great cultural hubs of Canada, of all of North America really. Art, food and drink, and coffee of course. Heavy on the European influence, Montreal offers a variety of top notch coffee experiences befitting a global city. And this week on Sprudge, we take a tour of the many places and ways that exquisite coffee is being served in La Metropole.
A very bad, no good week of coffee science
You may want to bury your head in the sand if you drink four or more cups of coffee a day, as not one but two studies came out recently finding that high levels of coffee consumption may have adverse effects on your health. The first found a link between drinking 4+ cups of coffee daily and an increase in cognitive decline in old age. And in the second, the same amount was associated with a heightened risk of hypertension and all the cardiovascular issues that come with it.
More builds comin’ in hot
It was a rowdy one this week for the Build-Outs of Coffee. You want a posh London cafe making moves into NYC? We’ve got it with WatchHouse. You want a chill SoCal cafe and roastery sharing a space with a dispensary? For that there’s Vigilante Coffee. Or how about a Colombian producer opening a shop in Portland? Matta Café is the place. And what if you want a coffee shop that loves the Build-Outs as much as you do? That would be PERC, whose Tucker, GA cafe is the brand’s second BOOC feature this year.
From black beans to browned ones
Starbucks, the Chipotle of coffee, has fired their CEO Laxman Narasimhan and replaced him with Brian Niccol, the Chipotle of CEOs the CEO of Chipotle. Narasimhan’s tenure as CEO was doomed from the start, often finding himself the subject of public criticism from former Starbucks CEO and general hanger on Howard Schultz. Now it’s Niccol’s turn to see if he can Niccol and dime his way to higher profits for the Starbucks. Expect them to short you on the beans. It worked for Chipotle.
A quarterback, mayonnaise, and a cologne walk into a coffee bar
None of these words have any business being in the same sentence with one another but here we are. Will Levis, the quarterback for the Tennessee Titans who famously put mayonnaise in his coffee, has released a coffee-and-mayonnaise scented cologne. At least smelling like it is better than tasting it.
A fever dream of pumpkin spice
Last week, we brought news of 7-Eleven releasing a pumpkin spiced-flavored Slurpee. And when one of the five locations that had it just so happened to be in our backyard, we knew we had to go check it out. But after looking back on what transpired, we couldn’t tell you if we actually tried it or if it was all some wild fever dream. You can judge for yourself.
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…
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.
Amavida Coffee Roasters—Fero Ethiopia Sidamo
This delicate Ethiopian coffee is from Fero Cooperative in the Sidama region. It features pronounced notes of orange blossom, hibiscus, and jasmine. Certified Organic and Fair Trade.
PERC—Decaf Colombia Los Nogales
Los Nogales is the best decaf we’ve ever tasted! We were lucky enough to get our hands on some after this year’s harvest at Los Nogales farm in Colombia, and we’re so excited to share it with you. Weihong Zhang won the 2024 brewer’s cup using Los Nogales’s Decaf, which shows how special this coffee is. Look for big floral and berry flavors in the cup. We taste jasmine and honeysuckle, complemented by a sweet blackberry flavor.
Equator Coffees—Decaf Colombia El Vergel Anaerobic Natural
This bold and complex light roast may just change your perception of the high caliber of flavor that single origin decaf coffees are capable of. It’s fruit-forward and complex with flavors of bing cherry, dark chocolate, and blood orange. Grown among native shade trees at Finca El Vergel, this coffee was decaffeinated using the Swiss Water Process of caffeine extraction, without the use of chemical solvents.
The Barn—GITWE
We love the coffees from Gitwe for their complex, elegant profiles. Expect complex flavour from juicy berry to sweet dried apple. A hint of warm spice and fine acidity are beautifully balanced. This fully washed lot offers elegant flavour and delicious clarity.
Madcap Coffee—Hunapu
In Antigua, Guatemala, volcanoes dominate the horizon and local farmers cultivate the nutrient-rich soil to grow coffees of world-renowned quality. Luis Pedro Zelaya calls this region’s coffee Hunapu, after the Mayan name for the largest volcano in the region. Madcap has proudly been working with Beneficio Bella Vista and purchasing Hunapu for nine seasons now. A quintessential representation of the quality in Antigua, expect a coffee with great structure and mild acidity balanced by a syrupy, juicy sweetness. Tasting notes of milk chocolate, apricot, and raw sugar make this lot one of our favorites.
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.
Joe Coffee—Amsterdam
Rich, sweet, and comforting, Amsterdam is the perfect drip coffee option for those who seek a deeper roast profile. We select the components for this coffee for their ability to stand up to a more developed roast, without ever tasting over-roasted or smoky. Instead, we pull out classic notes of chocolate, nut, and toffee.
Sightglass Coffee—Summer Solstice
Named for the shortest night and longest day of the year, Summer Solstice is the perfect compliment for the warmer season. A time when we seek carefree adventures, experience these moments with a radiantly refreshing cup. This years blend combines beans from Ethiopia and the Ngorero region of Rwanda to create an easy-drinking beverage with fruity and bright notes of hibiscus, Meyer lemon, and honeysuckle.
Partners Coffee—Colombia Aidé Garro Chiroso
Chiroso is a mysterious variety specific to Antioquia, Colombia. Once thought to be a local mutation of caturra, it is now believed to have a closer relationship to Ethiopian landraces. This is fifth year buying chiroso from Aidé Garro, and hers is a beautiful representation of its incredible flavor profile—think watermelon and cherry Jolly Rancher, mango, lime, jasmine, and elderflower. Truly a stunner.
Night Swim Coffee—Jairo Arcila – EF2 Natural
A masterclass in processing, the work Cofinet and Jairo Arcila’s team have done at Santa Monica and La Pradera produced a very balanced, sweet, and clear encapsulation of the best characteristics of the Java variety. Take this limited opportunity to join us in enjoying the remarkable sundried Java varietal from Quindio, Colombia. We think you’ll find your childhood in it’s limeade-like acidity, sweet and sticky strawberry frutiness, and a syrupy, lingering, chocolate-y mouth feel.
Pachamama Coffee Farmers—Peru Santa Teresa
This single origin coffee is from Pachamama Farmer Owners at COCLA cooperative in Santa Teresa Peru. Just a short trip from the slopes of Machu Picchu, the organic and shade grown farms of the cooperative are situated in prime landscape to grow world class coffee. This coffee brings forward notes of cherry chocolate and cream in each cup.
Olympia Coffee—Kenya Kamwangi AA Micro Lot 18
Out of hundreds of lots tasted at origin in Kenya, this was our top pick of the harvest. This coffee comes from the Kamwangi washing station and was produced as the 18th lot of the season.
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.
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.
Greater Goods Coffee Roasters—Basha Bekele
Our latest release from Ethiopia is a juicy fruit bomb from the Sidama region. Grown at the mid-bending altitude of 2000 plus meters above sea level, this coffee is a great example of how clean and beautiful extremely highgrown coffee can be. In the cup we got mouth-watering notes of dried strawberry, grape candy, and star jasmine.
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.
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
Sweet Maria’s Coffee Inc - Customer Service Representative - Oakland, CA
Clive Coffee - Customer Experience (CX) Associate - Portland, OR
Gracenote Coffee - Production Assistant (part-time) - Upton, MA
Neighborhood - Director of Coffee/General Manager - Los Angeles, CA
Baratza - Support Specialist, Specialty Coffee - 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.
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.