The Sprudge Report - The Sprudge Design Awards!
And sports news?
The Sprudge Design Awards Return!
Welcome to the second annual Sprudge Design Awards, a new global awards platform honoring the best in coffee design. With a focus on original packaging design, products, and coffee art, these awards champion truly outstanding work by creatives and coffee companies, bridging the gap between coffee and art. After a remarkable 2023 debut, with dozens of finalists worldwide and a truly outstanding crew of winners, we’re thrilled to bring the awards back for 2024. Public submissions are now open for the 2024 Sprudge Design Awards. The entry deadline is October 11th, 2024.
Coffee Talkin’ in Tokyo
The surprising breakout star of the pandemic era was the visual novel/video game Coffee Talk. In a time when folks were seeking connection, the low stakes environment of chatting in a digital cafe environment, to humans or otherwise, was a soothing balm. And now, the game franchise is leaving its home in alternate-reality Seattle and heading to Tokyo. Set for a 2025 release, Coffee Talk Tokyo will be released on the Nintendo Switch, with a new storyline and new drinks to make.
RE:BLOOM
Bloom, the SCA’s educational coffee event series, is back! Now known as RE:BLOOM the two-day event take place at the end of the month at Carrboro Coffee Roasters in Chapel Hill, NC. And the best is, it’s completely free to attend!
Build-Outs of… winter?
It’s summer here in the Northern Hemisphere, but not so much in the earth’s bottom half. And that’s where this week’s Build-Outs of Coffee take us. Our first stop is just outside Surabaya in Indonesia, where Expat Roasters has opened a new cafe inside the Juanda International Airport in Sidoarjo. Hop a plane further south to western Australia, and Hear This Coffee in Morley is adding to the cafe scene in and around the Perth area.
Sports!
Coffee and the wide world of sports intersected in big ways this week. First it was Deion Sanders, Coach Prime, the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes who was announced as a new co-owner of the Des Moines, Iowa coffee roaster BLK & Bold. Sanders will also be taking over the role of Social Change Leader. And in baseball news, the Houston Astros are unlovable cheaters. But their recently called-up catcher César Salazar is a coffee fanatic and actually runs a very good coffee Instagram.
Beth Beall: The Sprudge Twenty Interview
Our latest interview as part of the Sprudge Twenty series features Beth Beall of Coffee Traders. Beall recounts her three decades in the industry as well as her time dedicated to the coffee competition sphere. It’s yet another riveting read from the most tenured Sprudge Twenty class to date.
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!
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.
Equator Coffees—Ethiopia Mulish Single Origin Espresso
We’re now roasting a new coffee from Southern Ethiopia: produced by Faysel Abdosh and processed at the Mulish Washing Station, well established as one of the finest in the Guji Zone. A strong believer in working with farming communities and growing together, Faysel works with the regional government to run electricity lines to local farmers’ homes— a testament to the force for good that sustainable coffee production can be. With its silky & sweet flavors of cherry & masala chai, we quickly knew this single origin coffee would truly flourish in espresso form.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Temple Coffee Roasters - Production Roaster - Sacramento, CA
Covoya Specialty Coffee - Customer Service Coordinator - Providence, RI
Stumptown Coffee Roasters - Roaster - Portland, OR
Equator Coffees - Bench General Manager - San Francisco, 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.
Bréme - Limoges, France
Paper Co. Cafe - Houston, TX
Original Coffee - Copenhagen, Denmark
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.