The Sprudge Report - The Sprudge Twenty
Plus one last look back at SCA Expo
Nominations for the 2025 Sprudge Twenty are now open
Nominations are now open for this year’s class of The Sprudge Twenty, our annual initiative honoring and amplifying extraordinary individuals in the specialty coffee community. Now in its seventh cohort, the Sprudge Twenty is dedicated to mentors and leaders, game-changers and inspirations, baristas and farmers, traders and teachers, entrepreneurs, and original voices in the field of coffee. Nominations are open through June 1st for the Sprudge Twenty class of 2025.
Coffee in Da Nang
Da Nang is the third-largest city in Vietnam, and over the last decade has grown into something of a digital nomad hub. And where else would they all work than at a cafe. Luckily there are no shortage of great coffee shop in the “Chiang Mai by the Sea.” This week on Sprudge, we are taking a tour of some of the most exciting coffee shops in Da Nang, Vietnam.
The scientific study on pouring forgets about the art
A new study has determined the best way to pour water while making coffee. There’s a problem, though. Their criteria for “best” pouring method was the one that produced that highest extraction (so that you could ultimately use less coffee). But this completely misses one crucial element: flavor. Not all compounds extract at the same rate, and what they are producing is probably bitter as all get out.
Coffee is officially healthy now
Coffee is health. Always has been. But the FDA is finally coming around to that fact, and coffee can now be labeled as “healthy”. Which means you can expect a whole new round of coffee companies making some wild claims on their bags about the healthfulness of coffee. So that should be fun.
I’ve got a cafe for Store Box
There’s an entire cottage industry of 3D printed coffee accessories. If you can dream it, plastic filamentcan bring it to life. Tampers, AeroPress accessories, you name it. But never one to be outdone, Starbucks said “holy my orange mocha Frappuccino” and 3D printed an entire damn store. The cafe is in Brownsville, Texas and is the first of its kind in the US.
The calendar is filling up
There are so many cool coffee events happening all around the globe. And to keep up with them all, there’s the Sprudge Coffee Events Calendar, a veritable treasure trove of happenings the world over. So this week, we’re taking a look at some of the exciting events taking place over the next two months, as told by the Sprudge Coffee Events Calendar.
10am in the new 10pm
There’s a new trend coming to your favorite coffee shops: AM DJ sets. In Austin, morning DJ sets at cafes are becoming an increasingly popular alternative to the alcohol-fueled nightlife. Which sounds great and all, until you pop-in to your favorite shop just looking to get a little coffee and you have to swim through a rave to do it.
From the press desk
It was a big week for press releases. First up was Australia’s Single O opening their first cafe in Kanda Awajicho, Japan. Then we got news of Grounds for Health launching a new campaign to expand HPV testing in coffee communities. Next up was PrimeVent, a sister company of LaserSharp FlexPak Services LLC, who is “dedicated to advancing coffee degassing technology.” Meanwhile, Pennsylvania’s One Village Coffee announced they would be selling nationally in Sprouts. Lastly, the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity recently presented their First Sip! Awards at SCA Expo.
Cool gear from Expo
SCA Expo took place last weekend in Houston, Texas, and hoo boy did we ever see a lot of cool gear. From grinders to brewers to espresso machines and beyond, Expo was awash with hot hot hot coffee equipment. We’ve rounded up nine of our favorite pieces of new coffee equipment from the SCA Expo for all your gear geeking needs.
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…
Equator Coffees – Rwanda Nyampinga
Klatch Coffee – Songbird Spring Blend
PERC – Peru Los Quispe Gesha
Heartwood Coffee – Colombia Sebastian Ramirez Pink Bourbon
THE BARN – Brazil Earth Coffee
Madcap Coffee – Honduras Irvin Izaguirre
Passenger Coffee – Peru Fidel Huancas
Phil & Sebastian — Ecuador Lilac Dream (Catuaí – Hacienda Santa Gertrudis)
Mr. Espresso — Colombia La Terraza
La Barba Coffee — Ecuador Hacienda La Papaya Sidra 120hr Anaerobic
Onyx Coffee Lab — Colombia Jairo Arcila Lychee
Portland Coffee Roasters – Anniversary Roast
Stumptown Coffee Roasters – Vivid Bloom
Dune Coffee Roasters – Ecuador Hacienda La Papaya Anaerobic Sidra
Pachamama Coffee – Perú
Partners Coffee – Colombia Vladimir Calambás
Night Swim Coffee – Ethiopia Nano Genji #6
Sightglass Coffee Roasters – Spring Equinox
Olympia Coffee – Colombia San Sebastian Reserva
Verve Coffee Roasters – Kenya Gura AA
Joe Coffee – Honduras Rubí Sisters Catuaí
CXFFEEBLACK – Fruit Of Our Labor
New job listings from Sprudge Jobs
Lutie Cafe - Barista - West Hollywood, CA
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.