The Sprudge Report - 'Tis The Season Already?
And one last chance to nominate for the Sprudge Design Awards
Nominations are open for the Sprudge Design Awards
The Sprudge Design Awards is 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 being done by creatives and coffee companies, bridging the gap between coffee and art. We’re still taking nominations for all 16 categories through October 10th, so submit yours before it’s too late!
The thrill of the Build
In this week’s installations of the Build-Outs of Coffee, we’re checking out two cafes right here in the U-S-of-A. First up is Honest Coffee Roasters, whose opened a brand-new location right in the heart of downtown Franklin, Tennessee. Over in Denver, Procession Coffee brings their punk/DIY ethos to the ‘burbs.
The 2023 Build-Outs of Coffee feature series is proudly presented by Dona. Explore the world of fine Dona products at DrinkDona.com and enjoy free shipping on each order over $50.
Events!
Educational experiences abound, both online and in person. In the digital realm there is the Coffee Prices & Technology Summit by Digital Coffee Futures. Taking place October 25th and 26th, the online event will provide insight and suggestions on how technology can improve wages across the supply chain. Then, at the beginning of next month, the Women-Powered Coffee Summit is returning to Costa Rica for a series of talks, workshops, and the chance to connect with smallholder women farmers.
Go Fund Bean announces a new Interim Executive Director
On Tuesday, Go Fund Bean announced new leadership, with Valorie Clark stepping in as Interim Executive Director. The change, which took place in August, comes with the revelation that tens of thousands of dollars from the Disaster Relief Fund have been misappropriated by a former member of the Go Fund Bean team. Their full statement can be found in the article.
What is cold foam?
Cold foam is so hot right now. Cold foam. But what is it and how do you make it? To find out, associate editor Liz Clayton goes on a cold foam deep dive, talking with academics and food scientists to understand the fluffy little topping on a molecular level.
Vegan oat milk latte to-go
Intelligentsia has released an all-new line of ready-to-drink vegan oat milk lattes. With their Black Cat Espresso as the base of the drink, Intelli’s newest offerings include regular, Spiced, and Vanilla Latte flavors.
A concept espresso machine
Espresso machine design is bordering on art at this point, offering some of the most dramatic lines and silhouettes inside a coffee shop. And a new concept espresso machine pushes the limits of design even further. That concept? Steampunk.
Kaffelogic comes to America
Kaffelogic, the New Zealand-based maker of the small-batch electric fluid bed roaster, the Nano 7, has inked a deal with Brooklyn’s Showroom Coffee to be the exclusive distributor for all of America and Mexico.
‘Tis the season already
We’re no less than two major holidays away from the actual holiday season, but already it’s time to start planning. It’s time to figure out which coffee advent calendar you are going to order. As they have in past years, Onyx Coffee Lab is offering up one of the coolest. And if you aren’t looking to drop that much coin at one time on coffee, your friends at Sprudge have a chance for you to win one!
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: Struttura—Struttura (meaning “structure”) is a sweet, weighty, and structured blend with notes of dark chocolate, molasses, and plum. It was carefully crafted to produce syrupy, dimensional, full-bodied espresso shots, while also brewing a vibrant, balanced cup of drip. We can’t wait for you to try this truly luxurious blend.
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: El Salvador Finca Himalaya Pacamara Natural—This is the ninth year we are featuring coffee from Mauricio “Moe” Salaverria’s farm, Finca Himalaya, which has been in the Salaverria Lagos family since 1875. This natural process coffee from El Salvador achieves sweet and fruit-forward flavors that don’t overpower the inherent qualities of the Pacamara variety.
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: 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: Nano Genji #8—Nano Genji is the sibling mill to the famed Nano Challa mill, featured on our menu last year. This lot, #8, from Nano Genji is delicate, nuanced, expressive, and absolutely delicious. It’s reminding us of floral white tea and bergamot with a deep and lasting, caramel like sweetness.
Olympia Coffee Roasters: Jose Hernan Salazar Aji Ethiopian Landrace—This unique coffee was produced by José Hernán Salazar, from the town of Pitalito in southern Colombia. This lot is what José calls the “Ají” varietal, Spanish for chili pepper. Delicate chili pepper-like qualities are subtly present in the cup, giving this coffee a truly one-of-a-kind flavor—berry, caramel, and floral.
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 – Las Flores—Finca Las Flores is one of three farms Roger Domínguez inherited from his father, 3.5 hectares ideally located at 1,500 meters within the celebrated coffee growing community of Marcala. The farm is mostly planted with catuaí under the shade of guachipilín, banana, orange, and pepeto trees. In a sweet and nuanced cup we taste concord grapes, spiced apple cider, orange zest, and gingerbread.
PERC Coffee: Ethiopia Reko—Guess who’s back? It’s the dadgum fantabulous Ethiopia Reko, and we’re super stoked. This year’s crop is clean and bright, with soft floral notes that linger like the dang Cranberries. Your tongue will take a shvitz in flavors that remind us of honeysuckle, orange blossom, and white grape. This is an instant classic, y’all – get some!
Stumptown Coffee: Guatemala Semillero—Semillero was the first plot of land Luis Pedro Zelaya bought after graduating as an agronomist. It produces some of the highest quality lots seen in the Zelaya family operation. This year’s lot is a round cup combining notes of creamy vanilla, nectarine, and plum, and it’s available exclusively to Stumptown’s Roaster’s Pick coffee subscribers.
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
Counter Culture Coffee - Regional Technical Services - Asheville, NC
Counter Culture Coffee - Regional Management & Sales - Boston, MA
Tradecraft Coffee & Tea - Director of Client Engagement - Hybrid
Ritual Coffee - Cafe Manager - San Francisco, CA
Greater Goods Coffee Co - Marketing Coordinator - Dripping Springs, TX