The Sprudge Guide to Brno
Move over Prague, there’s another up-and-coming coffee scene in the Czech Republic. Brno, the second-largest city, is brimming with cultural attractions and culinary destinations, especially for coffee lovers. It’s a city steeped in tradition but with all the modern accoutrements one would come to expect in a global destination, and the coffee scene toes that balance in equal measure. To learn more, contributor Chloé Skye Weiser takes us on a caffeinated tour of Brno.
Remember the Tritan
If you’ve been paying attention to coffee brewer trends over the past few years, you can’t help but notice that many new pour-over methods are being made with something called Tritan plastic. But what is it exactly and what makes it the material du jour? We take a deep dive in the BPA-free plastic to find out more.
Smells in stereo
The sense of smell has often been considered to be single input. They go through your nose and up to your brain, regardless of which nostril they came from. But new research suggests that your brain catalogues scent information differently depending upon which nostril records it. Coffee in stereo, sounds pretty good to me.
Espresso martini perfume?
My biggest gripe with espresso martinis has always been that you have to put it in your mouth, where all your taste buds are. It seems like a design flaw for what is an objectively gross but nonetheless exceedingly popular drink. Luckily, Absolut and Kahlua have teamed up with perfumer Imaginary Authors for an espresso martini-inspired fragrance. Now you can smell like a night of regret, without all the regretting!
A history and a geography lesson, all in one
Coffee is grown the world over, but how did it get there? We know it originated in Ethiopia and made a stop in Yemen, but then what? Enter the new World History & Geography of Arabica Coffee Cultivars poster by Royal Coffee. Spearheaded by Chris Kornman, the posted catalogues not only the genetic relationships of many different varieties of Arabica but their travels through time and space as well.
The Coffee Sprudgecast: Hoopin’ and Night Swimmin’
On this episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast, hosts Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen are brewing up some of Night Swim Coffee’s Ultraviolet blend from the all-new, award-winning pour-over brewer, the Hoop by Ceado. And they’re brewing up a new blend from Rishi Tea for good measure.
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: Holiday Blend—Holiday Blend is here! This year’s blend delivers festive flavors from spectacular 100% organic component coffees from partnering farms in Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Nicaragua. 5% of sales from Holiday Blend and merchandise collection will go to our origin partners at CODECH, a Guatemalan cooperative we have been purchasing from since 2017.
reater Goods Coffee Co.: Monteblanco—A tropical symphony in a cup! This coffee bursts with tropical flavors and a creamy sweetness that dances on your tongue. It’s like sipping on a glass of freshly squeezed mango juice, with a hint of lilikoi and a small bite of key lime pie. The unique processing, using whole passionfruit and cholupa, creates a complex and unique taste experience that will transport you to a warm and sunny paradise!
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: COE Elefante Nueva Granada—The origins of this varietal were unknown until recent genetic testing has discovered Elefante to be a combination of an unknown Ethiopian Landrace and the world-famous Bourbon. With great pleasure, we offer an exclusive lot of Elefante, a 2023 Cup of Excellence winner, grown by Gloria Rodriguez’s son, Roberto. Elefante Nueva Granada took 6th place in the competition with a score of 89.54 and was one of only two washed coffees in the competition. This intense attention to detail results in a final cup with stunning clarity and soft, velvety mouthfeel, with notes of juicy lychee, jasmine blossom, and turbinado sugar.
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: Guatemala – Santa Elisa—Finca Santa Elisa sits on the western side of Acatenango, one of the three volcanoes that surround the charming city of Antigua Guatemala. This lot, consisting entirely of red bourbon, was processed by our friends Los Volcanes at Beneficio La Esperanza in Antigua. The result is a sweet, pristine coffee that reminds us of blood orange and tangerine supported by warm confectionary and caramels—delightful in a host of brewing methods from filter to espresso.
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
Minor Figures - Sales & Market Development - Atlanta, GA/Remote
Minor Figures - Sales & Market Development - Portland, OR/Remote
Counter Culture Coffee - Western Roasting Supervisor - Emeryville, 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.
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.