Coffee Updates – February 2024

It’s back. Although it’s been a component of the Method Espresso and offered as a single origin espresso for the last few months, the light roast drip profile is now available. Why the delay? We were excited with new relationships and projects from Musa Abalulesa and Nguisse Nare last harvest, but as those coffees leave the offering list, Kossa Geshe makes its return as our featured Ethiopian coffee. Those that are familiar with our yearly offerings need no introduction to Kossa Geshe, but for those of you that are newer partners, we’re excited to share its story.

From western Ethiopia’s Limmu Kossa district, Kossa Geshe is owned and operated by Abdulwahid Sherif. We’ve been purchasing coffee from Abdu since 2016, the first year he began working with our importing partners at Crop to Cup. Our confidence in Abdu is due to his commitment to reinvesting in his projects and his community. He’s built a school, purchases and processes coffee for neighboring smallholders, built out larger patio drying space, and even bought moisture meters to better monitor his coffees.

His coffee represents the flavor profile we love from Ethiopia. Fruity, sweet, and approachable. It has been a staple on our offering list for 8 years. Grown at 1850 meters, and composed of 74165 and Limu Buna 54, both heirloom varieties. The coffee is naturally processed, with raised-bed sun drying for 18 days. This year we taste notes of black tea, marshmallow, bubblegum, and nectarine.

Wholesale Pricing

5# Bag – $60.38
12oz pouch – $10.09

Our fourth year purchasing from Rio Brilhante. This farm was founded by Ignacio Urban in the early 70s as a soy bean farm. An area essentially abandoned at the time, the government installed a new system of irrigation to make agriculture possible. Farmers were hesitant to plant on the unfamiliar clay-like soil. Ignacio took the risk, and after a few years of failure, managed to successfully cultivate his first soy bean harvest. Decades later, Rio Brilhante grows 14 crops including coffee. Ignacio’s next leap? Pivoting this large farm from commercial to specialty coffee. With the technical guidance of Josue Morales (shown in video below) and Los Volcanes (our exporting partners in Guatemala), Rio Brilhante is producing some of the best Brasilian coffees we’ve ever tasted.

The Tropicana is back for the second straight year as a medium roast. This lot is assembled throughout harvest based on flavor profile from various sections of the farm. We were lucky enough to visit the farm last September and secure this particular lot which is also made up of a single variety, Catucaí 2SL. This is a cross between Catuaí and Mundo Novo varieties and contains (to no surprise) wonderful tropical notes. We taste notes of fruit cake, white chocolate, cantaloupe, and caramel.

The Aramosa lot is every bit as unique. This coffee is a low caffeine light roast. No decaffeination process is needed here as this coffee is a crossbreed between the Arabica and Racemosa species. Estimated caffeine content is ~50% of the caffeine of traditional Arabica varieties. Your customers need an afternoon pick-me-up? This a great option to offer them! We taste notes of strawberry, watermelon, white chocolate, and dark violet.

Both lots grow between 900 and 1100 meters and are processed as a natural with patio drying.

Wholesale Pricing

Tropicana
5# Bag – $45.56
12oz puch – $7.87

Aramosa
5# Bag – $49.31
12oz puch – $8.43

Another incredibly valued light roast option. From producer Audon Sancho in the town of Palermo in Huila, Colombia. Audon was referred to our exporting partner, Coffee Quest, by Asociación La Victoria. Many of you are already familiar with La Victoria (it is currently available as a medium roast). This is a great example of how neighboring producers can help give each other access to the specialty market. Audon heard about the great quality of coffee coming from La Victoria in the nearby town of Santa Maria and decided to try working with them and Coffee Quest.

Audon enjoyed working with the Asociación so much, he officially joined in 2019. His farm El Triunfo is 26 hectares with only 3 hectares planted with coffee. The rest of the farm grows bananas and tangelos. The coffee areas are a mix of Caturra and V. Colombia trees. Audon processes his coffee in a 24/36 split. 24 hours of fermentation in whole cherry, followed by 36 hours of dry fermentation. The coffee is then dried in greenhouse style structures for 12-18 days depending on whether conditions.

An incredibly sweet and clean coffee that is remarkably approachable for a light roast. We taste notes of clementine, strawberry, white florals, and confectioner’s sugar.

Wholesale Pricing

5# Bag – $55.22
12 oz pouch – $9.31