The Coffee Collective #02: it has been a busy week
It has been a busy week. Event after event in peak summer. It is a good sign for the coffee industry, I guess, but I can’t help but notice that there still aren’t events that are directed towards consumers. We are busy servicing ourselves and if we want to increase the converts from commercial coffee we need to focus on designing experiences that celebrate the joy of coffee drinking while fostering community and engagement.
These events could include interactive workshops where participants learn brewing techniques, coffee tastings that explore different flavor profiles and origins, and sessions with baristas who share tips on making the perfect cup at home. By incorporating elements like live music, local food pairings, and other hands-on activities, this could create a vibrant atmosphere that appeals to coffee enthusiasts at all levels.
The aim is to shift the focus from industry networking and technical jargon to creating memorable, enjoyable experiences that deepen consumers' appreciation for coffee and connect them with like-minded individuals. Just a thought I had while I was writing this newsletter. Let me know in the comments if I am thinking in the right direction or am I getting this whole thing wrong.
Upcoming Events: Puerto Rican Coffee
Let’s jump right in with this super fun collaboration with Estella Zuleta Carmona and ROR Coffee Solutions to explore an origin I actually haven’t tasted before — Puerto Rica. Don’t miss this opportunity to taste and experience coffee from Isla Del Encanto.
Exclusive Cupping Puerto Rican Coffee
Date: Friday, 14th of June
Time: 4.30PM onwards
Venue: ROR Coffee Solutions
Grand opening of bkry
Good things take time. I was told bkry was 5 years in the making. But time isn’t the only factor here, the dedication and passion required to pull something off this size is incomprehensible.
From stepping inside for the first time to sourcing the finest ingredients and then there was watching trained chefs coming together and create something magical. Everyone had a part to play, each process is a dance of precision and intuition. An amalgamation of skill, technique, and raw material that transform into golden crusts of freshly baked viennoiserie.
The story is the same for coffee, on one end you have experts using Archers pacing their tempo depending on the type of beverage they are preparing, and on the other end, Nizam skillfully crafting signature drinks, both exploring flavors and a symphony of aromas.
bkry is a story of patience, passion, and craftsmanship, and I can imagine that simple joys of creation is celebrated here. Kameel Rasyid has truly created something wonderful. Every detail here tells a story.
Check out some of the pictures I have taken from the beautiful space below:
The Success of Harvesting Sustainability
Ever since Victoria Arduino established their presence in the UAE with the Experience Lab earlier this year, it has become a hub for the local coffee community to get together for events, to network, and have a dialogue on important topics in the specialty coffee industry.
On Friday, Harvesting Sustainability, jointly hosted by Victoria Arduino, Colombian Exotic Coffee, Juan Valdez and Cartel Coffee Roasters, focused on several aspects of sustainability in different areas of the value chain.
The educational event aimed to spark real change in the coffee community by highlighting the role every player has to play in the value chain to adopt and advance sustainability within the industry.
Each host took turns to feature their signature coffees in a tasting session of coffee varieties with specific processing and brewed on technology that promotes sustainability throughout.
The event kickstarted with Estefania from Colombian Exotic Coffee speaking about environmental sustainability highlighting concerning facts of climate change, rising production costs, logistics and distribution.
Juanita from Juan Valdez was next and she covered the social aspect of sustainability. She spoke about the initiative called Women Coffee Growers (Mujeres Cafeteras) that empowers women coffee growers through various programs and environmental care.
The highlight of the evening was Camilo representing Cartel Coffee Roasters. His unconventional style of delivering the presentation was focused on asking uncomfortable questions forcing the audience to think out of the box. He questioned the way things were done at the farm level, from how coffee is purchased by roasteries to cafes and latte art competitions handling wastage of coffee and milk.
Events like this provide shining examples of efforts put in by various stakeholders. They inspire and raise awareness on how changes are made one step at a time. It need not be a giant leap for now, but it can be if the whole industry works collectively to a more sustainable future, a future where the coffee value chain is truly connected to each other.
Check out pictures from the event here.
The best of the Best: Hadsel Coffee Cupping at Grandmother Coffee Roastery
When Grandmother Coffee Roastery announces a cupping event, you are sure to find some interesting selection of coffee on the table. This was Hadsel Coffee’s debut in the region, featuring coffee from producers like Mauricio Shattah, Raquel Lasso, Wilton Benitez, and many more.
Hadsel to me was more than a green coffee curator. Yes, they source some of the best coffees Colombia has to offer, from the top cup of excellence winners to coffees that you keep appreciating every round you taste it on the cupping table.
But, there was another realization that evening after the event — good coffee can be recognized from a mile away and the team at Grandmother uses the roastery as a platform to introduce up and coming producers and their representatives to the local coffee industry. This is Community Social Responsibility at its finest.
Check out some of the pictures from the event below:
What I’m Brewing: Papermill Coffee
I don’t think I have had coffee from Uganda before. Maybe I have but I don’t recall that’s for sure. It used to be the case when it was hard to keep a track of roasteries, now it is the case with origins.
The coffee that I have been enjoying this week is also one of the featured coffees from The Coffeevine May 2024 box — Papermill Coffee is a cafe and roastery inside an old paper mill based out of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
A result of the pandemic that caused the founders, Margus Varvas and Kristel Parts, to move back to Estonia after calling London their home for nearly a decade.
In a short time, Paper Mill has expanded and are also known for sourcing great coffee. Coming back to the coffee I have been brewing — it is a natural blend of SL14 & SL28 coffee from Uganda’s Bulambuli processing station.
Expect notes of notes of dried peach, milk chocolate, baked apple, hazelnut, grapefruit, bubblegum, lemonade.
This is what I mean, how does one keep track of so many good roasteries around the world? We have Alex Kitane to thank who is bringing to light some of the best roasteries and their work.
Every month, we explore coffees from roasters around the world delivered to Dubai. You can, too. The June order form will be open until tomorrow.
Take a look at what roasteries are featured in the June box below:
You can access it here.
Now you know why It has been a busy week. Next week is a little quiet except for the Puerto Rican cupping event happening on Friday. If you are coming, let me know.
Until then, take care :)
