Nutty, Full-bodied Brasil from the Award Winning Condado Estate

Brasil Carmo de Minas Condado Estate- A Victrola Farm to Cup Coffee

The Condado Estate is a real crowd-pleaser, with a big lush body, mild acidity, and deep, rich flavors of almond milk and cocoa. If you are looking for a great coffee that is just a tad darker than some of our other single origin roasts.

For the last 3 years we have bought various coffees produced by Sergio Diaz and his family, who run individual “farms” that are part of the larger Estate in the Carmo de Minas region. This coffee is sourced from the Condado Estate which is owned by Sergio’s uncle, Ibraim Sousa, and run by his cousin Pedro Sousa.

We all agree that this year’s super-fresh crop coffee tastes exceptional. In fact, we just found out that a natural lot from this estate just made the Brasil Cup of Excellence finals.

I promise, you will love this Brasil!

For more information or to buy this coffee, check out our webstore!

Micro-lot Monserrate

{Coming soon}

Colombia Huila Monserrate

We just tried our first batch- and it was great! Look for this exceptional single-lot coffee produced by Yaneth Gil. It is juicy and spicy with dark fruit in the cup. Our expected release date is next week (and we can’t wait!). 

 A Victrola Farm to Cup coffee.

 

Guatemala Huehuetenango Finca Vista Hermosa Single Origin Espresso

Fresh from the farm with a beautiful view, or Finca Vista Hermosa, this single origin espresso is sweet and rich with a violet aroma and a tantalizing mix of toasted hazelnuts, orange and cocoa in the cup. The Martinez family has been growing exceptional coffees on their family farm in the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala for three generations. We are delighted to serve this coffee at our cafe bars. For a very limited time, also available in special one pound bags at our webstore. Learn more about the farm or coffees from Guatemala.

Spicy, A Bit Nutty, and Full-bodied

The Perfect Holiday Blend

Crafted with comfort in mind, The Victrola Holiday Blend is the perfect antidote to the dark, chilly season. Bold, rich and full-bodied, this carefully selected blend of three exquisite coffees (a Guatemala, Harrar and Papua New Guinea) come together to create a cup bursting with spice, cocoa, and hazelnuts. For a superb end to a holiday meal pair with rich desserts and good friends.

Buy it in stores or online. $14.50 for a festive 12 oz bag.

How BIG is big?

Coming soon! A coffee we simply call “BIG Nic”.

“BIG Nic” you say? Why yes. Have you seen the size of these beans? Just how big are the Nicaragua Dipilto – Suyatol, Las Segovias beans? Well, they are huge, but don’t take my word for it, stop by the roastery on a Wednesday for one of our free public cuppings (or buy a bag) and see the Maracaturra hybrid yourself. With its large leaves, fruit, flowers, and beans the distinctive Maracaturra cultivar is a hybrid of the Maragogype and Caturra varietals.

This distinguished coffee hails from the Dipilto region of Nicaragua near the city of Ocotal in Nueva Segovia. In recent years, after producing a majority of the prized Nicaragua Cup of Excellence (COE) coffees, the Nueva Segovia growing area has earned an excellent reputation.

The small farms that make up the Suyatol producer group send their coffees to the Beneficio Las Segovias wet mill for processing. The mill is run by Luis Alberto Balladarez Moncada, and has prepared numerous COE coffees. Drying of the coffee is done carefully and slowly over eight days, thinning the layers on the patio as it dries.

Ardi! Ardi! Ardi!

I love this picture of the raised beds this natural processed coffee was dried on.

For the second year running, we are delighted to have the Ethiopia Sidamo Ardi on our retail coffee menu. The Ardi, named for the 4.4 million year old hominid, Ardipithecus ramidus, found in the Aramis region of Ethiopia, was a knockout hit last year. This year’s crop will not disappoint. It is intoxicating, sweet, and complex. The Sidamo begins with the marriage of rose water, cocoa and huckleberry and finishes with subtle cedar. High-gown and processed naturally with care, this coffee is a unique and delightful find.

You should grab a cup of french press or a bag to bring home!

Want more info? Read it here.

This time it’s Canada

Blueberries are a key part of competitor Tim Graham’s concept drink.

This time it’s Canada…But next time, who knows.

If you stepped into our backroom, you would see chaos (no really, more than usual). There are blueberries, a burner for balsamic reduction, and a sleek bamboo tray with three small bowls. Why? We are getting ready to compete in the Canadian Regional Barista Championship. While, being relative Yankees, we can’t win the competition, we can practice and hone in our skills for the next big US regional competition.

Baristas compete by preparing and presenting an exceptional espresso, cappuccinno and an interesting concept drink. The competitions were originally designed to elevate and showcase what makes a great barista. How could we not stand behind that.

Best of luck in Vancouver!

Grunge Fest Latte Art Throwdown

Yes, there will be Bottle Pops.

Maybe you were there? The 90′s, remember, the era of ripped tights, baby dolls, over-sized flannels, and Doc Martens.

Well, we are bringing it all back for one night only, this Saturday, September 24th. Join us for beer, greasy foods (and pixy sticks!), raucous competition, and a live band.
September 24, 7 PM- 11 at the Roastery (310 E. Pike)

Hardcourt or Hardcore?

Bike Polo (yes, I said BIKE polo). Maybe you have seen them play at Cal Anderson Park (I have, it is mesmerizing). If you are thinking wide open spaces, gentry, and dapper riding clothes STOP & think instead of blood, ridiculously hard card girls and guys on bikes in hipster/ messenger clothing gracefully orchestrating moves on a tennis court.

This is genius.

When the organizers of the World Hardcourt Bike Polo Championship called and asked for a coffee sponsorship, I could not say no (would you??).

Check it out this weekend @ Magnuson Park & drink some refreshing toddy on us!

Washed & Natural

This past week we released 2 great new Victrola Reserve Coffees from Kenya. The Kenya Thika- Chania Estate- Natural and the Kenya Mathira- Ruthagati AB Washed are both exceptional.

The Chania Estate Natural is an extremely rare find. While naturally processed coffees are common in near by growing regions (such as Ethiopia and Yemen), this old method of processing coffee is not often found in Kenya. The natural processing adds a ridiculous sweetness to the cup (think ripe strawberry and marionberry). Rounding out the cup is a floral, almost rose-like nuance.

Juicy, medium-bodied and clean, the Kenya Mathira- Ruthagati AB provides a near perfect compliment to the Chania Estate Natural. A deep, rich, and sweet fig mingles with a brighter peach flavor in the cup.

These two coffees are around for but a twinkle of the eye, so my suggestion is to buy them both, and soon.

Retail: $15.50/ 8 oz