22 Lb Crown Jewel Summer Update

Hey there, coffee buyers! Since our last update, lots of coffees have been moving, and we’re very excited about what’s in store and on the way. Here’s an update on upcoming Crown Jewels to keep your eyes on…

Upcoming Releases:

We’ve been anxiously awaiting Ethiopia arrivals and I’m thrilled to say they’re finally landing! We released our first (a washed coffee from Banko Gotiti) on August 9th, and it sold out in less than a week, which I guess means that it’s not just all of us here who’ve been holding our collective breath. Fear not, and have just a little more patience. We’re nearly there!

Friday August 30:

Ethiopia – our second CJ arrival, a Sidama from the Bensa zone, a little to the northeast of Yirgacheffe, it’s got great floral character and some very nice balanced melon, pear, and lemon notes.

ETA Early-Mid September – aka “the floodgates.” The arrival list for the end of the summer is intimidating!

Sumatra – A lychee coferment! It’s crazy delicious!
India – our first India CJ in ages, to source this coffee we turned to Kamal Ramamoorthy’s family’s connections in Tamil Nadu
Honduras – a Catracha coffee, a classic of the genre
Kenya – three lots from Othaya in Nyeri: Ichamama, Mahiga, and Wachuri, all AA grade
and (drumroll) Ethiopia – A quintet of organic certified coffees are all slated to arrive all together around the second or third week of September, we’ll do our best to get them out as quickly as possible. They are: Halo Hartume (Natural), Desta Golo (washed), Zelelu Ararso (washed), Hirut Shallo (natural), and Kayon Mountain (natural).

Once we release these coffees and complete the Development Stage event at the end of September, we should have a clearer picture of how the fall is shaping up. We’re expecting some very exciting Colombias and one or two more Ethiopias, at the minimum.

Friday, June 7 (update: released!)

Sumatra – We’ve got an absolutely pristine wet-hulled coffee from our friends, the Junus family, and their network in Aceh. It’s extra clean in the cup and the green is gorgeous.
Colombia – Pink Bourbon, aka Rosado, is back y’all. This double-fermented honey process coffee from Eduardo Martinez’s network in Huila is juicy and bright.

Friday, June 14 (update: released!)

Colombia – An inoculated ferment lends this washed coffee from Huver Castillo in Buesaco, Nariño a wildly sweet and decadent cup, unique and sure to fascinate those into experimental styles.

ETA July

Tanzania – a very small lot of washed Gesha and some washed and natural SL28 coffees from my pals, the sibling duo Kavita and Neel Vohora.

Ethiopia – it’s looking like our first Ethiopia CJ to land will be a washed Banko Gotiti. If all goes to plan, it will be followed shortly by a deluge in August of naturals and washed coffees from all over. There are many lots already shipped, and a few still at the port with ETD this week.

Costa Rica – Updated: we dropped one of the two natural coffees that landed at the end of July. One was good, but not Crown Jewel quality.

Shipping this month (ETA still TBD)

Kenya – washed classics from the Othaya Cooperative, including Ichamama and Mahiga should be loading up onto a boat in Mombasa before the end of the month. We’re hoping for sooner rather than later but have had some unanticipated delays unfortunately.

Ethiopia – all our expected Crown Jewels that haven’t already hit the water are expected to be loaded onto a boat this month.

India – our first Indian Crown Jewel in ages is being consolidated from Tamil Nadu at the port in Mangalore as we speak.

Sumatra – a Lychee conferment was contracted in late May and expected to ship soon.

Contracting this month (ETA still TBD)

Colombia – we expect to receive samples shortly from Mastercol, representing new coffees from Terraza (hopefully some Geshas and Pink Bourbons!) and Alquemista (aka Edwin Noreña). IYKYK, it’s gonna get wild.

Recent Releases (since our last update)

Peru – A lovely microlot from the Cusco region, and a washed and natural (sold out) selection from siblings Edith and Ivan Meza at Finca Tasta all hit the menu in April.

Bolivia – Yulissa Chambi’s coffees returned this spring: washed and natural selections both underwent brief anaerobic maceration stages.

Guatemala – a classic, buttery Antigua from Bella Carmona graced the menu in late April

Burundi – we dropped a little bit of natural coffee from Long Miles Coffee Project (sold out) and a little bit more of a washed coffee from the women of Turihamwe in association with JNP.

Mexico – two sweet and sensational seasonal offerings arrived in May: a wowy zowy Oaxaca from Yoloxochitlán and a clean classic from Chiapas’ Mayan Harvest’s women’s group.

Brazil – Our last Brazil until we get the new harvest, we launched a little honey-processed jewel from Espirito Santo state.

Written by Chris Kornman

Chris is a seasoned coffee quality specialist, writer and researcher, and the Director of Education at The Crown: Royal Coffee Lab & Tasting Room. He is the author of Green Coffee: A Guide for Roasters and Buyers.

Formerly a QC manager, cupper, educator, green coffee buyer, and roaster at Intelligentsia under the guidance of Geoff Watts, Chris logged thousands of miles across the coffee lands in East Africa and Brazil. His published work can be found in Roast Magazine, Daily Coffee News, Perfect Daily Grind, Coffee T&I, Tea and Coffee Trade Journal, and the Royal Blog, and his research and lectures are a regular fixture at events such as SCA Expo, the Roasters Guild Retreat & Sensory Summit, the Academic Agenda for the Café de Colombia Expo in Bogotá, and Hotelex Shanghai. However, his favorite teaching environments are next to humming roasters and slurping coffee tasters worldwide.

On weekends, Chris can be found helping at his partner's Improv Theater in Oakland. He rides a 1986 Schwinn Prelude, loves chilling outdoors with his cat and dog, and plays classical guitar, banjo, and trumpet. In addition to coffee, he can be found sipping Saisons and Oolongs, and fermenting hot sauces.

22 Lb Crown Jewel Summer Update