Winter Solstice marks a turning point. The longest night, the shortest day. Light begins its slow return. In the Midwest, winter feels total. Darkness settles early. Cold seeps into everything. The months stretch well into March. During this time, we look for a coffee that holds depth, resolve, brightness, clarity.
This year’s Winter Solstice blend brings together fresh harvest coffees from our partners at the San Fernando Cooperative in Cusco, Peru; the CODECH Cooperative in Huehuetenango, Guatemala; the Worka Chelbessa Washing Station in Gedeb, Ethiopia.
San Fernando gives warmth, richness, chocolate, spice, apple, candied nuts. Todos Santos from CODECH offers refinement, citrus lift, dark chocolate weight. Washed Ethiopian coffee from Worka Chelbessa brings clarity, vibrancy, stone fruit, lemon-lime, soft florality.
The result moves beyond the dark months. Bright yet mellow. Full of light, depth, texture. Winter Solstice gives what’s needed in the heart of the cold: a spark of citrus, steady chocolate, quiet candied-nut sweetness that reminds us warmth and light can still be found.
San Fernando Cooperative
We have purchased from the San Fernando Cooperative for over five years. During that time it has become our largest source of coffee. The reason is simple. Coffees from San Fernando remain steady, stable, and endlessly sweet. Lower in acid yet still captivating. The altitudes of Cusco rise above 2000 meters, which combined with the careful cultivation of heirloom varieties produces coffees that are smooth, sweet, and mellow in the cup.
Guatemala CODECH
For nearly a decade the CODECH Cooperative in Huehuetenango has stood among our most trusted partners in the Americas. Guatemalan coffees have long been favorites for us. None, however, surpass CODECH. Beginning last year we focused our efforts on the community of San Martín Cuchumatán, sold to us under the name “Todos Santos.” This coffee continues to exceed expectation with deep chocolate tone, bright citrus, and persistent complexity. It refuses to stay quiet, bringing richness to every cup.
Worka Chelbessa Washing Station
Our love for Ethiopian coffee is well known. The Worka Chelbessa Washing Station captures why. Fleshy stone fruit and electric citrus deliver treble, clarity, vibrancy. Heirloom varieties grown on small garden-like plots create coffees that sing with nuance, lifting this blend to a new height.
