Every new season gives us an opportunity to rethink what we want to put on the shelf.
This time, instead of selecting coffees simply by origin, process or how interesting they sounded on paper, we started with something a little more personal.
Mood. Feeling.
Coffee can make you feel different things.
Sometimes you want something familiar and comforting. Sometimes you want something that surprises you. And sometimes, you find a coffee that makes you stop for a moment and pay attention.
So for this season, we divided our coffee selection into three categories.
Classics. Off-Beat. Fermata.
Three different ways of experiencing coffee.
Classics
Like classical music, these are coffees that allow their origin and terroir to speak.
There is no need for the coffee to shout.
These are coffees that we selected for their balance, clarity and ability to express where they come from.
Bolivia Las Alasitas, Washed
This washed Bolivia is a coffee that might remind you of Ethiopia.
It is citrusy, floral and tea-like, with a clean character that makes it an easy coffee to spend time with.
It is the kind of coffee that doesn't need much explanation.
Just brew it, take a sip, and let the origin speak.
Colombia Huila Aji Bourbon, Washed
Sweet and balanced.
This Aji Bourbon from Huila carries a papaya-like sweetness, followed by the fragrance of sweet spices and an aroma that reminds us of sweet chilli.
There is enough complexity to keep things interesting, but it remains approachable.
Brazil São Paulo, Natural
A very different expression of the Classics.
This natural processed Brazil leans towards chocolate and nuts, with a deep sweetness reminiscent of molasses.
Comforting, familiar and warm.
The kind of coffee you might reach for when you simply want a really good cup of coffee.
Off-Beat
Then there are coffees that don't quite follow the rules.
Off-Beat is where we put coffees that feel a little more unusual, whether because of their processing, flavour profile or simply the way they challenge what coffee is supposed to taste like.
Colombia Finca Milan, Nitro-Fermentation
Watermelon candy.
Cantaloupe.
Rose-like florality.
This coffee comes from an innovative processing method involving nitro-fermentation, where the coffee is co-fermented with a fruit yeast strain.
The result is something that sits far outside the traditional coffee flavour spectrum.
It is playful, expressive and perhaps a little strange.
And that's exactly why we wanted it here.
Malaysia Liberica, JH Process
We included this coffee for a very specific reason.
It was selected to celebrate Malaysian independence month, but more importantly, it gave us an opportunity to explore what Malaysian coffee can taste like.
This Liberica carries flavours of rambutan, Sarsi and dried longan.
It is a reminder that coffee does not exist in isolation.
The flavours we associate with a coffee can be heavily influenced by the environment around it, from the variety and terroir to the way it is processed and, perhaps most importantly, the flavours that we grew up knowing.
Sometimes, a coffee can taste like home.
Fermata
And then there are the coffees that make you pause.
In music, a fermata is a symbol that tells you to hold a note longer than usual.
To stop.
To let the moment breathe.
That is what this category represents.
These are the coffees we are most proud to have in this season's lineup. The ones we think are worth slowing down for.
Panama Janson Lot #217, Natural Geisha
A Panamanian natural Geisha from Janson, a renowned producer known for exceptional coffees.
This coffee is all about clarity.
Jasmine, sakura, citrus and a tea-like character come together in a cup that feels delicate yet expressive.
It is the kind of coffee where you might find yourself taking smaller sips, simply because you want to understand what is happening in the cup.
A coffee worth pausing for.
Costa Rica Don Eli, Tarrazú, Washed Geisha
A washed Geisha from Don Eli in Tarrazú.
This coffee carries a sense of Costa Rican coffee heritage, with flavours reminiscent of Muscat grapes and raisins, while the Geisha variety brings another layer of complex acidity into the cup.
It is expressive without being overwhelming.
Bright, layered and elegant.
Another coffee that asks you to slow down a little.
Something for Everyone
We don't think there is one correct way to enjoy coffee.
Some days call for something familiar.
Some days call for something strange.
And sometimes, you just want to sit down and give a really good coffee your full attention.
That's what this season's lineup is about.
Classics for when you want the coffee to speak for itself.
Off-Beat for when you want to explore something different.
Fermata for when you want to pause.
Three moods.
Seven coffees.
And hopefully, somewhere in between them, a coffee that feels like yours.