Meet Edith Meza Sagarvinaga, the farmer behind our current featured coffee, Finca Tasta Honey Caturra, Lactic Fermentation, from her farm in Llaylla-Satipo, Peru. She’s the face you see looking back at you on every bag of her coffee.
Edith has been a part of Carrboro Coffee Roasters’ Farmer Direct Relationship Program for many years now, officially coming aboard in 2015.
CCR President Scott Conary first met Edith in 2013 when she volunteered to judge the Peru National Barista Championships, where Scott also acted as Head Judge. It was at this event that Edith shared her coffee with Scott, her first harvest of a natural process coffee from her farm, which she had recently inherited from her mother. This coffee was incredible – clean and sweet with notes of fresh tropical fruit. At this time just the idea of a natural process coffee in Peru was considered impossible but here was Edith with an incredible natural process coffee.
At this time she had not produced much of this coffee and had already sold what little she had but Scott continued to visit Peru each year and continued working with Edith. She continued to grow her natural process harvest and finally in 2015 had enough of her harvest to share with CCR. From there CCR and Edith continued to support each other and find ways to continue to both develop the farm and experiment with new varietals and processes. The fruits of which we are now sharing with you as our featured coffee!
We are inspired by Edith’s determination to accomplish something that everyone said was impossible as well as by her excitement and enjoyment for creating and developing. Over the years CCR has worked together with Edith and her brother Ivan to support variations and experimentation’s in farming/cultivation, increasing the varietals types and processing potential. Just one of many reasons we love serving CCR coffee!
When you purchase this coffee you are setting yourself up to enjoy a truly incredible coffee and you are directly helping to support Edith, her farm and her family.
Click the link below to get details about our Featured Coffee From producer Edith Meza in Peru, our support of the WUNC radio Spring Fund Drive, along with our efforts to improve quality & the coffee industry worldwide; plus so much more!
Sensory Education Training (SET) Virtual Calibration (VC) is a global calibration course led by Cup of Excellence (CoE) Head Judge Scott Conary. Students around the globe will cup and score coffee sourced from award winning CoE farmers.
This unique educational experience will allow students to learn & practice cupping standards, & calibrate their cupping scores with the global community of coffee professionals.
Course Schedule
May 7th – Introduction Session
May 17th – Coffee Scores Due to Head Judge
May 21st – Head Judge Results Report Emailed to Students.
May 22nd – Presentation of Results/Report
SET VC students will receive a box containing roasted samples for three cuppings, sample placement, instructions, CoE score sheets, an official CoE cupping spoon, and other goodies from our sponsors. The Program will kick off with a special presentation where Scott will instruct students how to cup and score using the CoE score sheet, and explain exactly what makes CoE award-winning coffees so special.
Students will have 10 days to cup & score the coffees, and then return their filled-out score sheets to the course coordinators. During the cupping days students will be able to sign into special video sessions led by CoE staff and Scott to have any questions answered. as well as a WhatsApp group to ask questions and meet fellow participants.
After the cupping, students will receive a special report compiled by Scott that is based on the same format CoE uses to select cuppers for their National Juries around the world. This report will provide insight into students’ cupping skill and as well as the coffees that were evaluated. On the final day, Scott will give a presentation explaining the data and take questions about the coffees and the cupping data.
Participants will:
Learn how to cup and score coffee using the CoE score sheet
Cup and score award winning and unique coffee
Compare their cupping scores to the global coffee community
Gain understanding into what exactly high scoring specialty coffee is
Gain insight into their own cupper confidence and accuracy
What’s included:
2 instructional webinars
Office hour access
Coffee kit (see below)
Access to class WhatsApp group
Certificate upon completion of class
Kit includes:
Roasted coffee for 3 cuppings, 24 coffee samples total
“I am excited to lead the Cupping teams around the world to sample unique coffees from these innovative producers,” Scott Conary, the head judge of the competition and owner of North Carolina’s Carrboro Coffee Roasters, said. “I have been fortunate to experience first hand over the years the results of all the hard work the Mierisch family has put into their harvests, starting in 2012 while on a COE jury. The cupping teams are in for some exciting flavor profiles, and will decide which coffees make it to the auction.”
The quality competition and auction program is part of ACE’s ongoing Private Collection series, which launched in 2019 and features partnerships with origin-specific green coffee producers focused on quality focused production. While these small auctions are separate from the ACE long-running Cup of Excellence competition and auctions, both have the goal of supporting farms and farmers who work to create & increase quality in the industry as well as celebrating innovation and connecting farmers to buyers.
These coffees are lovingly cared for by the Mierisch family, Nicaraguan coffee producers since 1908; with farms perched in the beautiful mountains of Matagalpa and Jinotega. Their private auction ‘Los Favoritos’ was born in 2013 as an initiative to show the world the exquisiteness and allure of the coffees produced by them.
Characterized by cultivating different varieties and experimenting with distinct post-harvest processes, the lots are chosen from the cream of the crop of the family ‘s eight farms. “Quality is not a coincidence. Quality is hard work that is built every day. We are a generation that is passionate about coffee and our mission is always focused on continuous improvement, innovation, and sustainability“, says Eleane Mierisch, who is leading this project along with her family.
link below to get details about our ‘Roastery Collections’ offerings that focus on tasting themes with unique coffees, our ongoing beer collaboration with our neighbors Steel String Brewery, and more!
“I was able to cup these coffees multiple times, and each time I had my eyes opened for what was possible in Hawaiian coffee,” Scott Conary, the head judge of the competition and owner of North Carolina’s Carrboro Coffee Roasters, said. “These unique process coffees exceeded my past experience of Hawaiian coffee and will delight your senses and change your mind for what you thought was possible on the Isles.”
The quality competition and auction program is part of ACE’s ongoing Private Collection series, which launched in 2019 and features partnerships with origin-specific green coffee producers focused on quality focused production. While these small auctions are separate from the ACE long-running Cup of Excellence competition and auctions, both have the goal of supporting farms and farmers who work to create & increase quality in the industry as well as celebrating innovation and connecting farmers to buyers.
Three-quarters of the winners, with scores ranging from 85 to 88, involved controlled yeast fermentation in the processing phase.
Among the winning lots in the Hawaiian competition were five different coffee varieties or cultivars, six different processing methods ranging from aerobic natural to fully washed, two organic offerings, and 11 winning farms from either the regions of Kona or Ka’u on Hawaii’s big island.
The top-scoring coffee was a washed-process SL34 variety produced by Kraig and Leslie Lee of Kona Farm Direct Coffee. The coffee was fermented with a wine yeast strain chosen to enhance acidity and fruit flavor, according to the producers.
As ACE gears up for its full 2021 Cup of Excellence schedule, it’s also planning to run more Private collection auctions this year including a new one with Nicaragua’s Fincas Mierisch (May 11) that Scott Conary will also be the Head Judge for.
We are thrilled to announce our new Roastery Collections Series!
These boxed collections are our way to highlight some of the phenomenal high quality work our producer-partners are doing on their farms around the world. Often these are small volume efforts, so we thought it would be great to offer these limited harvests in a way that highlights the special effort involved, and how they are part of our mission to move our industry forward through innovation, equity, quality & best practice.
Every collection will have a theme surrounding the amazing taste experience. In the first collection we will be featuring the Power of Process: How the intricate details of coffee processing can effect the way we experience a coffee.
From our partner in Dipilto, Nicaruaga, Luis Alberto Balladarez and his farm & mill Un Regalo de Dios; we feature a Pacamara coffee varietal processed 3 different ways, to compare the impact this process has on what you will experience.
link below to hear about our new ‘Roastery Collections’ offerings that focus on tasting themes with unique coffees, Decaf Quick Coffee for drinking later in the day & virtually anywhere, and more!
We are excited to add to our revelatory breakthrough in Specialty instant coffee!.
Carrboro Coffee has spent the last 17 years building & developing truly sustainable relationships with coffee producers around the world, all while honoring the hard work & quality created by their farmer partners by carefully roasting each coffee with care to bring out the unique quality & personality of each coffee.
In 2019 CCR rolled out a special freeze-dry method that allowed us to offer some of these unique coffees in a stunningly delicious specialty instant coffee that finally combines ease-of-use with high quality.
We launched this new direction of combining efficiency & quality with a Farmer Direct Relationship coffee from Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Gutierrez, whose Finca El Barrancon is in the La Palma region of El Salvador.
“We have many examples of our hard-earned Farmer Direct Relationship coffees, says Carrboro Coffee owner Scott Conary, “and of the coffees we experimented on with this process, Nacho’s coffee really stood out in blind tastings, with a consistent sweet flavor profile that lends itself well to the process & is a great jumping off point”.
Now, CCR is excited to add 2 more amazing quality ‘Quick Coffee’s’ to the lineup that feature unique flavor profiles; such as the offering from Producer Saul Melara from Ocotopeque, Honduras that has sweet citrus and caramel, and also a special Decaffeinated coffee from Colombia, so that you can still have that coffee at night, easily made by just adding hot water!
“There are so many potential situations where a quality instant makes so much sense”, states Conary; “ from camping & hiking to travel, or for anyone who doesn’t have brewing equipment at hand, this is a versatile and delicious way to enjoy your coffee no matter where you find yourself, and since it is instant you can dissolve it in any liquid at any temp! Pair it with one of our CCR Klean Kanteen Travel mugs for the perfect gift combo”.
This coffee will surprise you, and make you reconsider your assumptions of what instant coffee can & should be.
The CCR Farmer Direct Relationship coffee program fosters personal relationships between coffee growers and Carrboro Coffee Roasters. Through frequent visits, the people, farm and farming practices & community are personally known and can be fully supported year after year. This Direct Relationship program removes the middle-man and ensures coffee farmers are fairly compensated for all their hard work.
About Carrboro Coffee Roasters
Carrboro Coffee Roasters is a premier small batch artisan roaster that has drawn international attention. Their success lies in an unwavering commitment to sourcing the finest coffee through direct relationship at origin, expertly roasting these beans, and delivering a premium product to wholesale accounts and coffee lovers throughout North Carolina and beyond. Carrboro Coffee is equally dedicated to coffee education and training to ensure the best cup is brewed, and serves their award-winning coffee at two flagship stores, Open Eye Café in Carrboro and Caffé Driade in Chapel Hill, as well as many fine cafes, restaurants, and retailers throughout the country. For more information, visit www.carrborocoffee.com.
To our customers, producer partners, colleagues, friends and family:
Wishing you a safe & Happy New Year from all of us at Carrboro Coffee Roasters
This year-end transition is often a time for reflection – we have all faced a year with great challenges & set-backs, but also have much to be thankful for that keeps us moving forward… Sustained farmer relationships & client partnerships, developing new relationships and supporting communities and families at home and around the world.
Collaborating with producers & clients is a continual joy, as well as a privilege for us, and we want to thank you for your support of our program and producers partners through these difficult times, & want to wish you a bright new year for you and your family!
Together we have persevered through this difficult time,
and that in itself is worth celebrating!
We are excited to continue our work with you again in the New Year, as we work to increase collaboration, support and sustainability in our efforts & take on the challenges that are to come!
