“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!
We carefully paired two of our distinct Farmer Direct Relationship coffees from Nicaragua; a Honey process Pacamara varietal from Finca Un Regalo de Dios and a washed process Maracaturra varietal from Finca La Providencia, to create this unique seasonal experience of complex ripe red fruits, like snappy red apple, cranberry and red cherry, that is paired with baking spice and a molasses sweet, syrupy body.
This makes a great gift on it’s own or paired with a mug or a Chemex brewer!
Available at our retail partners or online to ship to family & friends.
We are thrilled to be kicking off our new Client Support Program by donating 15% of proceeds from all Kitchen Blend retail bag sales to support KITCHEN Chapel Hill operations.
From September 3rd – September 20th you can show your support for Kitchen and enjoy delicious and unique coffee when you purchase these retail bags from our partners at KITCHEN Chapel Hill and Open Eye Cafe, or at shopcarrborocoffee.com
Delicious coffee *and* sustainable community support – is there anything better?
