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Meet Haile Andualem, Our Man in Addis Ababa
Since the mid-1980’s, Royal Coffee has had a special relationship with the country of Ethiopia and the incredible coffees it produces. Starting with Mohammed Ogsadey and later, his nephew Rashid Abdullahi, continuing through the establishment of the Cooperative Unions and the installment of the...
Upcoming Classes & Events in June
It's already halfway through May! We've switched our hours at the Crown to Tuesday-Saturday, but there's plenty more of the same when it comes to great coffee and events. Here are a few things we're really excited about for the month of June: Water Composition & Coffee: Theory & Tasting...
Farmer Empowerment & World Coffee Research
What do you imagine the work of World Coffee Research looks like? Equator Coffees and The Crown played co-host to a pair of recent events where Greg Meenahan, WCR’s Partnership Director, presented data on sustainability and the progress made with the organization’s help. WCR is just a few years...
Upcoming Classes & Events in May
It's hard to believe it's been two months since we opened our doors at The Crown's permanent location in Oakland. If you haven't swung through yet for a cappuccino, house-made soda, Public Tasting (Thursdays at 1pm) or one of our many events yet, please do! In fact, here are a few things we're...
Just Do Something: How Roasters Can Make a Meaningful Impact at Origin
This article was originally published on September 18th, 2015. Update by Max Nicholas-Fulmer: In the nearly four years since this article was originally published, the C market enjoyed a modest recovery followed by what is now one of the longest protracted periods of depressed prices in decades....
Coffee Auctions Part 3: Reflections & Path Forward
Editor's Note: This article is part of a series originally published in Tea & Coffee Trade Journal. It is reprinted here with permission. You may download the pdf here, graciously provided by T&CTJ. Reflections on the Purpose and the Path Forward for Coffee Auctions In part one of this...
The Colors of Development – How Catracha Coffee is Impacting Santa Elena Through Art
Editor's Note: This article was first published in mymarketable.blogspot.com. The article is being republished here with the permission of Liliana Sánchez, founder of MarketAble Trade & Development. Liliana lives in Honduras and helps connect coffee producers with roasters. She is a personal...
The Coffee Buyers’ Cupping Table at The Crown
The Coffee Buyers' Cupping Table at The Crown As part of our path to making the coffee supply chain more transparent, we are hosting purchasing-focused cuppings at The Crown most Tuesdays at 11 a.m. At these cupping events, you can expect type samples from potential suppliers of green coffee,...
Marooned – History’s Forgotten Coffee Islands
Editor's Note: This article first appeared in Coffee T&I Magazine and the original may be downloaded here. It is reprinted here with permission. Marooned History's Forgotten Coffee Islands By Chris Kornman Islands are frequently associated with isolation, and for good reason. Many develop...
Coffee Auctions Part 2: The Modern Coffee Auction
Editor's Note: This article is part of a series originally published in Tea & Coffee Trade Journal. It is reprinted here with permission. Part 1 is available on the Royal blog here, and you can visit Part 2 at the feature on their website, or download the pdf here, courtesy T&CTJ. How...
Exchange is the Only Constant: The Evolution of Ethiopia’s Commodity Marketplace
Editor's note: This article first appeared in Roast Magazine, and is reprinted here with permission. The original article can be viewed and downloaded here, graciously provided courtesy Roast Magazine. Exchange is the Only Constant The Evolution of Ethiopia's Commodity Marketplace Words by Chris...
The Coffee Roaster’s Complete Guide to Coffee Varieties and Cultivars
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in Daily Coffee News on February 7, 2019. It is reprinted here with permission. This is the second part of a two-part coffee plant type series, the first of which published in Daily Coffee News on December 12, 2018, and was reprinted here on the Royal...
Coffee Auctions Part 1: How Coffee Auctions Evolved into the Modern Era
Editor's Note: This article is part of a series originally published in Tea & Coffee Trade Journal. It is reprinted here with permission. You can download the original pdf of the article here or visit the feature on their website, courtesy T&CTJ. How Coffee Auctions Evolved into the Modern...
Join Royal Coffee for a Trip to Costa Rica
Royal Coffee Costa Rica Origin Trip 2019 March 3rd - 8th, 2019 This trip will be led by Royal team members Alex Mason and Laurel Wirth in partnership with our host E&H Sucafe. Join us in Costa Rica for an unforgettable coffee experience. Our trip will take place in the dry warm season, which...
Imagine: A Trip to Burundi and Rwanda
Imagine. Two countries ravaged for generations with the threat of violence and disorder, where even neighbors may have had long histories fraught with conflict. First under German colonists, then under the Belgian colonial regime, those who had been neighbors for generations were played against...