The Royal Blog

Coffee Tasting: What is Honey Process? Jan 3, 2020 01:00 PM (PST) The first free, open-to-the-public coffee tasting of the new year, we’ll try some Honey process coffees. Go to event site Intro to Coffee Jan 11, 2020 02:00 PM (PST) A beginner-level class for enthusiasts, we’ll demystify the origins of coffee and explore the […]

12/23/19 update: The 2019 Specialty Transaction Guide is published and can be downloaded here. We are encouraging everyone to read it and consider donating data if they are in a position to do so.   2/20/20 update:Chris Kornman provides some key takeaways from the 2019 Specialty Transaction Guide in his article “Unpacking the Specialty Coffee Transaction […]

Editor’s note: This article first ran on October 8, 2019 in Daily Coffee News. It is republished here with permission. Are Low Prices Fueling Displacement? A Closer Look at Coffee and Emigration If farmers can’t — at minimum — break even with their costs of production, they will very likely abandon the crop. There’s plenty […]

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in Roast Magazine‘s July/August 2019 issue, and is reprinted here with permission. You can view the original piece in a free online preview here and download a pdf of the article, courtesy Roast Magazine. Coffee Leaf Rust: Past, Present and Future in the Fight Against Fungus Part II By […]

Roasting on the Quest M3s: An Update A year down the road, and we are still roasting on the Quest M3s roaster, now set up here at The Crown in our roasting lab. We’ve had classes for our baristas and the public to learn to roast on this machine, and we’ve released more than 50 […]

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in Roast Magazine‘s July/August 2019 issue, and is reprinted here with permission. You can view the original piece in a free online preview here and download a pdf of the article, courtesy Roast Magazine. Coffee Leaf Rust: Past, Present and Future in the Fight Against Fungus Part I By […]

Author’s Note: A little over a year ago I reported on major changes taking place in Tanzania’s state-run auctions and agricultural cooperatives. In this piece, first published in July, 2019, in Coffee, Tea & I Magazine (download a pdf of the article here), I’ve taken a more personal approach to exploring the country’s unique challenges […]

Editor’s Note: This article first ran in Daily Coffee News on Monday, June 3. It is reprinted here with permission. Fermentation in food and drink production predates recorded history. It has served as an integral factor in the creation of new flavors ever since some first bold soul tried a few grapes that were left […]

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 June 5 from 10:00 a.m. […]

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 really excited […]