BUY ISSUE 55 NOW (4 issues delivered to your door!) or find a copy at one of our incredible Distributors
One of the most nerve-wracking parts of my professional life is receiving the first printed copy of each edition. The real thing is always a bit different to how the proofs looked and certainly how it looked on screen. You think I would be used t0 the feeling, 55 Editions later, but that same anxiety always creeps in. Cracking open the spine for the first time, my eyes can't help looking for details. But I have to say, that when I first saw this cover, I didn't think about that, I just thought. Gosh, that looks GOOD!
Inspired by both an album cover that no-one born after 2000 will recognise, and an homage to our own 20th Edition cover shoot, we're proud of how Issue 55 came together. And just wait until you get inside!
We're also thrilled to partner with 4WKS to bring 3000 of our lucky readers a delicious Drip Bag from a variety of excellent roasters.
Cover: A feast for the Senses
A kaleidoscope of flavour awaits with each new cup of coffee. Communication breakdown can lead to a lot of frustration between coffee professionals and coffee lovers, but the more we talk about flavour the more fun we can have with it. And the perception of coffee has changed over the years. Coffee professional, Kerstin Lambert illuminates us.
Adventure: Forged by Fire - An adventure in Guatemala
For a country that has over 30 volcanos with a few of them still very active, Guatemala really has a lot of great coffee! Matt Carter explores the coffee and the culture.
Roast: Back to Back - Champions staying Humble
For the first time in the history of the A Shot in the Dark roasting competition, a roastery has retained the title! Mostly known for its bustling cafe, Humble Coffee is a roastery at its core and where the business began.
Brew: Weighing it Up
On balance, one of the most effective methods to improve your brewing game is to use a scale. The thing that separates the amateurs from the pros is the ability to measure and repeat excellence. BUT this doesn't mean home users need to feel overwhelmed and excluded from excellence. It is only a simple scale away!
Discover: Okinawa’s Secret Coffee Culture
With the coffee world searching for viable alternatives to the major coffee producers in the midst of concern over future supply, we love to hear about ‘secret’ coffee regions. Better yet that it’s found in Japan, a country that should be very high on your travel To Do list!
Business: Plant-power!
Café culture has been transforming around the world. A decade ago, trying to order an oat milk latte in a South African café would have likely been met with a blank stare. Today, requesting an oat cortado from a barista is as routine as asking for an extra shot. This is not just a preference change; it has been an intentional revolution. We are proud to shine a light on homegrown success story, Buttanutt!
Origin: Journal of a Coffee Trader
Most of a coffee importers days are spent behind a desk managing shifting numbers and incoming orders and deliveries to and from coffee roasters. Making the process of getting coffee from many far flung coffee origins to the roasters is anything but simple, but every now and then they get to visit their suppliers at the other end of the value chain. And on very special occasions it takes them to the birthplace of coffee, Ethiopia. Jarrod Faber of Green Coffee Supply takes us along for his whirlwind trip.
Barista Stories: Meet Joshua Chitongo and Khutso Menyoko
We love to feature stories from behind the coffee bar. And we’ve got two gems in this edition...
