YOSEMITE DOS SIERRAS
Under a canopy of shade trees, on the southwestern slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains in Colombia, these sustainably grown coffee beans ripen slowly in the diffused sunlight at the Finca La Cabaña estate, developing a rich, complex flavor.
Farming without clearing forest (a requirement for the Bird Friendly certification) helps preserve crucial biodiversity and allows birds to thrive through the winter before their annual trip north. There’s one bird in particular, the Olive-Sided Flycatcher, that makes its home in both Colombia’s Sierra Nevada range and in Yosemite National Park, part of California's Sierra Nevada range. A living link between these two ranges, and a bright reminder of the connectivity of all things.
We think of Yosemite Dos Sierras as the ultimate way to honor both of these Sierra Nevada landscapes and have committed a portion of the proceeds to the Yosemite National Conservancy, a non-profit that supports projects and programs to preserve Yosemite National Park. So habitat persists, our ecosystem flourishes, and your choice of coffee creates a link between a pristine cup and a pristine source.
RED MOCHA HARAAZ
Red Mocha Haraaz begins with the ripest coffee cherries, sun-dried for a cup of warmth and complexity that must be tasted to be believed. This year’s selection is one of the best we’ve seen, delivering fruit flavors ranging from bright tangerine to sugary fig and date, and a familiar dry cocoa finish.
Red Mocha Haraaz—red for its origin abutting the Red Sea, mocha for the port of Al-Mahka—the birthplace of the coffee trade, and Haraaz for the high mountain redoubt of Jabal Haraaz, where it grows on ancient, terraced steps. Amidst the turmoil in Yemen, our friend and coffee farmer, Shabbir Ezzi, pushes on—faithfully growing, collecting, and sun-drying ripe cherries. Each cup of Red Mocha Haraaz is a sweet, spicy draught of history. A bit of a miracle and an exquisite cup—perhaps the rarest and the richest of the year.
Red Mocha Haraaz is produced at an uncommon level of care. It’s from a single crop, versus mixed-age Mocha. It is from a single place—Jabal Haraaz—versus mixed-region Mocha. And while most naturally processed coffees reflect the range of cherry ripeness, this coffee is processed purely from perfect, red fruit.
KENYA AUCTION LOT
For over 100 years the Kenya Auction has been the ultimate meritocracy for coffee, with the top prices awarded to the most exquisite lots, sampled in cupping rooms around the world. Many say Kenyan coffee is the best there is; we don't think there's any better Kenyan coffee than our Auction Lot.
When the crop is at its best, we work with our longstanding partner in Kenya to narrow hundreds of lots down to a select few that meet our standards for perfection. It's an absolute frenzy—we receive samples directly and have only a day to taste, compare, and decide on our bids. With the emergence of private sales, we also purchase from the same august co-ops in the same small bag quantities, and typically at even higher prices.
Our years of experience buying directly from the Kenya Auction give us an advantage in this competition. Our approach is precision buying at the highest level, and we bid only on the choicest single lots—never stock blends. And though we may walk away with the prize, the real winners are Kenya coffee drinkers who love its juicy, complex flavors, brown-sugar sweetness, and dazzling dark berry aromas.
BIG BANG™
Some have described Alfred Peet as the “big bang” of craft coffee—the one who started it all. When he set up shop in Berkeley back in 1966, he transformed America’s expectations of the depth, body, and flavor in our cups. And that pursuit of greatness has never stopped.
In 2016 we honored his legacy by taking a bold step ahead. Like Mr. Peet’s pioneering dark roasts, our signature medium roast blend expands the horizon of what coffee can be: vibrant, full-flavored, boldly original, and roasted to medium-bodied perfection.
If you love Major Dickason’s one-of-a-kind taste, you’ll find a kindred spirit in Big Bang. This blend is crafted from some of the same premium coffees, as Major Dickason’s, but with a twist, thanks to the heavenly, aromatic citrus of Ethiopian Super Natural. It’s the perfect coffee to honor the man who still inspires us every day.