It’s our birthday! November 2024 marks 11 years since we dispatched our first bag of beans, so what better way to celebrate than with coffee? To be fair, we did consider other ideas, but distributing birthday cake nationally seemed tricky (and messy) so we settled on a birthday blend. We wanted something we could share with all the members of our community who are keen to celebrate with us, no matter where they might be.

Not being roasters ourselves, we approached our friends at Cedar with the idea, and they were only too happy to oblige. Drawing on their stores of high-quality green, as well as their expertise in roasting, they offered us a few things to try on a blind tasting, and we quickly settled on a combination of Colombia El Puente natural, for some fruit and acidity, and Brazil Donas do Cafe, adding some body, sweetness and delightful nutty flavours to the blend.

The next challenge was to pick the optimal ratio. We cupped many: 50/50, 60/40, 70/30; we brewed, we tasted, we even submitted it to a team vote. A tie between the latter two options had us stumped, until we realised we could just split the difference and compromise in the name of harmony, democracy and flavour-optimisation.

We landed on a 65/35 split (Colombia/Brazil, respectively) and we think it’s pretty delicious. Upfront it has that fruit and brightness that many of us at CCB tend to love, but it’s accompanied by a pleasant weight and sweetness from the Brazilian lot, not to mention the lingering nutty finish. We think it’s beautifully balanced, and a brilliant way to celebrate a birthday.

Please celebrate with us; grab yourself a bag; grab one for your friend, too; raise a cup to us, as we raise one up to you. Most importantly, know that as one of our customers, you are part of the reason that we’re doing the things we’re doing 11-years on, and we appreciate you. Thank you for your support, and here’s to many more years of great coffee.

About Colombia El Puente

The El Puente mill is a coffee processing facility located in the Palestina region of Southern Huila. Rather than on large farms or plantations, coffee in Huila is produced by small, family farms of about one or two hectares which don’t have their own processing equipment. Processing and exporting is handled by El Puente, which purchases coffee from local producers at a premium. This gives farmers additional financial support with which to uplift themselves, and an incentive to continue producing high quality coffee. Processing at El Puente is also overseen by none other than Elkin Guzman, Colombian experimental coffee-processor (and farmer) extraordinaire, and someone whose lots we love every time we get to taste them.

About Brazil Donas do Café

Donas do Café is a group of coffee producers that operate in Brazil’s Sul de Minas region, which produces about 30% of the country’s Arabica coffee. Composed of four women-owned and operated farms, Donas do Café has thrived thanks to the agribusiness expertise of its leading ladies. They work closely with the Cooxupé Coffee Cooperative to promote and assist Brazil’s women coffee producers, disseminating industry and agricultural insight through meetings and broadcasts, and providing technical assistance required throughout production.

Cape Coffee Beans Birthday Blend details

• Flavour profile: Fruity up-front with a well-integrated acidity; full-bodied with a syrupy sweetness, and a long lingering toasted nut finish.

Blend Component 1 - Colombia El Puente (65%)

• Origin: Palestina, Huila, Colombia
• Farm: Numerous small, family farms surrounding El Puente Mill
• Altitude: 1,680 masl
• Variety: Bourbon, Castillo, Caturra, Colombia
• Process: Natural

Blend Component 2 - Brazil Donas do Café (35%)

• Origin: Various regions in Sul de Minas, Brazil
• Farm: 4 farms organised as Donas do Café, a women-led coffee collective
• Sítio Coquieros
• Fazenda Santa Cruz
• Sítio Pernambuco
• Sítio Prata
• Altitude: 1,100 - 1,250 masl
• Variety: Red and Yellow Catuai
• Process: Pulped natural