March 24–27, Brock and Claire travelled to El Salvador for the Global Coffee Awards — one of the most exciting international platforms celebrating excellence in coffee roasting and production. 💪🏼
Held alongside the Producer & Roaster Forum, the awards bring together some of the world’s best roasters and the producers (farmers) behind the coffees, to celebrate the winners on a global stage 🌍
We’re incredibly proud to share that we were awarded Best Filter Blend in Europe!
As well, the other accolade bestowed upon us by the people at the Global Coffee Awards was best roaster overall for Ireland 🏆 — an honour that reflects not just our roasting, but the exceptional producers we work with.
What makes these awards so special is their focus on the entire supply chain — recognising both roasters and the farmers whose coffees make it all possible ☕
It was an amazing few days of connection, learning, and celebration with an inspiring global community. From cuppings to conversations, it’s a reminder of just how collaborative and passionate this industry is.
Old Friends—Alejo from Volcan Azul
When we spotted Alejo from Volcan Azul (Costa Rica) casually strolling around on Day 1 wearing our 2025 Irish AeroPress Championship t-shirt, we instantly felt at ease. Then he showed up again on Day 2 in our 2024 AeroPress shirt… and honestly, we were humbled 🙂
We’ve been direct trading with Volcan Azul for the past couple of years — ever since Pa and Brock first stumbled upon their family’s 5th generation farm. From the very beginning, we knew we were onto something special, and it wasn’t long before their coffee featured in the 2024 Irish AeroPress Championships.
Alejo leads an incredible operation on the coffee side — producing exceptional coffees and pushing the boundaries of processing, all carried out in their own mill. At the same time, his brother Federico is deeply committed to conservation, working not just passively but actively alongside NGOs and local farmers to protect vital ecosystems across Costa Rica 🌱
In a country as breathtaking and biodiverse as Costa Rica, this work is hugely important — and it’s something we have massive respect for.
We feel very lucky to work with producers like the team at Volcan Azul. The fact that their coffees are world-renowned and in high demand is just the bonus ☕✨
New Friends—Irene from Mav Coffee
It was no surprise, then, that we crossed paths with Cup of Excellence winner Irene from MAV and Finca La Pacaya. At PRF, Irene was MC for the Cupping Championships — her energy, leadership, and representation as a woman in coffee were seriously impressive. 💪🏼
Brock and Claire met Irene on Thursday, and by Saturday they were visiting her family farm, San Antonio — a completely impromptu but very real connection. These are the moments that make trips like this so special. We were hugely impressed by so many aspects of the farm, including:A soil-up approach that uses nutrient-rich crops to naturally support coffee growth and manage pests, reducing the need for chemical inputs 🌱
A generous, community-first mindset — allowing local families who have worked the land for generations to move freely and harvest from intercropped treesA thoughtful, female-positive employment policy that supports and empowers women on the farmWe’re cupping some of their coffees this week and are excited about the possibility of bringing them directly from their farm gate to our roastery in the year ahead ☕
This is exactly what direct trade means to us — building long-term relationships, supporting producers more directly, and in return, sharing truly exceptional coffees with you. 🌎
These are the relationships that shape how we source, roast, and share coffee — and they’re at the heart of everything we want to build moving forward.
We’re bringing that energy (and a few ideas 👀) back home.