Sourced: The Coffee Podcast

Peter Radosevich and Richard Sandlin of Royal Coffee break down why this year's Ethiopian coffees are some of the best in recent memory, despite soaring prices and logistical challenges. They trace the journey from COE pools in December to roasters' rosters in fall, unpacking how delays, conflict, and weather shaped the harvest. Tune in to find out what makes this year's Ethiopian offerings stand out, and why waiting to buy could mean missing out.

In this conversation, Chris Kornman and Juli Burden discuss the exciting developments in coffee research and education in Hawaii, focusing on innovative processing techniques, the importance of coffee germplasm, and the role of soil science and water conservation in coffee farming. They also explore the unique relationship between cacao and coffee, the diversity of Hawaiian coffee, and the future of the industry.

In this episode, Joshua Wismans, Richard Sandlin, and Isabella Vitaliano recount their trip to Ethiopia, exploring the complexities of the coffee supply chain, the importance of Fair Trade, and the healthcare challenges faced by coffee-growing communities. They discuss the role of Royal Coffee in supporting Ethiopian producers, the significance of building long-term relationships, and the impact of their experiences on their approach to sourcing coffee.

Freezing coffee has long been dismissed as outdated advice but is it actually wrong? In this episode, Chris and Isabella share findings from a six-month research project published in Roast magazine exploring whether freezing roasted coffee slows staling.

Comparing room-temperature storage with two frozen methods across washed and natural coffees, the study found that while nothing replaces fresh beans, frozen coffee retained sweetness and freshness markers longer. After several weeks, cuppers could clearly distinguish frozen samples from room-temperature controls, which showed faster declines in sweetness and more stale notes.

The takeaway: if coffee is a few months off roast, freezing whole beans may actually help preserve quality. A myth revisited, with data to back it up.

The Crown's Director of Education sits down with Luke Waite, founder of Pomello Coffee Consulting and author of The Owner's Manual: A Guide to Sustaining a Coffee Roaster to discuss the challenges of writing for a niche coffee audience, the unique needs of a coffee roasting business, and the nuanced, sometimes vulnerable state of trying to be better than "good enough."

In this episode I wanted to zoom in and get a little bit personal. Although the scale is not massive the impact is immeasurable. Talking with Mayra, our co-worker at Royal, paints a picture of how coffee is so interpersonal and is driven by its ability to connect people to one another. In her hometown of Santa Elena in Honduras, Mayra has created economic change by exporting her community's coffee to the specialty market through Catracha Coffee. But the coffee business also funds a non-profit that extends support for her community members on a host of activities including income diversification, art, and mental health. We are thrilled to speak with her about her journey.

In part two of the series, Charlie, Chris, and Spencer explore topics such as risk in coffee purchasing, the pendulum swing in experimental coffee, who is driving demand for investment in unique flavors, whether coffee hybrids could be the next wave, defining co-ferments, the potential for co-ferments to take over the world, and more!

In this 2-part series, Charlie, Chris and Spencer go back in time to explore the turning point of sourcing and demand in late aughts till present day. They chat about 'good and right' coffee, government intervention, barista competitions, regrets in coffee buying and more. Stay tuned for the next episode on risk and experimentation in coffee buying.

In this episode, Spencer Ford, Junior Trader, and Alex Mason, VP of Trading Activity, take a deep dive into the market volatility of the past six months. They cover topics such as backwardation, the record number of exports from Brazil, Vietnam's impact on the coffee market, and where all the coffee is. They also offer advice on the best plan of action given the current situation.

Curious about what happens on an origin trip with importers and roasters? In this episode, we bring you exclusive insights from Richard about his recent trip to Honduras with Laurel Wirth and a team of coffee roasters. Tune in to learn more about two cutting-edge producing groups they visited: COMSA and Catracha.

Music credit: Joshua Wismans