Hello, Ruby subscribers! Hello, April! And hello…spring? Not quite yet, out here in Nelsonville, Wisconsin. The snow keeps falling, then the rain, then the ice, then the snow. On repeat. Despite the weather, Ruby staff have been braving many a treacherous commute over the last few weeks - nothing can stop us from roasting delicious coffee! I hope this month’s subscription can keep spirits up for those of us still slogging through the end of wintertime. For Rich and Sweet subscribers, we present you with organic Peru Salkantay. Bright and Lively subscribers, Colombia Samuel Gaviria’s got your back. Roaster’s Choice subscribers, lucky you, there’s some of each headed your way. Let’s start by celebrating the return of Salkantay to the Ruby menu.
This is the fourth year that Ruby has been fortunate enough to offer coffee from the Salkantay farm, which operates under the Huadquiña Cooperative in the remote Convención Valley of Peru. About a decade ago, this coffee would have been sold into anonymity under an even larger cooperative, focusing on quantity rather than quality. Fortunately, smaller cooperatives have gained independence, allowing quality to increase, and coffees like Salkantay to be recognized individually. This year, we are noticing a slightly more nutty flavor profile than in years past, which is why we included peanut brittle in our tasting notes. Sweet, nutty, smooth, and super solid, we are grateful to be able to bring Salkantay to you this month.
In contrast to Salkantay, Samuel Gaviria’s coffee has been tasting extra fruity and bright. This is in part due to how we roast it, but a big determining factor is the coffee variety, pink bourbon. It’s named for the color of the cherries, which are a salmon hue, and the color is not the only thing that makes it unique. It tends to have a complex, sparkling citrus, and floral flavor profile. When a pink bourbon makes its way off the semi truck and through the warehouse doors at HQ, it turns heads, and we eagerly anticipate roasting and tasting that first batch. The first batch we roasted up from Samuel Gaviria tasted like orange, lemon candy, and berries, which in my opinion, is right on the money, and reflective of the care that Samuel puts into his farm. If you want to try a pink bourbon from a different farm, you should snag a bag of Guacharos Pink Bourbon from the Ruby webstore while it lasts.
As always, I feel so fortunate to be enjoying these coffees with you, and I hope you enjoy them as much as we are here at Ruby.
Cheers!
Emily