Since we just released the Rodrigo Romero microlot coffee, I thought this would be a good opportunity to explain why we label our bags as we do.
It's always been our philosophy to include the farm name, region, coop, and / or wet mill on our bags of coffee. This not only provides information and transparency about the coffees we purchase, but also provides a name and place to attribute that coffee to. So much of the coffee that I grew up with came prepackaged and "conveniently" ground in tins or vacuum sealed bricks. There was never any real information regarding what coffee actually was, let alone where it came from. By adding these specifics we hope to help our customers distinguish our coffees from others.
A large majority of coffee is sold by the country of origin, usually with an addition of bean size (Supremo, AA, Peaberry, etc.) or an indicator of elevation (high grown, mountain grown, etc.). None of these designations speak to the specific region or the quality of the coffee. In fact, most coffees labelled this way are typically lower quality and are picked from many different areas and then blended together which then creates a somewhat generic flavor profile. The reason why we purchase coffees like the Luis Rodrigo Romero microlot is because it not only gives credence to the cause of great coffee, but highlights the nuance and terroir (the characteristics that the geography, geology, and climate of a certain place bestow upon wine, coffee or tea.) of the micro-region where it was grown. The finer characteristics of these coffees can truly be traced back to the farm and offer a unique and exceptional cup. This is why we are inclined and obligated to label our bags in this way.
