Crimson Cup Launches Meet the Farmer Series at Columbus Coffee Houses

The "Meet the Farmer" coffee tasting series continues Tuesday, April 26, with a visit by Honduran coffee grower David Lopez to Crimson Cup Coffee Houses in Clintonville and Upper Arlington. The tastings are free and open to the public.

Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) April 25, 2016

Columbus, Ohio coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea recently kicked off "Meet the Farmer," a series of coffee tastings by smallholder coffee farmers and cooperative managers at its Columbus-area coffee houses. The series – which is free and open to the public – continues Tuesday, April 26, with a visit by Honduran coffee grower David Lopez.

"We believe that introducing some of the people who grow and process our coffee will give Columbus coffee aficionados greater insight into coffee's journey from farm to cup," said Crimson Cup Founder and President Greg Ubert. "We're also offering samples of exceptional single-origin and micro-lot craft coffees purchased through our relationships with the featured speakers."

The series began on Wednesday, April 20, with appearances by Julio Arevalo Tello, founder and general manager of NARSA (NEGOCIACIONES AGROINDUSTRIAL AREVALO S. A.) a cooperative from Peru's Chanchomayo coffee region. NARSA represents Crimson Cup's new Peru La Merced Mundo Pache, grown by farmer Pedro Cahuana Cconocc and purchased through the company's Friend2Farmer direct trade program.

"NARSA is an incredible cooperative that has been instrumental in coffee development in the Chanchomayo region," said Brandon Bir, coffee sourcing and education manager. "They live a corporate culture based on the principles of integrity, eco-efficiency and transparency and focused on inclusion of peasant and indigenous families in the Central Forest of Peru."

Bir, Coffee Buyer Dave Eldridge and Customer Growth Specialist Taylor Harvey visited the NARSA coffee warehouse and Cahuana's farm in 2015. Located three hours away from La Merced, the farm sits at an average elevation of roughly 6,200 feet.

"Don Pedro Cahuana has made significant investments in reforesting his farm," Eldridge said. "This has not only helped the local wildlife and environment, but it allows more of the coffee to be shade grown.

"The coffee is a very large bean that is a mix between the Mundo Novo and Pache varietals, hence the name Mundo Pache," he added.

Bir said the Mundo Pache beans were among the best the team encountered in Peru. "Lightly roasted, this fully washed coffee delivers a super clean cup, with notes of caramel, honey, and cocoa," he said. "Some nutty notes and mild citrus acidity are evident in the finish."

The "Meet the Farmer" series continues Tuesday, April 26 with David Lopez, a coffee farmer, wet mill operator and community leader from the village of El Socorro de la Penitas in Honduras. He will appear at 10 a.m. at the Crimson Cup Coffee House at 2468 Northwest Blvd in Upper Arlington and at 1:30 p.m. at the Crimson Cup Coffee House at 4541 North High Street in Clintonville.

"Since 2011, we've been fortunate to build a relationship with David Lopez, who is one of the driving forces behind the transformation underway in the remote Honduran village of El Socorro de la Penita," Ubert said. "A leader in his community. David allows all local coffee growers to use his wet mill at no cost and works tirelessly to improve the quality of the coffee produced locally as well the education available to local children."

During his appearance, Crimson Cup will offer samples of its micro-lot coffee produce on Lopez's farm, where he grows catuai varietals at an elevation of 5,250 feet. Lightly roasted, this washed and patio sun-dried coffee has a syrupy body with caramel and brown sugar notes.

Through its Friend2Farmer direct trade program, Crimson Cup conducts annual service trips to Honduras with a group of students to support David's efforts. The company developed Friend2Farmer to ensure that farmers receive a fair share of proceeds from coffee sales. It pays an above-market premium to farmers, who can then invest in agricultural and community improvements. Crimson Cup coffee experts also collaborate with farmers on ways to improve the quality of the coffee and quality of life for farmers, workers and their communities.

Roast magazine editors cited the roaster's work in cultivating relationships with coffee growers around the world as a factor in naming Crimson Cup its 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year.

About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Columbus, Ohio coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is Roast magazine's 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year. Since 1991, Crimson Cup has roasted sustainably sourced specialty and craft coffee in small batches. The company also teaches entrepreneurs to run successful coffee houses through its coffee franchise alternative program, which includes a coffee shop business plan. Crimson Cup coffee is available through a community of more than 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 29 states, Guam and Bangladesh, as well as the company's own Crimson Cup Coffee Houses. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com.

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