Introducing Drift and Anchor

We're thrilled to unveil our latest coffee offerings: Drift and Anchor. These two unique roasts originate from the same bean, grown by a collective of smallholder farms called La Libertad, in the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala. However, the journey of this bean diverges in the roastery, resulting in two distinct flavour profiles. Let's explore the story behind this coffee, from bean to cup.

The story behind the bean

Drift and Anchor hail from the highlands of Guatemala, a region renowned for its exceptional coffee. The story of these beans begins in 1969, a time when small coffee producers in La Libertad faced exploitation from "Coyotes" – unscrupulous buyers who took advantage of their financial vulnerability. These middlemen would barter meagre amounts of maize for future coffee harvests, trapping farmers in a cycle of debt and unfair trade practices.

In a remarkable display of unity and resilience, 22 small producers joined forces, led by Jose Recinos (affectionately known as Chepemingo), to establish a cooperative that safeguarded their interests. This collective action ensured fair prices for their hard work and allowed them to invest in improving their farming practices. What began as a modest output of 30,000 pounds of parchment coffee has now flourished into an impressive 4,000,000 pounds, a testament to their collaborative spirit and dedication to quality.

The story behind the roasts

Any time we introduce a new coffee to the roastery, we roast it a number of different ways to help bring out the best flavours possible. This trial and error process involves a lot of creativity and data tracking. Sometimes we luck out and find an incredible cup very quickly, other times it can take a while to coax out the right levels of sweetness or brightness we're looking for. 

With this bean, what happened was that we found two different roast profiles that delivered on flavour but underwent quite different roasting techniques. Rather than trying to choose between the two, offering up both roast profiles gives our customers the chance to try something new: one bean, two ways. 

Drift is our medium-light roast of this coffee. It has a total roast time of 9:21 with a :50 sec development, which results in a cup that showcases the coffee's inherent brightness and sweetness, with a flavour and body that reminds us of milk chocolate, blackberry, and a smooth, custard-like finish.

Anchor is our slightly darker roast of this coffee. It has a total roast time of 9:39 with a 1:18 development. This roast starts out with a bit more power behind it, but the gas gets dialled down to almost 0 as it approaches first crack, with radiation heat transfer carrying out the rest of the work until drop-time. This extended development time coaxes out deeper, more robust flavours, resulting in a cup with pronounced notes of molasses, earthy cacao, and concentrated dried fruit, underscored by a warm cinnamon spice.

Brewing Recommendations
Both Drift and Anchor are incredibly versatile and shine in various brewing methods.

Drift: Its bright acidity and fruity notes make it a delightful choice for filter brewing methods like pour-over or AeroPress.

Anchor: The rich, chocolatey tones of Anchor make it an excellent candidate for espresso or a bold french press brew.

A celebration of Guatemalan coffee either way!
With Drift and Anchor, we celebrate the resilience and dedication of the La Libertad farmers who bring these exceptional beans to life. We invite you to experience the distinct flavours of each roast and discover your personal preference. Whether you gravitate towards the bright and lively notes of Drift or the deep and comforting embrace of Anchor, we're confident you'll appreciate the quality and care that goes into every cup.