Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Manhattan Coffee

Jun 2022

Diego Bermudez

El Tambo, Cauca, Colombia

Process: Thermal Shock Anaerobic
Varietal: Castillo
Growing Altitude: 1800masl
Tasting Notes: Turkish Delight, Raspberry, Lychee

Sent to all subscribers

Kormii

Odo Shakiso, Guji Zone, Ethiopia

Process: Natural
Varietal: Gibirinna 74110, Serto 74112
Growing Altitude: 2173masl
Tasting Notes: Blueberry, Sugar Plum, Purple Grape

Sent to Brewer Box and Cafe Box subscribers

Jimena Rivera

Pijao, Quindío, Colombia

Process: Anaerobic Natural
Varietal: Gesha
Growing Altitude: 1950masl
Tasting Notes: Strawberry, Green Grape, Violet

Sent only to Cafe Box subscribers

Jose Luis

Malacatos, Loja, Ecuador

Process: Anaerobic + Aerobic Washed
Varietal: Sidra
Growing Altitude: 1600-1700masl
Tasting Notes: Valencia Orange, Quince, Nectarine

Sent only to Cafe Box subscribers

06/2022 -  Rotterdam, The Netherlands logo

Journal — June 2022

It has been about a year and a half since we first shared Manhattan with our Yonder community, and I’m very excited to be bringing them back on for another feature this month. The coffees we‘re bringing on all shine, but I’m especially excited by the range of varietals and processing innovations featured. Esther, Ben, and their team do fantastic work, and I can‘t wait to hear what you think. As always, feel free to reach out and share your brew recipes, reviews, feedback, etc.

Esther Maasdam and Ben Morrow established Manhattan Coffee Roasters in 2017 in The Netherlands’ harbor city of Rotterdam. The name Manhattan is inspired by the harbor of Rotterdam and the history of the Holland-America line that sailed from Rotterdam to Manhattan in the 19th Century. The city’s spectacular skyline and the iconic bridges over the river Maas has earned Rotterdam the nickname of “Manhattan at the Maas.” Those bridges inspired Manhattan’s logo, and to me, also represent who they are as a link between the world’s coffee lovers and producers.

Esther and Ben have over 30 years of combined experience in the coffee industry and built their relationship over many years meeting up at competitions. They first met at a Latte Art smackdown and continued to compete against and with each other for years. At the roastery you’ll find a trophy cabinet jam-packed with many years’ worth of awards including multiple Latte Art competitions, Cup Tasters and Coffee Masters titles. Ben is actually the only person in the world to win Coffee Masters twice. But you’ll never hear Manhattan talk about that. Instead, they aim to fade into the background while each coffee farmer takes center stage.

As a company, Manhattan is focused on sourcing and roasting interesting, high quality, specialty coffee. They source coffee by way of direct trade partnerships as well as through trusted importers. They are committed to a healthy future for the coffee industry through their cooperation, partnership, and investment with farmers, producers and community leaders around the world. Manhattan roasts on a beautiful, refurbished 1950s Probat Lg12 that Esther had customized with pt1000 probes to measure the air, bean, and environmental temperature throughout the roasting process. This information helps ensure complete control, accuracy, and consistency in every roast.

If you’ve been with us a while, you may remember Diego Bermudez from our last Manhattan feature. This year’s crop is even better than before—although, if I’m being honest, José Luis’s Sidra from Ecuador is my favorite this month. We hope you enjoy them!

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