October 2023
Welcome to our first (ever) newsletter!
It has been a few months since our coffee lab project was launched and, as we’re getting busier, we figured now would be the perfect time to spread our wings and start sending out regular updates into the larger world and coffee community. With many projects in our pipeline, we will strive to send out a monthly newsletter from now on with our latest news and upcoming events, alongside insightful information. But first things first, for those who are not yet acquainted with our project, let us (re)introduce ourselves:
The Independent Coffee Lab is a newly established collaborative coffee laboratory, tasting room, training hub and consulting agency based in Central London, UK.
As the name suggests, independence is the fundamental value of our project. We want to offer our clients and partners the guarantee that our services and advice will always be completely honest, transparent and non-biased. We make sure to never be committed or have any type of commercial interest or affiliation with any coffee roasting, green coffee import or equipment manufacturing businesses in order to remain completely neutral and trustworthy.
The lab is also a collaborative coffee co-working space. It is designed for coffee people, whether hardened industry veterans or home brewing enthusiasts. It is available to everyone, and for a variety of uses. It can be utilized as a tasting room to cup coffee samples and meet with London based customers. If you’re operating a small coffee roasting or coffee import business and are not ready to invest in a large cupping room, sample roasting equipment or analysing tools, the lab can be hired one day a week or one day a month (or even for just a couple of hours) to conduct your coffee quality assurance on green and roasted coffees. Or perhaps you are looking for a conveniently located space to organize your own coffee trainings and certified courses?
If you have any question about The Independent Coffee Lab setup or have specific needs for your business and projects, feel free to reach out to us. We would love to assist you and be part of your coffee journey!
Join us on Friday the 3rd of November from 10am to 12pm for an exclusive tasting session with Royalty Specialty Coffees featuring relationship coffees from Brazil, Kenya, Peru, Colombia & Ethiopia. A large selection will be available to sample:
Brazil : natural, pulped natural and fermentation lots from a variety of producers of the Sul de Minas and Alta Mogiana regions (Crop 23/24).
Kenya : washed AA and AB lots from Kericho County.
Colombia : washed lots from Finca las Cruces and Apecafe of Quinchia, Risaralda.
Ethiopia : washed and natural lots from Arbegona, Sidama.
Peru : washed ‘single producer’ micro lots.
Participation is free, but space is limited and strictly reserved to coffee roasters and green coffee buyers. Tickets are available on the ‘Tasting Events’ section of our website here
Introducing our most ambitious and purposeful project to date.
The Collaborative Coffee Exhibition is a UK based networking platform whose aim is to create connections between coffee growers and importers or roasters. Its purpose is to offer coffee producers who may not have the time, resources or local connections the tools to increase their market access, physical presence and visibility. We will do this by promoting their coffees in collaborative tasting sessions and ‘discovery’ exhibitions held at our coffee lab in Central London. It will also create an opportunity for coffee importers and roasters who have an interest in creating new direct trade relationships but lack such direct connections with coffee growers.
During the tasting session, 12 coffees from multiple producers will be presented to the invited green coffee buyers and importers, alongside their technical information and backstories. To ensure diversity on the cupping table and to avoid the domination of any one participant, a maximum of 4 samples can be submitted by each participating company / producer.
If the participating producers live abroad and cannot be present in person, the independent coffee lab will endeavour to represent them and promote their products in their name. They will also be able to submit a short ‘profile’ video introducing their company, people, facilities, coffees and any other relevant information that is worth sharing with the exhibition attendees.
If you are a coffee producer and looking to extend your reach and market access in London (and the UK/EU), please get in touch to receive all the information on how to participate and join this collaborative project.
Keep your eyes peeled, first edition coming soon!