Roast House releases Congolese coffee
Roast House coffee has released new coffee from the Democratic Republic of Congo that has local coffee lovers talking.
The coffee was grown by members of a cooperative of farmers called SOPACDI in the highlands of Congo near Lake Kivu. Years of conflict and civil war nearly destroyed the local coffee business and many growers were killed as they tried to protect their farms or smuggle coffee out of the country. The group supports the widows of men killed in the conflict and smuggling coffee with a premium price for their crops.
It is the first time coffee from the fair-trade cooperative was offered in the United States. Buyers grabbed it in less than 24 hours. Roast House, owner Deborah Di Bernardo, who had been looking for ways to support women who grow coffee and their families, is excited about the new coffee. They got just two bags, or about 280 pounds, of green coffee. But it's not just a good cause. The coffee is delicious, too. It features notes of tangerine and chai-like spices.
This promotional video was made by C3M Productions as Roast House released the coffee to their business partners. C3M shared it with us.
Roast House Congolese coffee is available in limited quantities and is only available as pour-over coffee, Chemex or French press because it is a delicate coffee bean and a light roast. The coffee is more expensive due to its limited availability.
Several coffee shops and restaurants began offering the Roast House Congolese coffee on Monday. Most shops are charging about $3 per 12-ounce cup.
Atticus Coffee & Gifts, 222 N. Howard St., (509) 747-0336
Boots Bakery & Lounge, 24 W. Main Ave., (509) 703-7223
Cannon Coffee and Cone, 1925 W. Fourth Ave., (509) 413-1898
Chairs Coffee, 113 W. Indiana Ave., (509) 340-8787
Manito Tap House, 3011 S. Grand Boulevard, (509) 279-2671
The Mason Jar, 101 F St., Cheney, (509) 359-8052
The Scoop, 1001 W. 25th Ave., (509) 535-7171
The Wandering Table, a traveling monthly dinner, www.thewanderingtable.com
Roast House will take telephone and email requests for the Congolese coffee and roast it to order, as long as it lasts. It sells for $15 per pound. Reach Roast House at (509) 995-6500 or orders@roasthouse.net. The microroastery is located at 423 E. Cleveland Ave., Suite C, in Spokane.