FOUNDERS BLEND #1349

Tastes Like: Chocolate, Caramel, Lemon Bar

Curator’s Notes: On Juneteenth, we should all remember that the freedom to pursue your own path is one we should never, ever take for granted. I think back to all my years and experiences in specialty coffee, and I realize how rare it is, STILL, to meet black roasters, cuppers, importers, baristas, or really anyone in the coffee world, unless it's specifically related to an African producing country. Representation matters, and the coffee industry still has a long way to go in this regard. That's why, this Juneteenth holiday, I wanted to highlight not just one of my favorite summer coffees, but also Portrait Coffee and its co-founders (and Atlanta natives!) Aaron Fender and Khalid Smith. They started Portrait from a kickstarter campaign in December 2019, with a mission to change the image of specialty coffee in America, pay recognition to coffee’s African roots, and and uplift black voices in Atlanta and the wider coffee community. Here at Bean Box, we're proud to amplify their message and introduce you to their fantastic coffees! This one, Founders Blend, is their classic, medium-roast cafe blend of rotating, seasonal beans. Right now, it's a creamy, sweet, and summer-perfect Colombian blend, carrying flavors of chocolate-covered fruit, caramel body, and nice uplifting finish of lemon zest and mixed berries. I've been brewing it cold lately, and it tastes just like fudgesicles and chilled lemon bars. After all, Atlanta gets pretty hot— rely on Portrait Coffee to craft a coffee that tastes just as good hot as over ice!

Bottom Line: You’ll love this coffee if you love Colombian coffee, fudgesicles right out of the freezer, or berry lemonade on a hot day.