Grounded, steadfast, and unwavering. The perfect winter combo for for coffee lovers includes our North Star Blend (12oz. whole bean bag) and 10oz. North Star Tumbler, both featuring our custom seasonal artwork by illustrator Michael Hoeweler.
5% of sales from this coffee & tumbler will support The Chain Collaborative’s 2025–2026 East Africa Incubator cohort, which provides funding for community-driven projects in key areas like climate change resilience, gender equity, and education.
Flavor Profile
Origin
Kenya, El Salvador
Tasting Notes
Rich & inviting with notes of spiced cider, persimmon, and toffee.
Roast Level
LightMed LtMedMed DarkDark
Origin Story
Habil Olaka (Kenya)
Claudia Mathies De Rank (El Salvador)
The primary component of North Star is a washed processed coffee from Yellow Diamond Estate in Kenya’s Western Rift Valley, northwest of Nairobi. This single estate is divided into 5 organically farmed sections, with processing taking place on site. Habil Olaka moved his family out to Western Kenya to get away from the city, and back to his roots. They started farming corn and chickens, flowers and honey. The shift to producing coffee provided the family a chance to address problems posed by their other crops—theft through all stages of production, and soil fertility issues. Together they started learning about coffee, hiring top agronomists and improving their processing. Expansion of their coffee production has created job opportunities and provided income for local residents employed at the estate.
The farm uses an integrated approach, incorporating practices like beekeeping to support pollination and the use of composted coffee husk and chicken manure to enrich and amend the soil. The farm provides a place to train the local community in coffee production in an effort to expand their impact on the community. ‘Yellow Diamond’ is a reference to something that is rare and valuable—to Habil, that means family, land, and what the two can produce together.
We finished the blend with a coffee produced by Claudia Mathies De Rank on Finca El Paraiso in Western El Salvador. Claudia is a 4th generation coffee producer. Finca El Paraiso has been in Claudia’s family since the 1800s. This lot was processed using the dry, or natural method of processing, where after harvesting the coffee cherry is left intact and dried whole. The result is a sweet and full bodied coffee that contributes a pleasant fruitiness to the blend.
Altitude
4,500 - 6,200 feet
Variety
Batian, Ruiru 11, Bourbon, Obata, Marsellesa
Processing
Washed, Natural
Why We Love This Coffee
Our winter blend draws inspiration from the North Star: grounded, steadfast, and unwavering. Each cup welcomes a moment to reflect, reset, and embrace the path ahead.
Sustainably Sourced
Good Coffee, Better Planet
5% of sales from this coffee will support The Chain Collaborative’s 2025–2026 East Africa Incubator cohort. TCC works with local leaders in coffee growing regions to provide leadership training and access to funding for community-driven projects in key areas like climate change resilience, gender equity, education, and more.
The custom coffee bag and tumbler were designed by Michael Howeler, an incredible illustrator based in New York.
Sustainably Sourced
