Eye of the Tiger is our seasonally evolving espresso blend. We work with in-season coffees to develop a blend that shows off the flavors of the component coffees in unique ways.
Our latest addition features a natural coffee from Ethiopia and washed coffees from Zambia, Ethiopia, and Colombia.
Flavor Profile
Origin
Colombia, Zambia, Ethiopia
Tasting Notes
A buttery body complemented by flavors of bittersweet chocolate, walnut, dried cherry, and orange marmalade in the finish.
Roast Level
LightMed LtMedMed DarkDark
Origin Story
Las Mercedes Estate (Colombia), Kateshi Estate (Zambia), Michael Omran (Ethiopia), Aklilu Kassa & Biniyam Aklilu Kassa (Ethiopia)
Presenting the latest edition of our seasonally evolving espresso blend, Eye of the Tiger. This iteration is built around a coffee produced by the Guerra family on Finca Las Mercedes, a farm situated in the mountainous terrain and temperate climate of southwest Antoquia, Colombia. As devoted stewards of the coffee that they produce and the environment, the Guerra family have dedicated 234 of the farm’s 384 hectares as a nature reserve. This sweet and structured coffee acts as the foundation of the blend.
A bright and citrusy fully-washed coffee from Ketashi Estate, one of the largest coffee farms in Zambia, helps to bring out the flavors of the blend’s other coffees. The farm has been under the current ownership since 2012 when the Singapore based Olam International purchased the Northern Coffee Corporation and revived several inactive estates. Management provides worker housing on the estates, funds a school with 800 students, as well as a medical clinic and research center.
A pair of distinctly different coffees from Ethiopia contribute more nuanced flavors and round out the blend. The first is a dry-processed coffee produced by Aklilu Kassa and Biniyam Aklilu Kassa on their farm located in the village of Kellenso Mekonissa in the Guji region. The method of dry-processing, also known as the “natural” method, imparts intensely fruity and sweet flavors into the coffee as a result of the fruit being left to dry on the beans fully intact. This coffee makes up a relatively small percentage of the blend, so those fruit flavors are more subtle and in balance with the flavors of the blend’s other components. The second Ethiopia coffee is a fully-washed lot produced by the Omran family on Abana Estate, a 300-hectare farm favorably located in the scenic highlands of the Limu growing region. With most of the farm sitting above 2,000 meters, conditions are ideal for producing specialty coffee. This lot’s unique blend of spicey and floral notes give this version of Eye of the Tiger Espresso another layer of complexity.
Altitude
4,400 - 7,200 feet
Variety
Various
Processing
Washed, Natural
Why We Love This Coffee
For those unfamiliar with the Eye of the Tiger concept, we do not attempt to maintain a fixed flavor profile for this blend, as we do with our year-round espresso blends. Instead, we work with in-season coffees to develop a blend that shows off the flavors of the component coffees in ways. Eye of the Tiger is the espresso served at our Oakland and Proof Lab café locations.
This version’s component coffees culminate in an espresso that can be enjoyed on its own as well as in milk-based drinks. We will roast this version of Eye of the Tiger only as long as the blend components last.
While there are many variables that contribute to dialing in espresso, here are the parameters that have been yielding the best results in our lab:
1:2.1 coffee to water ratio in 25 seconds
Sustainably Sourced
Good Coffee, Better Planet
We treasure our relationships in the global coffee community and invest in projects at origin to support our partners in their commitment to environmental sustainability and social welfare. We also invest in reducing our day-to-day impact, through initiatives like energy-efficient Loring Smart Roasters to reduce carbon emissions per batch by 80%.
As a certified B Corporation, we are a leader in sustainable practices that impact people and the planet. This third-party certification requires us to demonstrate transparency and accountability throughout our supply chain and quantify the impact our business creates for our employees, the community, and the environment. We are proud to be part of this community working together toward one unifying goal: using business as a force for good.
Sustainably Sourced
