This coffee is produced by Niguse Jilo on his farm located in the Halo Bariti village of Ethiopia at an altitude of 2150 meters. The coffee is of the Kurume variety, a landrace strain native to the Ethiopian highlands. Niguse Jilo is a member of the Bore Nageso farmer group and his coffee was recognized in the 2022 Cup of Excellence competition. This specialty coffee is sourced through Mecota Trading, which focuses on direct trade and traceability for smallholder farmers.
Old Spike Roastery was founded in 2014 by Richard Robinson and Cemel Ezel in Peckham, South London, as what they describe as the first specialty coffee roaster to operate as a social enterprise. Sixty five percent of profits fund their mission to reduce homelessness through training, employment, and ongoing support. The roastery runs a barista training academy at its Loughborough Junction site, and their first employee, Lucy, was hired from a Big Issue position. They roast on a traditional machine named Torberg, working with direct trade, specialty grade Arabica. The operation is carbon neutral, with recyclable or compostable packaging and a partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects that plants a tree for every bag sold.
