Seasonal coffee blends and everyday house blends are the coffees we roast the most of at our shop in Concord, California. A blend is built on purpose. We taste lots from different farms and origins, then combine them so the cup lands the same good way every single morning. Everything on this page is roasted to order and leaves the roastery within 72 hours.

What a Blend Is For Versus a Single Origin

A single origin is a snapshot. One farm, one harvest, one narrow set of flavors. When that lot is gone, it is gone, and the next crop tastes a little different. That is exciting if you like chasing new cups.

A blend has a different job. We are aiming at a flavor target and holding it there. As crops rotate through the year we adjust the components to keep the profile steady, so your breakfast cup in March tastes like your breakfast cup in October. Blends also carry espresso better. Body, sweetness and a forgiving extraction window are easier to build from several coffees than to find in one. If you are not sure which roast level suits you, our guide to choosing the perfect roast lays it out without the jargon.

The Year Round Lineup

These six stay on the roast schedule all twelve months. Pick by roast level first, then by tasting notes.

• Morning Motivation, Breakfast Blend, roasted medium. Chocolate, caramel, stone fruit, citrus, berries and jasmine. The one most people start with.
• Berk’s Beans Espresso Blend, roasted medium-dark. Balanced and smooth with fruit, chocolate, caramel, lemongrass and black pepper. Medium body, bright acidity, clean sweet finish.
• Breakfast in Paris, French Roast, roasted dark. Chocolate, cedar, sweet tobacco, caramel and spice with mild acidity and a creamy body.
• Italian Stallion, Italian Roast, roasted dark plus. Chocolate, cedar, sweet and fruity with some earthiness. Our darkest bag.
• Decoy, roasted medium. Floral, chocolate, citrus and honey with a medium body.
• Reserva Andina, a tuxedo roast, medium and dark in one bag. Milk chocolate and caramel up front with a soft nuttiness underneath, low acidity and a full body. Half Colombia Supremo screen 17/18 roasted medium to keep its brightness, half Brazil Cerrado taken dark for sweetness and deep cocoa. Bold without being bitter, and an excellent espresso base.

Seasonal Coffee Blends and When They Rotate

The seasonal coffee blends come and go on a calendar, not on a whim. We build them around what is arriving fresh from origin and what people actually want to drink that time of year. When the window closes the blend comes off the site until the next round.

• Springtime Serenade, Kona Blend, roasted medium. March through June. Chocolate, spring fruit, citrus, honey, nuts and a tropical, smooth finish.
• Summertime Blend, roasted medium-dark. July through September. Chocolate, citrus, honey, brown sugar, berries and very floral.
• Harvest Blend, roasted medium-dark. October through December. Chocolate, caramel, seasonal fruit and berries.
• Holiday Blend, roasted medium-dark. November through January. Floral with pear, stone fruit, sweet honey, chocolate and spice.

If one of the seasonal coffee blends you want is not showing as available, it is simply out of window. The year round six are always there to fill the gap.

Roasted to Order in Concord, Not Pulled Off a Shelf

We put a roast date on every bag, including the seasonal coffee blends. That is not a marketing flourish, it is the most useful number on the package. Coffee is at its best in the first few weeks after roasting, and a bag that has been sitting in a warehouse since last quarter will taste flat no matter how good the beans were.

Orders are roasted after you place them and ship within 72 hours from our Concord, CA roastery. We ship nationwide, so being outside the East Bay costs you a couple of days, not freshness. Whole bean is the default recommendation. If you want it ground, match the grind to your brewer using our grind size guide.

Getting the Most Out of Seasonal Coffee Blends

Weigh your coffee if you can. A scale does more for your cup than any gadget. Start around 60 grams of coffee per liter of water, then adjust to taste. Use water just off the boil, keep your equipment clean, and store the bag sealed at room temperature away from light. Do not refrigerate it.

Darker roasts like Italian Stallion and Breakfast in Paris hold up well in drip and espresso. Medium roasts like Morning Motivation and Decoy show more of their fruit in pour over. Our brew guides cover ratios by method. For background on how roast level actually changes the bean, Wikipedia has a solid overview of coffee roasting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the seasonal coffee blends available all year?

No. Each one runs in its own window, listed above. The six year round blends never leave the lineup.

Whole bean or ground?

Whole bean keeps longer and tastes better. We will grind it for you at checkout if you tell us your brew method.

How fresh is the coffee when it arrives?

We roast after your order comes in and ship within 72 hours. The roast date is printed on the bag.

Which blend works best for espresso?

The Espresso Blend was built for it. Italian Stallion also pulls well if you like a darker, heavier shot.

Can I buy these wholesale for a cafe or office?

Yes. Our wholesale program covers cafes, offices and restaurants, including the seasonal coffee blends.