MICE 2022 - DAY TWO

FRIENDS

Human connection and quality is in the DNA of everything ST. ALi does. The people we choose to support and the work we put out is all connected to these core values. 'Friends' celebrates a handful of the key relationships ST. ALi has fostered over the lifetime of the business, from old to new. It is a showcase of the journey we have taken together and a presentation of the works our combined skills have come together to produce. In an increasingly fast moving world, ST. ALi values long term relationships that buoy both parties through the easy times and the hard. We base our purchasing decisions on these commitments and our steadfast focus on quality. 

These relationships are timeless.


TASTING MENU


ST. ALi stumbled across the Vides Family in 2015, this random meeting of the minds evolved into a relationship built on trust and communication. Harking from Panama, Finca Santa Teresa has been a part of ST. ALi’s regular suite for almost as many years as ST. ALi itself. The relationship, established when ST. ALi was only a small roastery down a back alley, spans over 10 years. 


From the slopes of Tolima in Colombia, Forest Coffee are the newcomers on the scene. ST. ALi connected with the team on Instagram and on tasting their coffee, made a commitment to stay the distance. 


All the coffees presented in this collection are an expression of why these partnerships are special to us. 

Gesha Bloom - El Vergel - Double Fermentation

Sometimes when you meet someone for the first time you just connect and from that point on you instinctively know you are going to have a great relationship. Our good friend Ben Morrow first told us about El Vergel and our buyer Lucy stalked them on Instagram until her curiosity got the better of her and she got a bunch of samples sent her way. Needless to say we were blown away! Lucy jumped on a Skype call with them right away and us working together just made sense from day one. 


This might only be our first year buying coffee from El Vergal but it won't be the last by any shot. We are committed to long term relationships and so are the El Vergel team. We are operating on a platform of transparency and raw honest communication. That to us is the foundation of a great relationship.


Name 

Gesha Bloom - El Vergel - Double Fermentation

Farm

El Vergel

Producer 

Shady & Elias Bayter Montenegro

Country

Colombia

Region 

Tolima 

MASL 

1460

Variety 

Gesha

Processing 

Double Fermentation

Notes

Strawberry & Banana

Length of Relationship

One Year - and counting

La Cruz - Vides - Washed

The relationship between Vides and ST. ALi happened organically as all good relationships do. One day, seven or maybe eight years ago,  when wandering around Guatemala tasting samples and getting increasingly frustrated with the poor offerings she was receiving, she text Renardo (Nayo) Orvalle asking if she could ditch her current meeting and come and cup with him instead. His coffees were all so good that she made her entire Guatemala selection based on that one last minute cupping. Its not just sometimes good, it is always good. So every single year without fail we buy these coffees, the Vides Family knows they can rely on us to always come back for more. That is the kind of relationship that makes us tick. 


More than just great quality, this third generation coffee producing family has a huge focus on sustainable and fair practices that bolster the community. We really love this about them and that commitment is one of the big things that make us proud to serve their coffee on our bars every single year.


Name 

La Cruz - Vides - Washed

Farm 

Finca Las Camelias

Producer 

Vides Family 

Country

Guatemala

Region 

Huehuetenango 

MASL 

1790

Variety 

Catuai & Caturra

Processing 

Washed 

Notes

Lychee Juice & Grilled Pineapple 

Length of Relationship

Seven years 

GESHA SOPHIE - FINCA SANTA TERESA - Natural

Finca Santa Teresa produced the very first Gesha green buyer Lucy ever drank and she has been chasing that classic washed Gesha taste ever since. Head Roaster Chris has also got a long history with Finca Santa Teresa, currently owned by his last boss Toby Smith. In fact it was on Finca Santa Teresa that Chris and Lucy first met. 


The Sophie plot is the highest on the farm and made up entirely of green tip Gesha. The farm sits right next to Volcan Baru, you can see its peak from the farm and is right next door to one of our other favourite Panamanian farms Hartmann Estate.


Name 

Gesha Sophie - Finca Santa Teresa - Natural

Farm 

Finca Santa Teresa

Producer 

Toby Smith

Country

Panama

Region 

Santa Clara, Renacimiento 

MASL 

1580

Variety 

Gesha

Processing 

Natural 

Notes

Lychee Juice & Fresh Apricot

Length of Relationship

On and off for 12+ years

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