Celebrating Community and Resilience This Holiday Season
The holiday season is my favorite time of year. It’s been amazing to see our team in action over the past few months, living out our mission of “Coffee with a Purpose®.”
We’ve been busy supporting neighboring businesses too as they work to rebuild after a catastrophic fire in October. We also became an official data donor for the Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide for 2024, supporting transparency and fair pricing standards in specialty coffee. We’ve also been hard at work creating some amazing coffee-inspired gifts and treats to add a special touch to your holiday! Here’s a closer look at what we’ve been up to…
Rise and Rebuild
On October 17, a devastating fire engulfed a 100-year-old historic building, resulting in the complete loss of three local businesses. These businesses—built from the ground up by passionate, dedicated owners—disappeared in moments.
On November 2, Bear Lake Coffee Co. opened its doors to support these local businesses affected as they began the rebuilding process. We dedicated 100% of that day's sales revenue at our Barronett Coffeehouse to a community fund created to help them get back on their feet. Partnering with 20-Mile Organic and Local General Store, we raised an ~ $3,000—a powerful testament to our community's resilience and generosity. This accomplishment serves as a reminder of why I’m so proud to be part of this small town with a big heart!
Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide 2024
Becoming a data donor for the Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide (SCTG) in 2024 is a significant commitment that benefits coffee farmers worldwide. By contributing detailed contract data, donors help create a comprehensive, anonymized dataset offering transparent pricing benchmarks for specialty coffee. This transparency empowers farmers with accurate market information, enabling informed negotiations and fostering fairer pricing structures. Access to transparent pricing information allows farmers to negotiate fair prices for their coffee, supporting investments in their farms, providing for their families, and sustaining their communities.
“When farmers have clear insight into coffee pricing, they can truly understand the worth of their hard work, leading to fairer compensation and sustainable livelihoods.”
~Gabe Damiani, Founder Bear Lake Coffee Co.
Coffee for the holidays
This holiday season, Caleb, our Head of Coffee, has crafted a Geisha Reserve Gift Set for the coffee connoisseur in your life. Showcasing rare coffees, this collection features exquisite floral notes and exceptional sweetness from some of the world’s most celebrated farms:
- Colombia Red Bourbon Geisha Campo Hermoso – Crisp and complex, with notes of starfruit, strawberry, and stonefruit.
- Costa Rica Central Valley Honey Geisha – Honey-processed with hints of honey, nutmeg, and florals.
- Ethiopia Gesha Village Surma 1931 Mossto Anaerobic Honey – An ultra-rare nano lot with flavors of watermelon, strawberry, red apple, and delicate spices.
Perfect for gifting or savoring, this collection will make this holiday one to remember!
The Seasonal Blend Gift Set offers a collection of our seasonal blends, crafted to warm hearts and inspire holiday gatherings.
- Holiday Blend – Celebrate the season with a unique African blend from Kenya and Ethiopia. Notes of pomegranate, cardamom, mulled raspberries, and a red wine body evoke holiday warmth and joy.
- Frozen Tundra Blend – A cozy winter blend with Honduran, Costa Rican, and Ethiopian beans. Enjoy notes of candied pecans, dark chocolate, and raspberry, perfect for winter gatherings.
- Midnight Stargazer Espresso Blend - A bold, low-acidity espresso blend for both traditionalists and adventurers, featuring washed Bourbon, Caturra, Natural Pacas, and heirloom naturals from Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Ethiopia, with a rich body and notes of milk chocolate, caramel, nuts, and fruity
For those who appreciate a unique, bold twist, our El Salvador Wheat Whiskey Barrel-Aged Coffee—created in collaboration with 45th Parallel Distilling—offers deep, complex flavors with hints of whiskey and oak. This exclusive release features our 93-point El Salvador Natural Pacas, aged to perfection in Red Fife Whiskey barrels. The result? A bold, heavy-bodied coffee with captivating notes of whiskey, crisp apple, caramel, chocolate, and hazelnut—perfect for those who crave a spirited cup without a drop of alcohol. With only 100 lb. available, this limited-edition coffee is a must-have for any coffee lover or whiskey enthusiast. Reserve yours now for a holiday experience to savor long after the season ends!
These limited-edition coffees are all available now—order while supplies last and bring exceptional flavor to your holiday season!
Bites for the holidays
Mayana Chocolate, a local neighboring business located a few miles down the road from us in Barronett, is a remarkable company dedicated to quality and craftsmanship. It has been quietly producing award-winning chocolates that deserve a spot in the spotlight. We are proud to partner with them to bring you the Bear Lake Coffee Co. Barronett Crunch Bar—our own collaboration with Mayana.
Meet The Barronett Crunch Bar—a next-level take on the classic Twix. This decadent treat combines Bear Lake Coffee Co.'s cold brew ganache, smooth salted caramel, and crunchy pecan praline, all wrapped in rich dark chocolate. It’s the ultimate indulgence for coffee and chocolate lovers and makes a perfect gift or stocking stuffer. We only have limited stock available, so grab yours while they can!
Closing Thoughts
As we move into the holiday season, I find myself reflecting on what truly matters—the friendships we build and the energy we put forth to support each other through the ups and downs of life. At Bear Lake Coffee, our mission has always been clear: to use our business as a force for good, to serve as a beacon of hope for underserved communities, to bring people together by creating a welcoming space for everyone, and to make the world a better place for future generations.
Wishing you a holiday season filled with finding common ground(s) 😊 with loved ones and savoring some truly good coffee along the way!
From my family to yours, thank you for being part of our story.
Warmest wishes,
Founder and Licensed Q Grader
