A New Take On A Classic Favorite
We recently took a step back to revisit one of our staple blends, asking a simple but important question: Does the name still reflect what’s in the cup today? After sitting down with our Director of Coffee and Roastery Manager to taste and evaluate the blend, it became clear there was an opportunity to better align both the name and the composition with the quality and character we aim to deliver.
As part of that process, we made thoughtful adjustments to the components, refining the blend to help it reach its true potential in the cup. As our sourcing evolves and our understanding of each coffee deepens, we believe our blends should evolve alongside it.
Formerly known as Riqueza, Caldera Dark Blend steps forward with a name that more fully reflects the coffee's bold, layered character.
This change is part of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring every blend not only represents where it comes from but truly shines at its highest level.
What is Caldera?
When a volcano erupts, it empties out a large amount of magma under the surface. When the magma is emptied, it leaves the underground chambers partially empty, and when the ground above can no longer support itself, it collapses inward, creating a Caldera. Latin America has numerous volcanoes and long stretches of cordillera mountains.
Behind the name Caldera
Caldera’s name is inspired by the dramatic volcanic landscapes that define some of the world’s most celebrated coffee-growing regions. In these environments, mineral-rich soils, high elevations, and shifting microclimates come together to give this blend its depth and character. Our Caldera Dark Blend is an expression of that origin, smooth, bold, and richly layered. Like the formation of a caldera itself, it reflects transformation, shaped by precision in pressure and time.
What are the components of the blend?
We chose a selection of strictly high-grown Latin American coffees, including Colombia Huila, Guatemala Antigua, and Costa Rica Chirripó.
The coffee in this blend from Huila, Colombia, contributes a rich sweetness and full body. Coffee from this region often displays complexities and exciting flavor nuances.
The component from Antigua, Guatemala, is defined by nutrient-rich volcanic soil and is surrounded by seven volcanoes. This offering comes expertly sorted and washed. These hand-picked cherries impart notes of dark chocolate and a tangible vibrancy.
The last component, from the Chirripó and West Valley regions of Costa Rica, is known for their high elevations and strict hard bean designations. These cherries are selectively harvested by smallholder producers and cooperatives. These beans enhance the blend with a refined and rich mouthfeel while contributing to a bold, lingering finish. The strictly hard bean designation reflects the slower maturation at higher altitudes, resulting in denser beans with heightened sweetness and depth of flavor.
Why did you choose these coffee components for the blend?
For over 15 years, our sourcing has focused on the highlands of Latin America, where elevation and climate produce coffees of exceptional density and structure. Grown above 1,200 meters and classified as Strictly High Grown (SHG) or Strictly Hard Bean (SHB), these coffees are uniquely suited to deeper roast development, retaining clarity and integrity while building richness.
We exclusively selected washed coffees for this blend, allowing for a more composed, refined expression at darker roast levels.
What are some challenges of choosing coffees that are a part of a blend?
The expectation of a “classic” coffee often leans toward simplicity. The challenge is to honor that familiarity while elevating the experience and maintaining approachability without sacrificing quality or dimension.
This blend is intentionally composed to be direct and satisfying, yet built on coffees that bring more to the cup than what is typically expected of a dark roast.
What do you like about the coffees separately?
Each component offers a distinct expression of its origin with structured, nuanced, and inherently complex flavor characteristics. Rather than relying on neutral or lower-grade coffees to fill out the blend, every coffee is selected for its ability to contribute depth and definition.
How did you develop the roast profile?
Caldera Dark Blend builds on a foundation established over eight years ago, now reimagined through our current roasting capabilities. Transitioning from a 15kg Probat to our 60kg Renegade drum roaster has allowed for greater control and consistency, while preserving the tactile, conductive heat that defines a traditional drum roast.
This is a classic profile, elevated through intention and restraint. The roast is developed to enhance body and roundness while softening acidity, yet it avoids the heaviness or smoke often associated with traditional dark roasts.
It sits just before second crack—full and expressive, without surface oils, resulting in a cup that is balanced, layered, and quietly sophisticated. Familiar in profile, yet distinctly refined.
Through iterative roasting and cupping, we’ve shaped a profile that emphasizes structure, depth, and clarity, bringing a modern perspective to a classic style.
What do you hope for drinkers to experience when they try this coffee?
A sense of recognition, elevated. This is a coffee that meets expectations of what a “classic” cup should be, while subtly exceeding them in clarity, balance, and structure. Versatility was a focus of this blend, resulting in a flavor profile that can be perfectly balanced, whether enjoyed black or with cream.
If you enjoyed our Riqueza Dark Blend, then you will find comforting similarities, while noticing subtle differences that make this new blend truly shine.
