Today, on the 23rd March 2022, is a special day for all 70 of us DCC-ians as we turn 9. A milestone that first started with a simple idea to bring the best bean to cup experience to our customer, from the first 400 sqft tasting bar back in Pasarbella to where we are today. We are grateful and thankful with the journey that allows us to continue growing, learning, and improving despite the challenges and roadblocks. We thank you, our loyal customers, our friends and family, our business partners, and importantly our team members who are with us, past and present, through every up and every down.

As the world passed the grim second anniversary of the pandemic with all the hard knocks and the many 'No's to dining in, travelling, and gathering, we were simply like duck paddling in water; calm on the surface but working so hard under water to keep the business and the people afloat. Being in the state of constant worries  while manoeuvring the constant change to keep our customers and our team safe and doing the best we could do to run the business.

Yet, here we are today. We see things are improving around us, slowly but surely is the name of the game. Seeing the emergence of some form of normality, even those small things that we took for granted in the past, is already making us feel so exhilarated while holding on to the hope and prayer for better things to come. We persevere. We grow. We become stronger.

As we celebrate our 9th anniversary today, we looked back and celebrate the years, the moments, the milestones, and the sacrifices while withstanding the test of time to emerge stronger and better. We gained strengths from the belief and dreams of our founders and the people around us. We survived not because we want to but because we needed to. The theme “Emergence” feels proper to signify the year where we are coming back together again - stronger, resilient, and better than before. Against all odds, we persevere and grow again, new beginnings and a brighter future.

Like all our past years anniversaries and to celebrate this milestone, we have prepared our seasonal Anniversary blend, which is available storewide in the hopper and whole bean in the retail bag. Combining an equal parts blend of two new (and fresh) crop arrival from Panama and Ethiopia, our roaster duo have been working tirelessly behind the scene to have this beautiful blend available for launch.

The first 50% blend component is from Panama, perched in the cloud-forests of Chiriquí and nestled between Volcán Barú, the tallest point in Panama, and the Panama-Costa Rican border, sits Finca Santa Teresa (FST) mighty 237-acres estate, in a stunning forest at 1400-1900m above sea level. This Batista lot is a classic and one of the first grown in FST, way back in 2009.

The final 50% component is from Ethiopia, located in Oromia, Guji. Started by a close-knit Ethiopian coffee-producing family, Sookoo produces and exports high-quality coffee from some of the most well-known regions in the world. Currently, the company is led by Ture Ware and manages washing stations in both Uraga and Shaakkisso Woredas. For this particular coffee, 23 smallholder individual farmers have contributed to the lot; typically growing coffee in conjunction with raising livestock.

From the sourcing to all the roast R&D and the constant feedbacks from everyone else before deciding on the current formulation to brings the crowd flavours of fruit parfaits, golden kiwi, butter cookie and milk tea!  A delicious coffee to enjoy while we are emerging to a better tomorrow. 

Thank you again for being part of our journey and for your love and support. Thank you too for always supporting your #localbusiness.