October 2024: Alinea Coffee Roasters. US Coffee Championships Award Winner 2024
Coffee varietal: SL-28
Country: Tanzania
Region: Ngorongoro
Farm: Edelweiss and Finagro Farms
Producers: Neel and Kavita Vohora
Process: Natural
Elevation: 1,600-1850 MASL
The Coffee:
Under the watchful guidance of sibling team Neel and Kavita Vohora, the Edelweiss and Finagro farms have begun to blossom from well-managed estate farms, spanning 1000 acres across multiple ridges of the Ngorongoro caldera in northern Tanzania, into an innovative and genre-defying coffee enterprise.
Among the family’s favorite cultivar selections are the SL-28s, coffees descended from some of the earliest Arabica selections made in Africa outside of Ethiopia. In this case, the SL-28 harvest will macerate in whole cherry on raised beds under protective tarps for a few days prior completing the 2-3 week drying process on raised beds in whole cherry.
This attention to cultivation and processing creates an exceptional coffee carrying characteristic elements of the Ngorongoro terroir (the world's largest caldera) to reveal tasting notes like blueberry, strawberry, and cantaloupe.
The Roaster:
Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, Alinea head roaster Michael Matthews' journey into the world of coffee began with an unexpected turn from the music stages he once played on. While touring the United States and Europe as a drummer in various bands, Michael discovered a passion for specialty coffee that transformed his life.
Each day in a new city, Michael explored local streets between load-in and soundchecks, hunting for espresso bars that served more than just caffeine—places that offered a memorable coffee experience.
The turning point came one day when Michael was handed an espresso shot brewed from natural Ethiopian Harrar coffee with remarkable notes of blueberry and vanilla—flavors he never imagined coffee could naturally possess. That moment sparked a fascination that has led him deep into the world of specialty coffee.
Michael soon invested in his first small roaster—the Arc 800—and began experimenting. That was the beginning of a journey that has led to multiple awards, including a coveted award at the 2024 U.S. Coffee Championships. Most importantly, Michael and the Alinea team roast coffee in a masterful way that highlights nuanced flavors while emphasizing sweetness in the cup.