Symposium Coffee Roasters
Symposium Coffee Roasters are based in Norwich, Norfolk.
Launching their first coffee in 2020 they are going from strength to strength.
We reviewed one of their wonderful Kenyan coffee in December, which had some great feedback.
The owner Steve has a real passion for high-quality coffee and is helping spread the word of speciality coffee in Norwich and throughout the UK.
Symposium source the majority of their coffee from East Africa. A region that is famed in the speciality coffee scene for producing world-class washed coffees that produce some extraordinary flavour notes, however, it is also a region of poverty and exploitation of people and the land.
Symposiums sustainable coffee sourcing model focuses on direct trade & sourcing through carefully selected coffee importers that encourage producers to improve the quality of their coffees meaning a higher price.
This can make a huge difference to household incomes as well as protecting the forests in East Africa. When farmers can build profitable coffee businesses, they don’t have to clear trees to create space for agriculture.
While sourcing coffees that are sustainable in coffee-growing countries is incredibly important so too is the responsibility of businesses in consuming countries to be environmentally friendly.
They use Dutch coffee Pack bags that invest in CO2-reducing projects in coffee-growing countries so the emissions that are needed to produce their bags are compensated.
Another big talking point in the coffee industry from an environmental standpoint is coffee roasting. In many cases, it is a huge gas-powered oven heated to over 200 degrees.
Symposium, however, use a Giesen W6E electric roaster which is cleaner, more sustainable and does not emit any noxious gasses compared to a gas roaster.
We sip and slurp coffee from all over the world. Discover which of these were our teams favourite.
Box 92
01•11•23
The Origin
The Valiente family coffee from Symposium coffee roasters originates from the Santa Ana region of El Salvador.
The Valiente family who run the Cafenor operation headed by Alejandro and his daughters Monica and Valeria who have coffee in their ancestry dating back to 1890 and Alejandro’s great grandfather.
The family have a farm named Anarquía which is planted with Bourbon, Pacas, Pacamara and Typica as well as having the mill to vertically integrate their business.
The Mill helps support around 65 smallholder farmers located in and around this area all who farm on small plots from 1- 3 ha in size.
The aim of Cafenor is to support all these small producers with the commercialization of their coffees and give them access to the specialty market.
They also support their community with purchasing of supplies in volume like fertiliser, provide access to training as well as giving them access to post harvest infrastructure at the mill.
All coffees that are processed at the mill are dried on shaded African beds whether this be washed, honey or natural.
Cafenor - El Salvador
As part of their core mission Cafenor are looking to be sustainable in all their practices and all energy at the mill is supplied by solar panels on the roof.
They are also looking at the water usage at the mill to ensure not a single drop of water is wasted in water usage at the mill to ensure not a single drop of water is wasted in the processing.
The mill is certified carbon neutral as they have invested in a geothermal energy project named La Geo working in El Salvador to supply the country with a green source of energy as the country demand increases.
What To Expect
Here’s an idea of what to expect from this delicious El Salvador coffee from Symposium:
Team Batch brew method of choice - Stovetop.
If you loved this coffee and want it to have it in your life again order directly from Symposium now.
Download Our Free Brew Guide PDF
Box 51
06•04•21
The Origin
The North Kivu coffee from Symposium originates from the North Kivu region of Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The North Kivu is an organic certified coffee from smallholder farmers in the Isale region of North-Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo.
This coffee was produced by Virunga Coffee Company in eastern DRC with the particular lot processed at the Katanda wet mill.
Virunga Coffee Company was established in 2011 with the vision to: “Change lives in DRC through commerce in a mutually profitable way by being a major coffee actor in Kivu.”
As well as providing a stable supply chain and specialty market access, Virunga is actively involved in a number of sustainability and social programs in farming communities.
These include an extensive tree planting program, disease prevention outreach to tackle critical diseases such as Ebola and HIV, and equipment to help farmers improve their agronomic practices.
The subregion of Isale is located just north of the regional capital of Butembo, on the outskirts of the Virunga National Park.
The region has excellent conditions for speciality arabica production with plentiful rainfall, high altitude and highly fertile volcanic soils.
The region is also very poverty-stricken and has had a severe lack of infrastructure which has made high quality arabica both difficult to produce and very challenging to export.
Virunga Coffee Company has sought to overcome many of these problems through hands-on farmer education and investment in local infrastructure such as roads and bridges. This has allowed quality improvements every season and, in turn, higher premiums for farmers.
What To Expect
Here’s an idea of what to expect from this fantastic DR Congo from Symposium:
Team Batch brew method of choice - Cafetiere.
If you loved this coffee and want it to have it in your life again order directly from Symposium now.
10•08•21
The Origin
The Tariku coffee from Symposium originates from the Yirgacheffe region of Ethiopia.
Tariku Mengesha is the sole owner and produced this natural Ethiopian coffee entirely on his farms.
The farm is located throughout the Banko Chelchele kebele (neighbourhood) of Gedeb woreda, south of Yirgacheffe and just west of the the vast Oromia region.
Tariku applied the basic agronomic practices and keep the field free of any weeds, grows pulse crops in his coffee field so as to maintain the fertility of the soil.
Also does the pruning practices with the technical help from Technoserve and distict Agricultural experts.
this lot is as a Natural process, first by soaking the cherries to remove all immature, overripe & foreign matters and than drying on raised beds for 28 days.
While coffee is Mengesha’s primary income, which he uses to support his family that includes 10 children (3 boys and 7 girls).
What To Expect
Here’s an idea of what to expect from this delicious natural Yirgacheffe from Symposium
Team Batch brew method of choice - Aeropress Coffee.
If you loved this coffee and want it to have it in your life again order directly from Symposium now.
Download Our Free Brew Guide PDF
