STiR coffee and tea magazine

12 STiR coffee and tea | 2023 Issue 4 (August / September) North American Cupping Tour Features Burundi Beans Fine coffees grown by women in Burundi were featured in a North American road show led by two veteran cuppers this summer. The tour gave roasters and café owners the chance to cup 15 distinctive coffees sourced from farms sited at altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 1,950 meters (3,900 to 6,400 feet) above sea level in this small country in East Africa. Grown in volcanic soils, these Burundi beans feature a sparkling acidity, balanced with fruit and floral characteristics. The cuppings were hosted by two leaders of the specialty coffee industry: Sherri Johns of Whole Cup Coffee Consulting and Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian of JNP Coffee. Destinations on the "Burundi on the Road" tour included New York City, Toronto, Montreal, Houston, Kansas City, San Diego, Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver. Sherri Johns, known around the world for her cupping savvy, started out as a barista in San Francisco decades ago before becoming a coffee educator, consultant, and entrepreneur. She led the judging at Cup of Excellence competitions (COE) from 2002–2017. Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian was born in Burundi and educated in the United States. Niyonzima-Aroian founded JNP Coffee in 2012 after a long career in telecommunica- tions. Her company works closely with farmers in Burundi to share best practices for high-quality coffee cultivation and specialty processing. JNP Coffee has its own premium sourcing program, called Dushime, which supports 11,000 women coffee farmers and their families. To learn more about these coffees and the women-owned businesses involved in the road show, visit jnpcoffee.com. From left, cuppers Sherri Johns and Jeanine Niyonzima-Aroian. Keurig Dr Pepper to Distribute La Colombe Coffee Products in New Equity Deal La Colombe Coffee Roasters will sell a 33% stake to Keurig Dr Pepper in an agreement that will supply its RTD products and K-Cup pods via the big corporate's distribution network in North America. The $300 million investment represents a multiple of approximately three times La Colombe's estimated 2024 consolidated net sales. Founded in 1994 and based in Philadelphia, La Colombe describes itself as a vertically integrated, ready-to-drink coffee company that owns "the entire coffee journey from conscious bean sourcing and premium roasting to the creation of exceptional product experiences." It owns and operates 32 cafes in major cities in the United States and sells blends, single origin coffees, and RTD through cafes, hotels, restaurants, and retailers around the world. The company's majority owner will continue to be its chairman, Hamdi Ulukaya, whose founding of leading U.S. yogurt La Colombe Cafe in Philadelphia is one of 32 venues. brand Chobani in 2007 soon made him a billionaire. He invested in La Colombe in 2015. The company will use the investment proceeds to pay down debt and accelerate growth. "I joined the La Colombe journey eight years ago because I believe in its mission, quality, craftsmanship, and social impact—and that everyone deserves quality, crafted, natural coffee," said Ulukaya. "With this partnership we'll be closer to fulfilling the mission of providing exceptional coffee to all." Keurig Dr Pepper has annual revenue of more than $14 billion and approximately 28,000 employees. Its coffee and tea businesses include the K-Cup single-serve brewing system and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. "We are excited to partner with Hamdi and the La Colombe team to drive value for both companies," said KDP chairman and CEO Bob Gamgort. "This partnership will enable KDP to expand its reach into high growth ready-to-drink and super premium coffee segments and will meaningfully increase La Colombe's availability to consumers." The deal is expected to close during the year's third quarter. Coffee Report

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