Coffee - Hasan Luongo | Growth X Brand | Tech Marketing & Growth Leader

a group of people standing in a field at night

Major life, work and travel highlight unlocked in 23 was visiting Kigali, Rwanda for the first time.

Its was short and very busy with the major light show event we produced for Chipper’s Rwanda market launch.

I did manage to visit a few cafes, pic above is the tasting / cupping room at Q Roasters, which is a collective representing women farmers.

Rwanda is a stunning place, filled with hills and the sense of wonder that comes with landscape, and leaves you perpetually dreaming of exploring more.

Goodboy Bob in mid city Santa Monica continues to shine as both a roaster sourcing excellent beans, and adding by far the coolest bag art in the game; and a cafe starting with the massive photo wall of all the cool celebrities drinking coffee to the always on point drinks, tasty savory food options and more.

a bag of coffee beans sitting on top of a coffee machine

Showing off this sweet Wilton Benitez Gesha by JBC.

🌎 Origin: Cauca, Colombia

A quick take on Gesha is that the flavor intensity is like the volume just turned up, and the sounds or flavors are now clear..

Blue Bottle bar at South Beach SF location.

Used to be an amazing vintage / designer clearance shop called Jeremy’s (I think), that I loved. Got a few of my all time favorite items there.

Jeremy’s was a bit of old SF for sure.

The big BB cafe was a welcome add to the area after the building sat empty for a bit and the little South Park circle had less retail action.

finca santa cruz - santa cruz - santa cruz - santa

While I didn’t splurge on this Cup of Excellence winning Gesha from Chiapas, MX (should have really), roasted by Maru Coffee in DTLA.

I did have a lovely espresso at the cafe and brought home a bag of their Santo Espresso. Pricey at $36 for 16oz, but super nice, in fact my 16 y.o said “all time fav bean.”

a coffee machine with a bag of coffee on it

Dinocat Espresso from Dinosaur Coffee on Sunset Blvd, LA near Echo Park.

Very nice cafe, with front and back patio seating.

This espresso is very nice, balanced and clean with some great flavor pops, have tried 3-4 bags and doesn’t disappoint.

a bag of coffee sitting on top of a counter

Roger Hernandez 🇭🇳

from:

GoodBoyBob in Los Angeles.

Incredible bag photo art.

a bag of coffee sitting on top of a stove

Excited to try this Guatemalan coffee freshly roasted by JBC in Madison, WI.

a bag of coffee and a cup of coffee on a counter

Lovely gift box from Kula

Two copper Miir mugs, a stunning handmade Rwandan Peace Basket ornament, a bag of freshly roasted coffee and a beautiful handmade coffee spoon (not in pic).

Rwanda is calling me.

a variety of coffee beans on a counter next to a coffee machine

Cafe Rico

Variety Coffee X Buna X

La Marzocco

a group of colorful posters hung on a wall

Espresso Lab, Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town, ZA, Dec 21

two boxes of coffee sitting next to each other

Onyx Coffee Lab - hailing from Rodgers, Arkansas and coming in with not only the incredibly nice box design but two equally lovely coffees.

Southern Weather - their seasonal espresso is a brilliant name and speaks to the thoughtfulness of the experience.

Go Get’em Tiger

#gget Minor Moments from the cafe at The Row in DTLA

ethiopian coffee recollection ethiopian coffee recollection ethiopian coffee recollection

Blue Bottle’s Fall Poetry Collection

The roaster and cafe brand not only maintains their own high standard but continues to innovate coffee.

a cup of coffee next to a cup of ice cream

Mint Chip (Non Dairy) Affogatto made with Oatly and Gilly’s Espresso.

red and green coffee beans growing on a tree

I took these photos on my first trip to Kenya in 2016. I had been in Nairobi for about 6 days then and was going to be leaving soon.

My airbnb host connected me with a driver and we headed out towards the Nyiri region in search of a coffee farm. After a few stops and failed attempts, we found this beautiful micro-lot cultivated by a young women. It was a great day.