At Madcap, we are so incredibly thankful for our team members that continue to push the company forward despite the challenging times. Among these members is Caleb Copeland, a Production Roaster who has been with the company since 2017. He began as a barista at our Fulton Street Cafe and eventually transitioned over to the roasting team in 2018. His interest in specialty coffee began in 2011 when he was gifted a V60 and began his daily ritual of manual brewing. Since then, he’s enjoyed expanding his knowledge and skills in the world of specialty coffee, particularly exploring the ways in which roasting can alter the flavors showcased in a particular coffee. In February of this year, Caleb wrote about a coffee that inspires him for our Roaster’s Choice program, Kanzu.
This is the seventh year we’ve purchased coffee from the Kanzu Washing Station (Kanzu CWS) in Nyamasheke, southwestern Rwanda. The washing station receives coffee cherries from the 350 members that farm coffee in a four-kilometer radius surrounding the station that spans eight villages in the zone.
The coffee grows in rich volcanic soil on rolling, steep hills that tower over the station, reaching up to 2,100 meters above sea level. The soil, high elevations, and cool climate are perfect for producing ripe, dense fruit. Alongside the elevation and soil, the team’s dedication to processing coffee at the highest caliber is one of a kind.
This was the most unique cup of coffee I had ever experienced and it instantly became my favorite.
Years ago, when I first started down the road of specialty coffee, I was offered a cup of Kanzu. Instantly, I was struck by a sense of childlike joy and all of my senses started firing in pure delight as I brought the cup close. Taking a deep breath, the smell carried layers of intriguing sweetness and acidity. The first sip was reminiscent of a hundred fun summers of sleeping in trees and adventures full of raspberry, white tea and grapefruit. This was the most unique cup of coffee I had ever experienced and it instantly became my favorite. To this day Kanzu wins my heart every single year and embodies everything I love about coffee.
