ORIGIN - RESERVE COFFEES

RESERVE COFFEES are rare and exclusive offerings that demonstrate something spectacular in the cup. More specifically, Intelligentsia bestows “Reserve” status to coffees that have won awards in international competitions and those selected as Micro-Lots.

The Micro-Lot is a more intimate Reserve Coffee and an essential component of the quality development model we use in our coffee relationships. The coffees that emerge as Micro-Lots are stunning examples of where coffee can get to when everything works just right. These are the pinnacle of the coffee experience—unique, fleeting, and flat-out spectacular.

Each year, Intelligentsia rebuilds our World Exclusive Marks from scratch. Whether it comes from small-holder cooperative farmers or larger estates, we spend weeks every season cupping and evaluating individual lots, looking for those that really have the glow. Occasionally during the selection process there appears a coffee that quite simply belongs in a league of its own…a coffee so inspiring and with such immaculate taste that allowing it to be blended with anything would be some sort of cosmic sin.  Thus is born the Micro-Lot.

These coffees are usually produced in very small quantities of about 100-500 pounds and the very traits that make them great are often the most delicate—characteristics that are fragile and will likely fade after the first six months after harvest. For this reason they should be enjoyed immediately. Things this beautiful don’t tend to last and should be celebrated during their prime.

To see our current listing of Reserve coffees, visit the "Reserve Coffees" section of our Online Store.