The Coffee We Almost Didn't Sell (And Why We Changed Our Minds)

There's a Colombian microlot sitting in our inventory right now that we debated for weeks about whether to offer.

Not because it's bad—quite the opposite. It's one of the most interesting coffees we've tasted this year. But it's also polarizing, unusual, and nothing like what most people expect coffee to taste like. And that made us nervous.

The "safe" choice vs. the interesting one

Here's the thing about running a small coffee roastery: there's always pressure to play it safe. Stick with the crowd-pleasers. Roast the chocolatey, nutty, smooth profiles that everyone recognizes as "good coffee." Don't rock the boat.

And we get it. Those coffees are delicious. We roast them, we love them, and they absolutely have their place.

But this Colombian? It tastes like strawberry jam and lime zest. It's bright, it's fruity, it's almost tea-like in its delicacy. The first time we cupped it, half our team said "this is incredible" and the other half said "wait, is this actually coffee?"

Why we decided to take the risk

We kept coming back to why we started ELSADIE'S in the first place. It wasn't to sell coffee that tastes like every other coffee. It was to share the wild, diverse, surprising world of specialty coffee—the stuff that makes you rethink what coffee can be.

Coffee isn't just one flavor. Depending on where it's grown, how it's processed, and how it's roasted, it can taste like blueberries, caramel, jasmine, dark chocolate, orange, or even wine. That diversity is what makes this industry so fascinating.

If we only sold the "safe" coffees, we'd be doing you—and the farmers growing these incredible beans—a disservice.

Not every coffee is for everyone (and that's okay)

Will everyone love this strawberry-lime Colombian? Probably not. Some people will try it and think we've lost our minds. Others will taste it and have their entire perception of coffee shifted.

And honestly? Both reactions are valid.

We're not trying to convert everyone to fruit-forward naturals or convince you that your favorite medium roast is wrong. We just want to offer options—to give you the chance to explore, experiment, and maybe discover something you didn't know you'd love.

The beauty of small-batch roasting

One of the advantages of being small is that we can take these risks. We're not ordering 500-pound lots that need to move quickly. We can bring in 30 pounds of something weird and wonderful, roast it with care, and offer it to the people who are curious enough to try.

If it sells out in a week, great. If it takes a month, that's fine too. We're not beholden to shareholders or quarterly projections. We're just here to roast great coffee and share it with people who care.

So, what happened to the Colombian?

We're selling it. It's available now, in limited quantity, with a full description of what to expect. Some of you will love it. Some of you will stick with your usual order. And that's exactly how it should be.

Because at the end of the day, coffee should be an adventure—not a routine.

Curious about trying something different? Browse our current selection and step outside your comfort zone. Or stick with your favorite. We're here for both.