Skylark Coffee Coffee Beans

We had the pleasure of meeting Afonso and Jaísa Donizetti through our Futures project in Brazil with Minasul Cooperative. They're lovely, hardworking, and entrepreneurial, even living inside an incomplete house for awhile so they could focus on expanding their farm and planting more varietals. We're honoured to support their work by buying this most recent lot. This coffee provides a deliciously comforting cup with notes of milk chocolate, hazelnut, and sweet apple. Best sipped while appreciating the rewards of perseverance and the joys of working toward a better life. The history of the Donizetti farm began with Afonso's father, Jaci, also a farmer. Afonso fell in love with farming at an early age and was encouraged by Jaci to set up his own farm as soon as possible. It started as a small property with just 145 coffee trees, producing only four bags of coffee. Over the years, Afonso invested in new land and improved the quality of his production, reaping the rewards of his hard work and dedication. In 2001, he became a Minasul cooperative member. Today, Afonso works side by side with his wife, Jaísa, continuing the legacy started by his father. Together, they dream of passing on this tradition to their children, hoping that the passion for agriculture lives on in their family for many generations to come. Elevation: 850 Meters above Sea LevelVarietal: Yellow CatuaiCup score: 83Price paid per kg: £6.96Process: Fully natural, cherries are sorted, then dried on patios

A natural Brazilian coffee from Isabela Lima Reis, a regional competition podium lot. Cherry and tropical fruit meet chocolatey depth in a juicy, sweet cup.

Welton is one of the farmers from our Futures project in Brazil with Minasul Cooperative (pictured above in the excellent hat). He’s a family man who is very proud of his farm. His life is dedicated to growing superb, consistent coffee and then processing it himself on his land. This lot is the perfect example of the lovely chocolately naturals that Welton is known for. It's got a smooth, comforting groundedness with notes of hazelnut and cocoa, plus a hint of sweet damson plum. Great as espresso with milk, but also tasty on its own if you prefer an elevated yet 'classic' profile. Here's a bit more about Welton and his farm from Minasul: The farm's history began in 1940, when Tião, Welton's grandfather, decided to cultivate a parcel of land in Minas Gerais with care and dedication. Welton grew up admiring his grandfather's legacy and decided to continue the work. In 2009, in search of new opportunities, he joined Minasul. This decision was a milestone in the farm's trajectory, allowing it to evolve financially and invest in more modern technologies and practices. With this new perspective, he diversified the plantations and improved productivity, always honoring Tião's learning. To process this coffee, cherries were carefully sorted and then dried on patios. Elevation: 850 Meters Above Sea LevelVarietal: Mundo Novo, Yellow CatuaiCup score: 83Price paid per kg: £7.25Process: Fully natural

A washed Laurina from Edinson Argote in Huila, showcasing the rare low-caffeine Bourbon mutation. Jasmine, geranium, and blueberry notes give it an intensely floral profile with Turkish delight-like sweetness.

A natural Pink Bourbon from Edinson Argote and Angela Rojas in Huila, Colombia. Cherry juice, honeysuckle, and rose notes make it juicy, floral, and intensely sweet.

This elegant Gesha represents a beautiful full-circle moment for our 'Misfits' category. Last year, we had a coffee from Hervey and Rocio that wasn't spectacular, and that was partially our fault. We had encouraged them to try their hand at producing a natural coffee, since we thought that would increase the value of their product. They had a crazy amount of rain, and long story short, the natural wasn't as good as we hoped it would be – but we bought it anyway, and sold it under our 'Misfits' label. This year, their naturals are shaping up to be much improved, and because the relationship was maintained, we got access to this lovely Gesha as well! It's a classic, clean, washed Gesha with vibrant notes of orange juice, bergamot, and Ceylon tea. Our friends Laura and William at Minga have been helping us source amazing coffees like this one for several years. Here's a bit more about Hervey and Rocio from Minga: They have been coffee producers their entire lives, initially growing Castillo for the commodity market. However, Hervey wanted to move beyond being a commodity producer, so he sought out renowned Gesha varietals in hopes of entering the specialty market and forming a direct connection with his customers. At the same, he works at finding the right process to add value to his Castillo. His commitment to finding the perfect profile is a reminder of the unseen hard work behind specialty coffees. The Minga team in Pitalito has tasted countless experiments from Hervey, which has been a valuable learning experience for us and has helped us build a strong friendship with both Hervey and Rocio. It is important to acknowledge Rocio in this achievement because women often work behind the scenes in the coffee businesses of smallholders. Rocio takes care of all the farm workers, cooks tirelessly every day for five to 15 people, and ensures everyone has what they need before heading out to work on the farm or in the mill. Elevation: 1700 MASL Varietal: Gesha Cup Score: 88 Price paid per kg: £16.50 Process: Washed

This decaf is from a Colombian project that promotes greater recognition for women in coffee by providing production training alongside gender equality training in a rural area where these things do not usually co-exist. Igualdad Mujeres Hombres/Equality Women and Men is a new relationship for us, and we're excited to support IMH producers like Teresa Hurtado and her daughter Angelica (pictured above) by bringing you this tasty decaf! This decaf coffee is sweet and fruity with just the right amount of gentle acidity. Notes of star fruit and fig mingle with sugary caramel for a vibrant yet mellow finish ... you won't even miss the caffeine. We sourced this coffee through our friends at Raw Material, a non-profit that returns surplus payments to producers. Here's a bit more about IMH in their words: Given the different social and cultural dynamics in the rural areas of Colombia, women have faced multiple barriers to positions of leadership in their own communities and family businesses. In spite of this, women’s work is essential to the sustainability of the coffee supply chain. And though this is commonly understood, many women struggle immensely to achieve management roles or appreciation for their efforts. The women’s group IMH (Igualdad Mujeres Hombres) is an initiative of rural women who are committed to learning all that it takes to produce high-quality specialty coffee. The group are focussed on processing techniques, from picking to drying, with the goal of improving flavour for sale into the specialty market. Igualdad Mujeres Hombres hosts workshops and exchanges between both male and female coffee producers. The goal is to enhance productivity in the long term, encouraging respectful dynamics between men and women in these rural areas of Colombia. Their farms are located near the Tatama national park in the northwest of Risaralda, which provides a unique microclimate for high-quality coffee production. Producers in the association are able to access the specialty supply chain, whilst simultaneously creating a respectful environment for women coffee producers. Elevation: 1600-1800 Metres Above Sea Level Varietal: Castillo, V. Colombia, Caturra Cup score: 85 Price paid per kg: £11.93 Process: Washed, Ethyl Acetate (sugar cane) decaffeination Pictured below from top left to bottom right: Producer Teresa Hurtado on her farm Las Brisas Producer Fabiola Mena Angelica Hurtado

A comforting, classic blend with chocolate, caramel, and nut notes, built for an easy everyday cup without the bitterness of a traditional diner-style coffee.

A natural coffee from Aquiares Estate in Costa Rica, bringing strawberry milkshake and tayberry sweetness. Creamy, juicy, and balanced, it is a bright fruit-led expression of the farm.

A washed Costa Rican coffee from Aquiares Estate on the slopes of Turrialba Volcano. Chocolate, hazelnut, and ripe plum notes make it consistent, sweet, and easy to enjoy.

A juicy natural-process blend from Ethiopia and Costa Rica, combining fruit-forward sweetness with a creamy profile reminiscent of melted Neapolitan ice cream.

A natural Ethiopian coffee from Bette Buna, fermented with a salt solution that encouraged a lacto-style profile. Strawberry yoghurt texture, sweet violet, and lemon notes make it creamy, floral, and candy-like.

A natural Ethiopian coffee from Bette Buna processed with red wine yeast inoculation. It is juicy and boozy in the right measure, with strawberry and mango supporting a fruit-forward wine-like profile.

An anaerobic natural Ethiopian coffee from Bette Buna, named for farm and nursery manager Mersha Syoum. Coffee blossom, coffee cherry, and sweet-tart strawberry notes make it vivid, floral, and fruit-driven.

A duet of washed and natural Ethiopian coffees, blending citrus, summer berries, stone fruit acidity, and a sweet floral finish for filter or espresso.

A natural Costa Rican coffee from Aquiares Estate, selected for summer brewing. Sugar and strawberry juice notes make it clean, juicy, and especially refreshing over ice.

Stable Blend is Skylark's steady espresso-focused blend, adjusted seasonally while keeping the cup full, sweet, and rounded. Rich chocolate and cherry Bakewell notes give it depth for espresso, milk drinks, or filter.