Meet the South Bay Roaster Importing Coffees as Rare as a Holographic Charizard Card | Eater SF

"Opened on October 13, 2012, the San Jose roaster and café has from the start brought ultra-rare, award-winning coffees to the South Bay specialty scene. I’ve watched it source Cup of Excellence–winning lots (including a Gesha peaberry varietal that retailed for $31 a bag) and pay premium prices—commonly $16 a pound in 2021 and up to $65 a pound, plus as much as $120 in shipping—to secure exceptional beans. The shop forges direct relationships with farmers and cooperatives (even partnering with Port of Mokha to sell Yemeni beans) and, if asked, will put customers on the phone with producers; the focus is always on where the coffee comes from and the origin story, rather than flash. You can order rare offerings online—right now Luiz Saldhana’s thermal-shocked Brazilian beans are about $25—or pick up anything from a careful pour-over to a yeoman’s vanilla latte at the small Lincoln Avenue outlet, which has a DIY, industrial aesthetic. Early releases like Holy Mountain nod to pop-culture influences, while staples such as Finca San Jose from El Salvador keep regulars coming back." - Paolo Bicchieri