Cherry Love Coffee, a new coffee subscription service based in the Netherlands, is offering four different canephora coffees in this month’s box set.
BY TANYA NANETTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Photos by Tanya Nanetti
I have always had mixed feelings about coffee boxes and monthly coffee subscriptions. On the one hand, I find them an interesting way to taste new coffees or experiencing different roasters without committing to buying big bags of beans that I may not like (and there’s always a chance of discovering something new). On the other hand, these subscriptions sometimes seem just a way to make money, often with basic coffee and with no particular commitment on anyone’s part.
That’s why I was thrilled when I stumbled upon a subscription called Cherry Love Coffee, a relatively new project that ships a new kind of “experience box“ from the Netherlands every month. Each box includes four coffees selected because they follow a singular theme, along with an activity notebook to appreciate the box’s contents even more. It seemed like a project born of love and passion.
For its November edition, Cherry Love presented a special “Canephora Experience” box set, and that focus caught my interest right away. I still remember the delicious robusta I had on my recent trip to Vietnam and was definitely interested in trying the box of canephora.
About Cherry Love
While waiting for my coffee delivery, I contacted Carly Green, the coffee box’s creator, to learn more about her story and what to expect from my first Cherry Love box. “After several years spent in the United States working in sourcing, quality control, and education in the coffee industry, my husband and I moved to the Netherlands, a personal decision that also gave me the opportunity to reconnect with the coffee community in a new way. My enthusiasm for coffee education, combined with the connections I built in Europe, inspired me to create something accessible to share my expertise while showcasing the relevant topics and innovations shaping the coffee industry today,” Carly says, before outlining her goal for Cherry Love.
“I wanted to create a tasting experience that would highlight trending topics in the industry and help subscribers enhance their sensory skills in an accessible and engaging way. Cherry Love was born out of my goal to connect coffee lovers with the people and innovations shaping the industry, while keeping the learning process fun and accessible,“ Carly says. “Each box and activity book focuses on a unique theme, with blind guided tastings that allow subscribers to explore coffee, without bias, and immerse themselves in relevant topics in the world of coffee. Whether it’s exploring the effects of processing methods, learning about coffee genetics, or specific exercises to enhance sensory skills, Cherry Love offers a hands-on, interactive experience that celebrates the incredible work being done in the coffee industry today, to be enjoyed at home, with your team or friends, or by joining our monthly virtual tasting to share the experience with our community of coffee lovers.”
A Peek into the Box Set
Because I was still waiting for my box to arrive, Carly gave me a preview of what I would find in the box. “Each box includes a blind guided tasting of four carefully selected coffees, paired with an activity book filled with insights from guest educators on topics such as sensory skill building and discoveries that are driving the future of coffees. With interactive activities and a pairing game, the experience invites you to taste, learn, and discover what makes each coffee unique, even before its identity is revealed,“ she says. “This month we dive into the world of canephora to show how unique and interesting this coffee species can be. I have selected four canephora specialty coffees from roasters known for their dedication to this species—Suedhang, Chunky Cherry, Kaffeemacher and Wiewaldi—highlighting the diversity of qualities and advances (that) canephora has undergone in recent years,“ she continues.
“We presented the insights of key figures in canephora research, such as Dr. Fabiana Carvalho, who is working on the canephora flavor wheel; Lukas Harbig, co-founder of Cumpa GmbH and Canephorum, a platform dedicated to canephora education; and Mikolaj Pociecha, who has brought extensive experience in canephora sourcing and roasting. This box set aims to challenge preconceived notions about canephora and show its potential through a sensory experience that even the most experienced coffee professionals rarely get to experience,” Carly concludes.
Tanya Nanetti (she/her) is a specialty-coffee barista, a traveler, and a dreamer. When she’s not behind the coffee machine (or visiting some hidden corner of the world), she’s busy writing for Coffee Insurrection, a website about specialty coffee that she’s creating along with her boyfriend.
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