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TAMBA was a lioness that prowled the land at Finca San Jeronimo Miramar in Guatemala years ago. She is now the spirit animal of the farm, safe-guarding the pristine grounds under the shadow of the volcano. TAMBA begins with innovation and discovery. It is a culmination of new and obscure cultivars yet to be released anywhere in the world! These wild genetics were discovered in the forests of Ethiopia and grown on the upper slopes of the Atitlan volcano. These experimental lots are miniscule in size, but expansive in diversity. TAMBA will continue to evolve over time as each exploration of the individual genetics continue to make their paw print on our world! 

This project is an exploration of a collection of experimental hybrids grown on Finca San Jeronimo Miramar. Each hybrid is assigned a string of code, indicating the lot, whether its cultivated by cloning or seed propagation, and the generation (if grown from a seed). Let's dive a bit deeper into clones vs seed generations with old write ups. 

We have eleven iterations of Tamba we will cycle through over time. On the back of the bag we will label the code associated with the hybrid. To help you navigate this project, the spreadsheet below will cover the hybrid's parental genetics and tasting notes.

For all of these, one of the parent cultivars will be coffees common in Central America (Catuai, Caturra, Sarchimor) and the other will be from Ethiopia. The African counterparts are either Rume Sudan, which in some theories has been considered the first expression of Arabica, or a wild tree with no genetic identification, and only referred to by the nearest town to which it was discovered.

The first series of events are announced! Make sure to register for either event and are 21+ to attend!

Friday, September 9, 2016 6:00 - 11:00pm 

Today is the day we can proudly report our coffee portfolio consists entirely (aside from decaf) of Central American coffees we have purchased through our friends. Our money is transferred directly form our bank account to their bank accounts - no middle men are taking a slice of the pie! Companies our size and larger rarely, if ever, can claim this. 

The monsooned Malabar coffee has been a part of the DMC portfolio since the emergence of our roasting program.  These beans behave uniquely in espresso and the monsooning process has yet to be imitated successfully anywhere else in the world. Though Malabar was fussy, giving this coffee the proper care insured a beautiful full bodied shot,

Out of necessity, we only purchased coffees through importers and every batch had to be sifted through by hand to remove stones, twigs, bones and other debris. Acid driven coffees were even more alien to consumers then, than they are today, and for that reason, Malabar thrived in our shop not only in espresso or blends, but also as a "single origin" offering. This coffee, it seems, is the last reaming relic of that time for us and our philosophy has evolved  since then.

We were no longer depending on importers as we developed relationships with producers in El Salvador and later in Finca San Jeronimo. Debris became a far less common sight and product consistency was tighter than ever before. Now, we are lucky enough to have pristine, masterfully prepared coffees we can revolve around as a base coffee, alleviating our dependency on the Malabar's characteristics to produce a low acid, voluptuous, chocolaty espresso.

Our mixed lot is from Finca Santa Rosa, with processing done by Inaginsa from Honduras. (A gentleman and great friend of DMC, Willaim Dunaway and his family operate this company.) The key to these coffees as the base of Unicorn Blood is their cocoa nib character and complete lack of acidity. It pairs extremely well with the Catuai/Caturra (Guatemala) and together produces a subtle and sweet cherry nuance.

As an espresso, you will notice this cup to be far less jagged and rough around the edges. Unicorn Blood still holds up beautifully to milk, with Dutch cocoa, cherry and praline as dominant notes in the cup. This is an exciting time for DMC family and friends and we hope you enjoy your Unicorn Blood more than ever! 

Country: Honduras
Farm: Santa Rosa
Cultivar: Mixed
Process: Washed

Country: Guatemala 
Farm San Jeronimo Miramar
Cultivar: Catuai/Caturra Mix
Process: Washed

Country: Guatemala
Farm: San Jeronimo Miramar
Cultivar: Catimor
Process: Washed
Notes: Dutch Cocoa, Cherry, Praline

A little throwback to the first article featuring our barrel aging program. While we never claimed to invent the process, we have definitely perfected the art of barrel aging coffee. This is only possible because of the support that all of you have provided us over the past three years. Without it, we wouldn't be able to push forward, exploring and creating exciting coffees. THANK YOU!! 

Tasting Table 

DRINKS Booze Brews Dark Matter's new barrel-aged coffee

BY HEATHER SPERLING 8/19/13

"This isn't innovative," insists Jesse Diaz, as he stands amidst coffee-filled bourbon barrels at Dark Matter Coffee's Ukrainian Village headquarters. "This is Old World." In an age when booze barrels are regularly repurposed to age vinegar, fish sauce, sugar, cocktails and tea, Diaz claims that the inspiration for his newest line of coffee isn't trend. It's the Dutch East India Company's historic, 17th-century method of shipping green (unroasted) coffee: in barrels, often those previously used for pickles or salt. Dark Matter's current batch of green beans is spending a week in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. Once roasted and brewed, the time in oak manifests as mellowed acidity, heightened vanilla and caramel notes, and a burst of grape soda on the nose. The coffee is sold by the bag ($25 for 12 oz.) or brewed and bottled ($9 for 250 ml). Served over ice, the bourbon scent is especially apparent. The flavor of the bottle we brought home--from natural-processed Mexican beans, dried with the coffee cherry intact--was pure vanilla, caramel and banana, but the nose was all whiskey. More barrels are on the way: absinthe barrels from Letherbee (to be filled with Ethiopian beans), whiskey barrels from Koval, and a bourbon barrel that recently held Virtue cider. Now this is a morning cocktail we can get behind.

Brain Tentacles is the first coffee & music release from the DMC record label, Press Pot Recordings. This Chicago-centric label was created as an avenue to collaborate with some of Chicago's finest musicians, artists, record labels and others working hard in the music field. This celebration of Chicago's rich music history will also benefit Experimental Sound Studios, a valued asset in the music community and a trusted partner. 

Brain Tentacles is the name of both the coffee and one of the featured bands, a super group of sorts, consisting of drummer Dave Witte (Municipal Waste, Discordance Axis, etc.), saxophonist Bruce Lamont (Corrections House, Yakuza, etc.) and bassist Aaron Dallison (Keelhaul). This metal-meets-jazz group's grinds & grooves are infectious concoctions of brilliance. Sonic-ally balancing out the other side of the record is Wild Jesus & The Devil's Lettuce Party Band, a name that is familiar with DMC fans, as it consists of multiple DMC family members. Their latest release fits perfectly in your record bin with King Crimson, Mr. Bungle and 13th Floor Elevators. Recorded at Piehold Studios, down the street from The Mothership, on both analog instruments and tape that adds a warmth and depth listeners will appreciate. 

Both coffees are available individually or as a Press Pot Combo for a reduced price. The vinyl will be given out at the release party on April 20th at Sportsman's, with additional copies for sale from the band's sites, Wild Jesus & Brain Tentacles . DMC retail locations will also sell the Press Pot Combo w/a record while supplies last. 

S.A.C.R.E.D. is a Chicago-based nonprofit that uses traditional and artisanal agave spirits to improve quality of life in rural Mexico. You may remember them from past collaborations/coffee projects like this:

 or agave distillations like this:

They use revenue generated from tastings and events to build libraries and greenhouses and to maintain water preservation systems in the same communities where agave spirits are fermented and distilled. In order to continue this growth and revitalization, they need your help. The best part? All you have to do is grab a drink and join a tasting! Here's the upcoming event schedule:

Thursday, June 28
Time to come
Journeyman Distillery
109 Generations Dr.
Three Oaks MI 49128