Coffee tasting at the 33rd BCA Education Seminar 🌎
Last month, we had the pleasure of putting together a coffee tasting session during the annual British Coffee Association seminar. Held at the International Coffee Organization office in London over 3 days, the program explored a wide variety of topics, covering all facets of the coffee industry from seed to cup.
The theme of our tasting was ‘the speciality coffees of today and tomorrow’. We explored a selection of coffees from Colombia and India, carefully curated by @minga.coffee and @sicc.coffee , featuring traditional and heirloom varieties (ie. Bourbon & Geisha) alongside modern hybrid Arabica cultivars, as well as Robusta and Excelsa expressions that are pushing the boundaries of what coffees may be considered ‘special’ in the future.
Huge thanks to the BCA for having us and to all the participants for their involvement and deep interest!
@britcoffassoc@icocoffeeorg@cafeauk_@interamericancoffee_eu@equatorialtraders@finlaybeverages.uk@costacoffee@taylors@cafedirect
May catch-up from TCCN ☕️
Family first, back-to-office second — thanks for bearing with us the last few weeks 🤗
It hasn’t been quiet at the office/lab, this being said, and I can’t wait to tell you more about what’s been brewing recently (picture is a bit of a giveaway 👀)
But for now, a couple of quick things as we head into event season:
QC SUPPORT 💪
Need independent eyes on your green?
After a flood of requests, we’ve decided to scale up QC support.
→ Full PDF report if you need something client-facing
→ Simple spreadsheet for your internal team
Pre-shipment checks, landed samples, arbitration, profile mapping — we’re here to help!
COME CUP WITH US 🙌
London Coffee Festival — both industry days
Thursday PM: we’ll be running cuppings at ‘Cup the World’ alongside our friends at The Coffee Trail / Acacia Hills Coffee Estate 🇹🇿 and South India Coffee Company 🇮🇳. Come say hi. We’ll be there from 1pm to 4pm.
World of Coffee, Brussels — on site for the first 3 days in June. If you’re around either event and free to catchup, ping me!
We’re quietly evolving how TCCN works with producers + importers as we scale. More on our new ALLY Program soon ✨
- Francois
@acaciahillsofficial@sicc.coffee
Collaborative Spring 2026 Cupping ✨ ☕️
Throwback to our very first public tasting a couple of weeks ago, graciously hosted by the amigos @plotroasting in Woolwich, London.
We cupped our way through coffees from across the Network that day, including gems from Colombia, Ecuador, Tanzania, Yemen, Panama, Bolivia, Indonesia (…) and a few more. DM us if you would like the full flight list.
It was lovely reconnecting with familiar faces and meeting new ones. Huge thanks to everyone that attended that day and made it special.
We’re on a lil family break right now but we have lots in the pipeline for the next few months! Stay tuned 👀
@minga.coffee@acaciahillsofficial@eastharaz_coffee@alemacoffee@summitspecialtycoffeepanama@sabor.coffee@kindredforestuk
TCCN Partner Introduction : The Coffee Trail 🇹🇿
I’ve met the Christianakis family two years ago in London. Peter (left on the picture) had joined a workshop I was hosting during which he casually dropped that his parents had a coffee farm in Tanzania. Having been fond of Tanzanian coffee for many years, I certainly took up Peter’s offer of sampling some of their coffees after his next visit to the farm. I still vividly remember cupping the fresh sample of their Geisha AA, one of the nicest expression I’d tasted in recent years. Displaying everything one would love about the praised varietal: delicate mouthfeel, soft florality and sweet stone fruit notes - incredibly delicious!
In subsequent months, I’ve had the chance to meet his parents, Leon (right on the picture) and Aideen on several occasions, learning more about the farm and what they stand for each time (their new website is live at if you also would like to know more).
The Coffee Trail is a new UK based import structure, offering vertical integration and direct connection to Acacia Hills and Tembo Tembo. Their very first container landed a few weeks ago, loaded with tasty coffees including SL28, Kent, Geisha and Pacamara. Get in touch if you would like to request some samples!
- François
TCCN March update 👋🏼
While we may have gone a little quiet online recently, the past few weeks have been rather busy behind the scene 🥄 ☕️
At the start of February, we’ve taken residency at Plot Roasting in Woolwich. We’re very happy and grateful to be part of a lively community hub that’s filled with passionate and dedicated coffee professionals. Massive thanks to the whole team @plotroasting for making us feel at home since day one and to all the people who have been visiting us so far!
We’ve been hard at work cupping, carefully recording tasting notes and providing feedback to green coffee suppliers on each and every coffee featured on the collaborative coffee offer list. If you’re not subscribed yet, make sure to do so via our website (link in the bio). We’re currently preparing a big refresh on the UK offer list, and we’ll be launching the EU one shortly as well. Lots of really great coffees from Colombia, Tanzania, Yemen, Ecuador, Panama, Bolivia and Indonesia are currently on offer and ready for sampling - get in touch if you’d like to know what our top picks are for all kind of budget, volume requirement and cup profile 😋
We’ll be continuing our partners introductions very shortly so stay tuned!
- Francois
TCCN Partner Introduction : Minga Coffee 🇨🇴
I met Laura in Paris back in 2012 on a local trade show that hosted the French Barista Championship, where Laura was competing. A few months later, we also started working together at Taylor St Baristas in London. Since then, and over the last decade or so, our paths have crossed many times both in Europe and Latin America. When the idea of the @collaborativecoffeenetwork was born, Laura and William were the very first to join and were also instrumental in formalising its business model and defining what we stand for. We’ve been huge fans of Minga’s work since day one and it is a real privilege to be able to now join forces in promoting the craft and dedication of a generation of dedicated coffee producers from Huila, Colombia. Grateful for the partnership and friendship over the years!
- François
Introducing the Collaborative Offer List 📬
We’re putting the final touches to our very first UK offer list, which will go out later this week (the EU one will launch next month).
Our green coffee offer list is tailored specifically for the European markets (UK/EU), featuring a wide variety of coffees brought to you by our network of coffee growers, exporters and importers. Sign up to our newsletter and stay ahead of the game - be the first to know about new arrivals, limited editions and clearances. Subscribe via the ‘offer list’ section of your website (link in our bio).
Explore Unique Coffees ☕️
Discover new producers and coffees that resonate with your brand, with a focus on quality and traceability.
Production insights 🌱
Detailed information on varietals, processing methods and tasting notes to help you find the right coffee for your business.
Market Pricing 📉
Transparent pricing, trade terms, availability and harvest information, so you can plan with ease and confidence.
Stay Ahead of the Curve 🚀
Regular updates to reflect the latest harvests and market trends, ensuring you’re always one step ahead.
Let’s begin! ☕️ 🥄 🌱
Six months of preparation are finally coming together and we can’t wait to share more news with the coffee world. At the Network, we are strong believers that resilient coffee supply chains are built on relationships and mutual commitments. We’re convinced this approach is key to sustaining a sector that, despite the efforts of many, is still often heavily commoditized.
In the next few days and weeks, we’ll start introducing all our fantastic partners from around the world that we feel very privileged to work alongside. Our very first green coffee ‘collaborative’ offer list will also be out next week. Make sure to subscribe to our UK and/or EU newsletters to receive our latest information, pricing and product availabilities. We are currently cupping dozens (if not hundreds) of coffees from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Indonesia, Panama, Tanzania, Yemen and beyond. Pop us a DM if you’d like to jump in with us!
We’re looking forward to meeting soon and share some great coffees and stories with you 📖
After several months of preparation, and with a lot to look forward to, it is with great pleasure that I can finally announce the launch of my newest project, The Collaborative Coffee Network! ☕️ 🌎
Our main goal is to work hand-in-hand with origin based coffee businesses, as well as coffee roasters and brands in developing meaningful, impactful, resilient and mutually beneficial trade relationships.
Most of our collaborators have deep roots in coffee-growing communities, with a commitment to transparency, fairness and honest trade practices. Our network spans Central & South America, East Africa and South & Southeast Asia, connecting dedicated producers with the European markets.
One Chapter Ends, Another Begins 📖
After three incredible years, and with a feeling of excitement and nostalgia, I’d like to share with you that I will be stepping down as Manager and Director of the @independentcoffeelab at the end of December. While I move on to new professional projects, I’m confident that the lab will continue to thrive under renewed leadership and I look forward to seeing the project reach new heights in the years to come.
I honestly don’t know where to start to express my gratitude. The journey of setting up the lab has been an extraordinary adventure, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work with so many talented and passionate individuals in the coffee industry.
To all the coffee growers, merchants, roasters, baristas, CQI/SCA students and instructors, coffee entrepreneurs and enthusiasts I’ve had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with over the past 3 years - THANK YOU for your support and friendship. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with you all and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together.
My personal email address as well as [email protected] will keep being monitored for the foreseeable future, and the service at the lab uninterrupted as well. Do not hesitate to get in touch should you need support with anything or would like to book the lab for your projects in 2026.
Looking forward to staying connected and catching up with you soon at The Coffee House and at the lab!
Onwards -> @collaborativecoffeenetwork 🚀
- Francois
📸 by @lolalaurent_
