Sanctuary

Sanctuary honors Counter Culture’s legacy of environmental stewardship and co-founder Fred Houk, an avid birder and environmentalist. The line first launched in 1997 to celebrate shade-grown coffees and their role in protecting biodiversity, and this limited-release blend continues that mission. It brings together coffees from shade-dense farms in Guatemala and India that honor the vital link between coffee and nature. With notes of praline, brown sugar, and apple, Sanctuary is as delicious as it is purposeful—a tribute to Fred’s vision.

The bag design features the national birds of Guatemala and India, the Resplendent Quetzal and the Indian Peafowl, respectively.

Pronunciation: SANK-choo-air-ee

Counter Culture Coffee presents Sanctuary, a selection sourced from Guatemala. This offering highlights the classic profile often associated with the region, which is frequently celebrated for its balanced acidity and approachable sweetness. While Guatemala is renowned for diverse microclimates that influence cup character, this specific lot emphasizes comforting, dessert-like qualities. The roaster identifies notes of praline, brown sugar, and apple, a combination that invites exploration through the flavor wheel to better understand how these distinct sugars and orchard fruit tones interact in the cup.

As a staple from Counter Culture Coffee, Sanctuary serves as an excellent example of how careful sourcing can highlight the inherent sweetness of high-quality beans. Whether enjoyed as a morning brew or a mid-day treat, the profile remains grounded and consistent. It provides a clear look at how traditional processing methods can yield a clean, sugary finish that appeals to a wide range of palates.