Issue 38: Spick, Span & Coffee

Steeped in the theme of cleanliness, in our spring 2026 edition we will be covering the essentials of a proper cafe hygiene routine, because keeping things spotless isn’t optional, it’s essential. Continuing the theme, our photo essay will peak behind the oft-overlooked spaces in the coffee shop that nevertheless catch the public eye.

Our origin profile will take you to East Timor, also known as Timor Leste, one of the world’s top producers of organic coffee, while our city profile roams the sun-drenched streets of Madrid, to survey its delights and chase down all that coffee with as much vermouth.

On a spicier note, we will explore the surprising parallels between coffee and pepper, before heading into murky ethical waters with a deep dive into the infamous kopi luwak—the coffee world’s most controversial cup. What does our reaction to it reveal about our values and morals?

The season’s complimentary coffee sample for our subscribers is a naturally processed Santa Cristina Family Selection coffee, grown by Hernandez family and roasted by our friends from Kaffeelix Roastery in Austria. A perfect springtime brew, it unveils beautiful notes of vanilla, hazelnut, nougat, and red berries—beautifully balanced, with a medium body and delightful sweetness.

The Hernandez family, producers of Issue 38: Spick, Span & Coffee, bring a unique perspective to the specialty landscape with this natural-processed offering from Timor. Natural-processed coffees, which are dried with the fruit intact, often develop a distinct sweetness and complexity that sets them apart from washed counterparts; you can learn more about how these techniques influence the final cup in our processing methods explainer.

This specific lot from Standart highlights a profile defined by vanilla, hazelnut, nougat, and red berries. These descriptors reflect a balanced interplay between nutty, confectionary sweetness and bright fruit undertones. To better understand how these specific characteristics fit into the broader spectrum of coffee profiles, we recommend consulting our flavor wheel. By exploring these nuances, drinkers can gain a deeper appreciation for the careful cultivation practices employed by the Hernandez family in Timor and the intentional roasting approach applied by the team at Standart.