Groundwork Staff Picks
The way we see it, you don’t work with coffee day in and day out if you don’t love coffee. We’re referring, of course, to a passionate, some might say irrational, occasionally inexplicable love affair with beans and everything that goes into preparing an amazing cup.
With that in mind, we’ve taken the long-overdue step of pulling back the curtain, and sharing with you some of our favorite offerings. In no particular order:
Bitches Brew
Why we love it: This blend was crafted to celebrate the innovation and originality of Miles Davis’ music, and to honor his legacy by putting a caffeinated twist on his creativity. Of our dark roast coffees, this is a favorite for its subtle smokiness and for the rich, nutty notes of caramel. It’s the perfect bold blend to get us going on a Monday morning.
How we brew it: Another reason we love this coffee is because it’s easy to brew — in fact, we recommend brewing it using a drip method, which means a little extra time to get ready (or to hit the snooze button again).
Papua New Guinea
Why we love it: Not everyone on our staff wants to start their day with one of our boldest blends. In fact, a number of us prefer the warmth and subtlety of our Papua New Guinea single origin because it’s great for sipping all day long. This coffee has a tartness that likens it to some of our lighter roast coffees, but it has a rich body and chocolatey backbone to help start the day right.
How we brew it: This coffee works in a drip brewer, but our favorite way to brew it is by using the AeroPress method. One benefit of the AeroPress method is that it’s compact and portable, meaning we can brew a cup no matter where we are.
Heirloom Blend
Why we love it: Although our Heirloom Blend changes slightly when we get new lots in from farms across Ethiopia, we love that it showcases the best profiles of coffee from the region. We make sure to include both natural- and washed-process coffees so that this blend has a distinct fruitiness that makes it easy to drink, especially over ice.
How we brew it: We love brewing this blend using the V60 method; although it takes a little more time and attention, the V60 can bring out some of the more subtle tart and fruity flavors.
Venice Blend
Why we love it: Venice Blend is more than just a nod to our roots in Venice, California – that’s a nice story, but the real reason we love Venice is that it’s subtle. This is the coffee we regularly brew for friends and family who love coffee less intensely, which is to say that Venice is a coffee that simply tastes good no matter how advanced your palate.
How we brew it: This is another coffee that we love to brew using the drip method, which brings out the notes of chocolate and summer fruits. Because this coffee and recommended brew method are so accessible, Venice Blend is frequently ordered by staff as gifts for friends and family — not to mention kept at home as a go-to for when guests arrive.
Check out all of our favorites in our Staff Picks Collection, which we’ll be rotating regularly as we find new favorites.