Journal — July 2024

Hey friends! I hope this delivery finds you well, and that you’re staying cool and enjoying summer to it’s fullest. This month’s coffee comes from Apollon’s Gold, a fantastic company from Tokyo, Japan who has quickly become a specialty coffee darling throughout their first few years of roasting. Apollon’s Gold takes inspiration from the global symbolism of the sun, resonating with Japan’s endonym “Nihon” meaning “Land of the Rising Sun,” which underscores both it's eastern location and cultural ties to renewal and vitality.

Their name pays homage to Apollo, the golden god of the sun in Greek mythology, and they say it best. “Apollo and Japan, united as symbols of radiance and renewal, reflect the essence of coffee—like gold nurtured by the sun's strength, coffee shines brightest when crafted with passion and precision. This connection not only grounds us in mythological heritage but also echoes our appreciation for artistic and cultural richness, reminiscent of both our origins and Japan's historical epochs.”

Japan has one of the world’s most prolific coffee industries, despite most people associating Japan with tea and matcha. Coffee first came to Japan in the 1600s, via trade with the Dutch and their colonies in Indonesia. But it wasn’t until the late 1800s that coffee culture started to take off in kissatens around the country that focused on black filter coffee and tea. Now, many of the brew methods beloved by coffee enthusiasts worldwide were designed in Japan—in a sense, Japan is to filter coffee what Italy is to espresso.

AG’s entire lineup is fantastic so it was hard to choose what to feature. Ultimately, though, the variety of Kenyan coffees they have on right now was too hard to pass on. 2 will be on the subscription, with a third on filter at our cafe. While I’m used to Kenyans tasting like blackberry jam, AG has selected lots that show a much broader spectrum of flavor possibilities. You’ll love them all. Rounding out the feature is a delightful Colombian coffee and a really stunning offering from Yemen. We’ll have a few more coffees on the shelf in NC, so if you want to try some more, reach out. I’ll be happy to send you some. PS: AG recommends taking your time with these. Don’t be afraid to let them rest. They open up with time and you’ll be glad you did.