07/01/2026
This summer marked the end of another sourcing season through Central America for our Green Coffee Buyer, Kylee, and she is back with all the coffee updates! ☕️🌱
For Kylee, returning to Santa Bárbara for the 7th time means deep relationships, driving into the mountains to visit farms, tasting dozens of coffees, and sitting down with long-time producers. ✨
Coffee truly takes a village. Just ask Jake, who joined Kylee on this most recent trip: “From employed farmworkers, to producers, mill workers, and cuppers... It’s no secret that Santa Barbara is home to some of the best coffees in the world and it’s amazing to see how the region has grown that reputation alongside Verve over the last decade and half.”
One of Kylee’s favorite days on this trip took her hiking through the Santa Bárbara National Forest to the natural spring that supplies the water Arturo Paz uses at his wet mill to wash his coffee. It was a reminder for her that every cup starts long before roasting. Water quality, elevation, farming decisions, and years of experience all play a role in shaping what eventually ends up in your cup.
From the cupping table to hiking through national forests, swipe through to see what a sourcing season can look like! 📸
