Holiday blends have a way of gathering all the season’s cozy instincts into the cup—sometimes plush and dessert-like, sometimes a little savory, often lifted by subtle fruit or gentle spice. As you look toward crafting something warm, sweet, and worthy of celebration, these are the coffees we keep reaching for. Whether you’re building a balanced seasonal blend or curating a standout micro-lot for gifting, they offer the character and nuance the moment calls for. Here are our favorites for the winter:
Washed Coffees from Monserrate Cooperative, Huila, Colombia
The Monserrate community in 2023.
Bursting with notes of green grape, lemon, caramel, and cookie, our newest arrival from the Monserrate community is an absolute seasonal standout. This coffee has been close to our hearts for nearly two decades, ever since Atlas was introduced to the farmers of Monserrate in Huila through the USAID-funded Colombian Specialty Coffee Program in 2005. Craig Holt, Atlas’ founder, first visited as an ACDI/VOCA volunteer, working alongside growers to taste their coffees, refine harvesting and processing practices, and explore their potential in the specialty market. Inspired by the community’s dedication and the promise of truly exceptional quality, he returned the following year with roaster partners—marking the beginning of a lasting, collaborative relationship.
As the partnership grew, it became clear that several producers were going above and beyond in their farming and processing. To recognize and celebrate this excellence, Atlas launched the first Lo Mejor de Monserrate microlot competition in 2008. By giving individual farmers the chance to have their lots cupped and scored independently, the community gained a new and exciting way to shine. Once producers saw that buyers were eager to pay premium prices for traceable, top-tier microlots, the friendly competition flourished. Those early success stories inspired the wider community, and year after year the coffees—and the connections between roasters and producers—have only grown richer.
Today, Atlas proudly continues to purchase Monserrate coffee at premiums well above the internal market price and to promote the majority of the community’s production under its own name. This year’s lot is wonderfully sweet and caramelly—an ideal foundation for winter blends, or simply a comforting cup to savor on its own.
Looking ahead to spring? We’re sending out microlot samples now, so let us know if you’d like to explore something special for the next season of offerings.
Natural Coffee from Muungano Cooperative, Democratic Republic of Congo
Women from the Muungano cooperative sort coffee, June 01, 2023 in Goma, North Kivu province, eastern DRC
Although most of our West Coast lots have already been happily snapped up, we’re excited to share that one beautiful Natural lot from the Muungano Cooperative has just landed— with even more destined for an East Coast warehouse!
Founded in 2009, Muungano brings together more than 4,000 smallholder farmers, nearly half of whom are women. The cooperative’s commitment to gender equity and to uniting farmers across ethnic groups is woven into its very name—“Muungano” means Togetherness in Swahili. When we first visited years ago, the co-op was milling coffee on equipment dating back to the early twentieth century, yet still produced some of the finest Congo coffees we had ever tasted. Today, they’ve transformed their operation with two modern washing stations, a cupping lab, and trained quality specialists. In 2023, with support from a USADF grant, Muungano purchased a small dry mill in Goma, allowing them not only to process their own coffee, but to support neighboring cooperatives with value-added milling services.
Muungano’s resilience is remarkable. Despite ongoing market, geographic, and climate challenges—and now the very real difficulty of operating in a region impacted by the M23 rebel group’s occupation of Goma—their dedication never wavers. Year after year, they deliver sweet, bright, and complex coffees that shine even more knowing the extraordinary effort and circumstances behind them.
Their newest Natural lot arrives with joyful complexity: notes of watermelon and grape, a brown-sugar sweetness, and a full, satisfying body. It’s a delicious way to add lush, fruity character to your blends.
Interested in sourcing from Muungano or previewing what’s arriving next from them and their neighbors? We’d love to connect and share more.
Washed and Natural Grade 1 Coffees from Guji, Ethiopia
Cherry and parchment drying on raised beds at the Guracho Washing Station.
For more than 25 years, Sibu Trading has been deeply rooted in the Guji Zone, partnering closely with local farmers to bring their coffees to a global stage. In 2014, Sibu Coffee Exporters expanded this commitment, launching operations to help growers access international markets and share the distinct beauty of Guji coffees with roasters around the world. Today, Sibu Coffee operates five washing stations across the region—including Guracho in Kercha and Banti Nenka in Hambela. Atlas has been proudly sourcing washed and natural lots from Guracho since 2015 and Banti Nenka since 2024, and each season these coffees continue to brighten our cupping table.
What makes Guji so captivating is its remarkable range of microclimates, each contributing its own nuance to the cup. Grade 3 Naturals offer tremendous value, delivering the classic citrus and fruit notes Guji is known for, wrapped in comforting layers of butterscotch and sweet pastry. For those seeking something more refined, Grade 1 coffees showcase the extra care of meticulous cherry selection and slow, attentive drying—rewarding with shimmering marmalade-like fruit, white wine acidity, and beautifully perfumed aromatics.
Grade 1 Washed and Natural coffees serve as outstanding options for gifting. We can’t wait for you to taste the vibrant expression of Guji in every cup, and you can choose from the following:
- Natural Banti Nenka WS: clementine, raspberry, cherry, and vanilla sweetness, lime zest, juicy body, and citric-like acidity
- Natural Guracho WS: plum, cherry, prune, and pineapple sweetness, lime zest, syrupy body, and a bright, prune-like acidity
- Washed Banti Nenka WS: blackberry, peach, vanilla, chocolate, and lemon, silky body, and lemony acidity
- Washed Guracho WS: plum, apple, citrus, brown sugar, and chocolate, medium body, and citric-like acidity
Fair Trade Organic Koperasi Ketiara, Sumatra, Indonesia
Ketiara Chairwoman Rahmah (right) with her family during our 2022 visit.
What’s more satisfying on a cold winter morning than wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of rich, sweet Sumatran coffee?
Since beginning exports in 2013, Kopepi Ketiara has blossomed into one of the most respected Fair Trade cooperatives in the Gayo Highlands. Their reputation is well-earned—built on exceptional cup quality, thoughtful innovation, and an unwavering commitment to their community. Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of working closely with the Ketiara team and have watched them grow into true leaders of the Aceh coffee-producing region. Today, their cooperative includes over 1,500 producer members across 19 villages in Aceh Tengah and Bener Meriah, each contributing to the vibrant character of Ketiara coffees.
We’re delighted to share that one delicious lot from Ketiara is available now. This offering shines with the classic Sumatran notes we love: sweet and spicy with flavors of red apple, lemon, caramel, cedar, and a herbaceous quality complemented by a full body and bright, citric-like acidity. It’s clean, distinctive, and deeply comforting—an ideal choice for anyone craving a beautifully balanced, origin-forward cup.
If you’re looking to brighten your winter menu with a coffee that embodies both tradition and quality, this one’s for you. Enjoy every sip!
Natural Lots from Myanmar
Members of Myin Dwin sorting cherry.
Newly arrived Naturals from some of our long-term partners who continue to shape Myanmar’s dynamic specialty coffee movement are a remarkable choice for celebration. These producer groups represent the very best of the country’s innovation, dedication, and resilience.
Amayar, a woman-owned wet and dry mill and exporter in Ywangan, is led by the remarkable Daw Su Su Aung, whose leadership and vision have helped define what exceptional Myanmar coffee can be. Alongside them, Shwe Taung Thu—a network of 17 villages in Ywangan—continues to shine with beautifully crafted, almost exclusively natural-process coffees that showcase the region’s distinct character.
Their work has not been easy. Since the 2021 coup, challenges ranging from disrupted transportation to limited market access have made every step of the supply chain more difficult. And yet, season after season, these partners remain committed to producing coffees that meet the highest standards of quality and care. Their persistence is a testament to the strength of their communities and the deep pride they take in their craft.
Freshly arrived at The Annex, these coffees will soon make their way to The Green Room—just in time to bring warmth and a spirit of celebration to your winter offerings.
- Community Natural Myin Dwin, 9 bags: cherry, green apple, lemon, and candied walnut
- Amayar Dried Natural, 6 bags: prune, orange, and banana
Single-Producer Nano-lots from Beneficio Las Segovias, Nicaragua
Cherry at the La Bendicion wet mill.
Are you looking for something just a little off the beaten path? Then one of our newest micro-lots might be exactly what you’re craving. We’re thrilled to share a handful of Natural nano-lots (just 3–4 bags each!) from producer and master processor Luis Alberto Balladarez of Finca La Bendición and La Prometido—some of the most unique and expressive coffees coming out of Nicaragua today.
Visiting Luis Alberto’s Beneficio Las Segovias (BLS) feels a bit like stepping into a sanctuary for coffee. Everything—from the cupping room to the drying patios to the dry mill—reflects an almost meditative level of care. Luis Alberto brings a quiet confidence to his craft, and it shows. Every picking that arrives at his wet and dry mills is meticulously cataloged, monitored, and shepherded through the process with an unwavering focus on quality.
These micro lots are bursting with juicy fruit and chocolate notes, all wrapped in the dense sweetness and silky viscosity natural-process coffees are known for. They shine brightly as single origins and bring a joyful lift when used in blends—perfect for roasters seeking something memorable and delightfully unconventional.
Want Something More Classic? Look to Las Segovias Especial, a beloved Atlas profile coffee crafted in partnership with BLS. Many farmers deliver parchment in small volumes—sometimes just a few hundred pounds—not quite enough to present as standalone microlots. Others deliver beautiful 84–85 point coffees that don’t always find the spotlight they deserve.
Over the years, we’ve worked closely with BLS’s cupping team to gather these excellent, small-but-mighty contributions into a cohesive, dependable profile we call Las Segovias Especial. Expect hints of green apple, pear, sugar cane, and toffee—classic Nueva Segovia character—supported by browned sugars and a gently syrupy body.
Whether you're hunting for a rare gem or a reliable, crowd-pleasing staple, we’re excited to help you find your next great coffee.
- La Bendicion Bendicion Pacamara Natural, 5 bags: raspberry, cherry, green apple, brown sugar and caramel, satiny body and bright, apple-like acidity
- La Bendicion Bendicion Pacamara Natural, 4 bags: orange, prune, green grape, maple, and chocolate, satiny body and grape-like acidity
- La Prometido Catuai Rojo Natural, 3 bags: blackberry, apple, and grape sweetness, round body and round/berry-like acidity
- Las Segovias Especial, 100 bags: pear, chocolate, toffee, and baking spice, full body and medium acidity
Organic Washed Coffees from Amaz in Cajamarca, Peru
Photo courtesy of Amaz Coffee Trading.
We’re thrilled to introduce our very first arrivals from Peru’s new harvest—beautiful, fresh coffees that bring brightness, warmth, and exceptional flavor to any seasonal lineup.
This year also marks the beginning of an exciting new partnership with Amaz Coffee Trading, a dynamic organization representing more than 1,400 smallholder producers across three regions of northeastern Peru. Led by a team with deep expertise in both coffee production and marketing, Amaz is united by a powerful mission: to support the economic, social, and environmental well-being of coffee-growing families, and to ensure that coffee farming remains a profitable, sustainable livelihood for generations to come.
We’re already feeling inspired. And with the first two community lots now in hand, we’re even more impressed—the quality exceeds our expectations. Expect comforting, celebratory notes of Bartlett pear, fresh apple, caramel, toffee, and a gentle kiss of spice. It’s a flavor profile that brings richness and sweetness in all the right places.
If you’re looking for a dependable base for your winter blends or special holiday offerings, these coffees from Amaz are a delicious place to start.
Natural and Washed Coffees from Tanzania AMCOS
Parchment drying on raised beds at Iloma.
We’re thrilled to highlight our long-standing partnership with Ibero (NKG East Africa). Atlas collaborates closely with Ibero to source traceable coffees from four dedicated AMCOS (Agricultural and Marketing Cooperative Societies) in the Mbeya region. When Tanzania’s coffee regulations dramatically shifted in 2018 and many exporters pulled out, Ibero stayed. Their commitment during that uncertain period laid the foundation for the strong relationships and remarkable progress we’re celebrating today.
Ibero’s work with local AMCOS goes far beyond buying coffee. Together, they’ve helped build small-scale, affordable washing stations—giving farmers the infrastructure they need to elevate quality and increase value. Their team also provides hands-on agronomy support, strengthening farming practices across the region.
One of our favorite initiatives? Partnering with local schools to start coffee clubs for youth. These clubs spark early interest in agriculture and quality-focused coffee production, nurturing the next generation of Tanzanian coffee growers and leaders.
Tanzania’s specialty coffee sector isn’t new, but it is in a powerful phase of rebuilding and renewal—and we’re proud to be part of this momentum through our partnership with Ibero.
We have a limited number of tariff-free coffees remaining, representing a beautiful range of processing styles. If you’re looking to add vibrant fruit notes or a touch of adventure to your winter blends, these Tanzanian coffees are a perfect fit.
- Washed Shilanga Peaberry, 26 bags: cherry, plum, pineapple, kumquat, and Earl Grey tea, syrupy body and juicy acidity
- Natural Iloma AMCO, 83 bags: strawberry, raspberry, orang,e and hibiscus, round body and berry-like acidity
- Anaerobic Natural Umalila AMCO, 19 bags: prune, raspberry, lemon, and caramel, round body and bright, lemony sweetness