We're Golden Bean Medalists!
At Lucky Goat Coffee, every batch of coffee we roast is done with the utmost care. Quality is at the forefront of our mission. However, on occasion, we like to challenge ourselves to see how we stack up against other talented roasters in the industry – that's just what we did in the Golden Bean Coffee Roasters Competition for 2024.
The Golden Bean Roasters Competition
This competition happens as a conference—a week full of engaging networking events, thought provoking lectures, and the judging of submitted coffees. Roasted submissions are due the week before the conference, and results are sent out once the conference wraps up. This was our second year entering, and we were thrilled to receive six medals, once again earning recognition in the same categories as last year.
We had two seasonal single origins win medals in different categories, but what we we're most proud of are our two signature coffees that stole the show! Lucky 7 Espresso won two bronze medals, and our Mountain Water Decaf was awarded silver. These awards were such an encouragement to our roasting and cupping teams-- a humbling reminder that our signature line of coffees is what makes us who we are at our core. It’s recognition like this that keeps us striving for specialty quality in every roast, year after year.
Lucky 7 Espresso
Perhaps the unsung hero of our brand, Lucky 7 is behind every espresso drink served in our cafés. It has been a staple for the Lucky Goat brand since our early coffee-roasting days. Long before we had retail cafés, Lucky 7 Espresso was fueling lattes and cappuccinos in our wholesale customer menus. Today, it’s the foundation of everything from our Seasonal Sips menus and year-round Signature Drinks to the traditional Italian Macchiato. Lucky 7 Espresso is a blend of coffees from Latin America, Africa, and Indonesia, and packs a bold flavor profile with tasting notes of citrus acidity and dark chocolate, complete with a spicy, heavy body.
The goal for this espresso blend was for it to taste balanced and sweet enough to be served as a double espresso on its own, and for it to stand up to the ten ounces of steamed milk added to a latte. The Golden Bean submissions were listed in the chain store category and sought to test out this original goal. Winning bronze in both the espresso and milk-based categories was a powerful affirmation that this blend is as versatile as it is delicious. Next time you order an espresso drink from one of our cafés, pay special attention to the balanced flavor of our Signature Espresso Blend – it's one we are proud of!
Decaf
Decaf coffee can sometimes have a bad reputation! Most of us want our morning cup of coffee with even more caffeine, not less. But for those of us who need an afternoon ‘pick me up’ without the jitters or late-night insomnia, decaf is a comforting option. Despite the lack of caffeine, our decaf retains a nice balance of sweetness and body, and still tastes like coffee. It is processed using the Swiss Mountain Water Process, a chemical-free method that removes caffeine while preserving the coffee’s natural character. It really shines as an espresso in a milk-based drink, which is why we submitted it to the decaf milk-based category at Golden Bean. We were honored to take home a silver medal in this category-- another validation that our core set of coffees are holding their own!
Lucky Goat has been roasting coffee since 2010, and we are always striving to grow in quality and consistency. We are grateful to the Golden Bean Roasters Competition for providing a platform to put our coffees to the test and are excited to see our signature coffees recognized. Next time you’re at a Lucky Goat café, be sure to try one of our regular or decaf espresso drinks, or pick up a bag to brew for yourself at home!
