A very expensive Bird Rock-based cup of coffee – $11, to be exact – has been declared among the best javas in the United States. On Jan. 16, the pricey pick-me-up sold by Bird Rock Coffee roasters won the coffee category at the 2016 Good Food Awards in San Francisco, alongside 16 other topnotch coffees from around the country. Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, with three locations in San Diego – 5627 La Jolla Blvd., 2295 Kettner Blvd. and 1270 Morena Blvd. – churns out the Geisha varietal coffee from the Panama Esmeralda Estate in Panama, which sells for $100 a pound. The company says the varietal is one of the most expensive coffees in the world to grow. Because it is an extremely rare varietal, it’s also difficult to grow and low-yielding. According to the company, the entry boasts “notes of jasmine, honey, dried raspberries, cream and lavender, with a velvety texture.” The Good Food Awards celebrate outstanding American food producers who responsibly create tasty food and drinks with a focus on craftsmanship, sustainability and fresh ingredients from the farming and agriculture communities. Bird Rock Coffee Roasters was the only winner from San Diego at the sixth annual awards. Winners were decided after a blind tasting featuring 203 judges. A total of 242 companies were honored among 1,927 entrants. Chuck Patton, owner of Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, said it’s an honor to bring home the accolade. “This award captures everything we stand for,” he said, “including quality, taste and social responsibility. We hope this award brings awareness to the fact that not only do we have incredible-tasting coffee but that the direct trade methods and compensation for coffee farmers that we engage in are a national model.” The coffee sells for $50 per eight ounces at all Bird Rock Coffee Roasters locations. Patrons can also get it freshly brewed for $11 a cup at the shops’ pour-over coffee bars. After selling small batches of hand-roasted coffee at local farmers markets, Patton opened his first location in Bird Rock in 2006, sourcing his coffee beans directly from farmers across the globe.
