When I visited Georgia in 2010, this small Caucasus country was still completely off the radar for most people. I remember arriving in Tbilisi from Azerbaijan in a rickety bus and being really positively surprised by the city’s optimistic vibe. I was also very excited to make my way around its local restaurants, eat countless dumplings and drink lots of cheap and tasty wine. This is long before I started my nearly 4-year sobriety.
The city, which is surrounded by hills and split down the middle by the Kura river, had added some very modern and I dare say adventurous architecture to its appearance and there was a strong sense of optimisim in the air. I found many funky bars, little vintage stores and cute restaurants everywhere I went but this was before specialty coffee had arrived in Georgia. Though it must be said that the country’s history since then has been troubled, it also attracted many clubbers, wine-enthousiasts and gourmets to its vibrant nightlife and foodie scenes.
Ryan McCarrel, who hails from the US, moved to Georgia in 2021 and set up one of the country’s first specialty coffee roasters, Shavi. At the time, specialty coffee was still very much in its infancy and there was only one other roasted in the country operating in that space but demand was growing. Especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many sophisticated Russians relocated to Georgia and brought with them their ideas and preferences, which included specialty coffee.
I have been shipping our monthly selection of beans to a large collective in Georgia for many years and via Instagram, I have seen how the local scene has been growing across the country. From Batumi to Tbilisi. For Ryan and his team, Georgia offered a unique opportunity to start a specialty coffee roastery in a country with a very adventurous palate. Georgian food is known as very rich, delicious and with many fermented dishes. It’s also the birthplace of wine and it’s home to a large community of wine producers, many of which focus entirely on natural wines.
Since 2021, Shavi has expanded to three locations across the capital and recently moved its roastery into a former Coca-Cola factory that has been converted into a mixed cultural and business center. At its core, Shavi wants to grow specialty coffee in Georgia while also fostering close relationships with farmers, promoting ethical farming and trading practices and building meaningful relationships with its customers.
I am excited to bring you our first-ever Georgian roasted coffee in October as part of our Global roasters selection. Shavi, true to its adventerous spirit, will roast for us a slightly experimental Burundian coffee from Kibingo station. This coffee was processed with an intenso yeast and then washed. This brights out a very vibrant and exciting cup profile with notes of black cherry, orange and plum. Very fresh and delicious.
To receive this excellent coffee or to order any of our other offerings, just visit our shop now.
Pre-orders close on 15.10.2024 / Ships globally on 20.10.2024
