New
This anniversary set traces how our understanding of coffee has unfolded over time. Not as something we've moved on from but as perspectives that continue to shape how we roast, brew, and share coffee today.
We started with coffees that felt steady and familiar. Cups that fit easily into daily life and welcomed people in naturally. As we continued to grow, curiosity led us toward coffees that showed how expressive coffee could be.
Today, those experiences have provided clarity in our approach. We continue to value comfort and familiarity in flavours, while embracing what may typically be seen as exclusive or intimidating. We believe expressive coffees don’t have to feel distant or complicated. They can be enjoyed just as naturally in everyday routines.
Together, the set is less about progression and more about integration, bringing everything we've learned into the present. A reminder that coffee can be both easy to enjoy and full of character at the same time.
Our Beginning: La Joyeria
This coffee reflects where we started. Cups that felt reassuring, steady, and easy to return to day after day.
La Joyeria was the first Colombian coffee we selected for Dark Matter. Over time, it became the backbone of the blend, shaping the profile that Dark Matter is known for today. In our early years, we also featured it as a filter offering on the menu, allowing its character to be experienced on its own as much as within the blend.
Smooth and approachable with subtle stone fruit and plum-like acidity, it balances with the sweetness of caramel and a milk chocolate finish. This is the taste of Alchemist you've come to know over the years.
It represents our early belief that good coffee should feel welcoming first. That everyday drinking can still hold care and precision.
The Journey: Las Margaritas
This coffee speaks to the period when curiosity took the lead. When we began seeking coffees that revealed how far flavour could stretch when handled right.
Las Margaritas marks a turning point in how we began to see coffee. In our early years, we admired Cafe Granja La Esperanza (CGLE) from a distance, drawn to the wine-like depth and layered character that set their coffees apart. What began as curiosity eventually became relationship. We visited their farms, witnessed the care behind their varietal and processing work, and began sourcing directly.
This lot reflects that stage of exploration. It carries the expressive fermentation character CGLE is known for, alongside the lifted bergamot and stone fruit nuances of Geisha.
For us, it represents the period when we leaned into coffees that felt more expansive and layered, discovering how processing and variety could reshape what we thought coffee could taste like.
Clarity in The Present: La Papaya Typica AN
This coffee brings both instincts together. Familiar comfort alongside the nuance we have come to appreciate.
La Papaya Typica AN reflects how we approach coffee today. After years of exploring more experimental profiles, we found ourselves returning to coffees that feel both expressive and clear. This lot stood out not for being the most extreme, but for how naturally everything comes together. The floral lift, layered fruit, and structure shows a sense of purpose-driven clarity and composure.
It also marks a step forward in how we source. This is our first time working with this coffee, and it represents a continued effort to build relationships with producers who share a similar focus on quality and detail.
This is how we see coffee now. Expressive yet grounded. Thoughtful yet easy to live with daily. A reminder that complexity should not need distance from everyday drinking.