The Espresso Lab

Alhamdulillah, coffee continues to take us to places we never imagined possible. This time, our journey brought us to California, USA a place few would expect to produce world class specialty coffee.

Driven by curiosity, we visited FRINJ Coffee, founded by pioneering farmer Jay Ruskey, whose vision is now carried forward by a dedicated team redefining coffee cultivation in California through innovation, research, and a relentless pursuit of quality.

Walking through the farm and joining the cupping table was unforgettable, but one coffee completely surprised us: the Washed Geisha. From the first aroma, it was bursting with beautiful floral notes, and in the cup it immediately reminded us of some of the finest washed Geishas from Panama; elegant, vibrant, expressive, and exceptionally clean.

We also cupped a rare Laurina, another outstanding coffee with remarkable character.

What makes this even more exciting is that some of the genetics cultivated by FRINJ trace their roots back to Hacienda La Esmeralda in Panama, now expressing themselves through California’s unique terroir.

We are delighted to have secured both coffees from this year’s harvest and look forward to sharing them soon @theespressolab In Sha Allah.

Most importantly, this visit wasn’t just about discovering exceptional coffees; it was about building meaningful relationships with people who share the same passion for pushing specialty coffee forward.

A heartfelt thank you to Andy Mullins, David Armstrong, Chris Brocco and the entire FRINJ Coffee team for your warm hospitality. We look forward to building a long-lasting partnership together.

Stay tuned as our origin journey continues.
▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃
#TheBaristaDance #سفراء_القهوة_الإماراتية #TheEspressoLab #EmiratiGahwa #SpecialtyCoffee #OriginTrip2026 #California #FRINJCoffee