Always, Often, Occasional. Our model, explained.
Always, Often, Occasional refers to a coffee's impact for any given producer, its availability on our offer lists and, its final form as roasted coffee.
The Always, Often, Occasional model is a classification for every coffee that we supply. This makes it easier to understand where each coffee in our offer lists sits within our impact framework. And if you are reading this as a coffee roaster, this can help to show you where our coffees can sit within your own offerings.
When used to illustrate quality, the tip of a regular triangle would ascend upwards.
This would denote less volume, and more exclusivity. Our methodology flips this notion, directing you to the most abundant coffees; those that return the most value to the most producers. As our main goal is to maximise producer profits, this is the section we strive towards, and the area which has the most impact for those we represent.
Our model flips the notion of quality being of most important. For us, the most important factor is impact, which is most possible through volume purchased from a coffee producer.
A flipped triangle ensures maximising value to producers is our primary goal. So how does this format relate to the coffees you buy?
Always
These are Raw Material’s bread and butter. These coffees are high volume, reliable, and the majority of the coffees produced by an association, cooperative, or washing station. By nature, they feature coffees from all members of a producing group. These sit in the window of 83 - 85 cup score, are usually high volume and affordable in price.
Often
Coffees that land in the Often category are quality defined, above the full association lots that make up the Always category. These lots are separated by our QC teams on cup quality, geographic location, or producer group size (single producer/sub co-op). Most of these will score 85+, and can vary in lot size and price.
Occasional
We don’t seek out the best coffees. Instead, we work with communities to reach the full potential their harvests can achieve. The impact of Occasional coffees is limited, but they aim to generate interest in a group, region, or even producing country. In turn, this generates revenue for investments aimed at increasing the volume and value of a group’s Always and Often coffees. These coffees are typically small in volume, high in price, and score 87+.
This model works for all actors along the supply chain; from producer all the way to consumer
How does this help a coffee producer?
Each of the five countries we work with has its own limits and possibilities in their respective supply chains. Here is an example that could be seen in Colombia.
Always: This category will always include a producer’s main harvest, if they choose to sell it to us for the community blend.
Often: Producers will often contribute some of their coffee to this category, separate to the community blend. This can take many forms, be it an alternative variety, process, a championing of a geographic region, or volume of a higher quality.
Occasional: The highest quality lots we purchase come from the same producers who contribute to the association blends we also sell.
These are either small volumes processed through innovative means, or high-value, coffee varieties. These microlots ensure larger returns for the community, on top of the community blenders individual producers seasonally sell.
Pictured: Teresa Hurtado, Finca Las Brisas, Risaralda, Colombia
How does this help a coffee roastery?
Always: These coffees make up the staples of a roastery’s coffee offering-espresso roasts, higher volume filter roasts, and decaf options. The coffees they are always roasting.
Often: These coffees sit well in a single origin program. Roasted often though not always, perhaps as a rotating regular filter option, or guest espresso.
Occasional: These are a roastery’s special releases, roasted infrequently, focussed on interesting varieties, complex cup profiles, that pique the interests of a niche customer base.
Pictured: Tereza Vertatova, Curve Coffee Roasters, United Kingdom
How does this help a consumer?
Always: This is a staple in a coffee shop’s house blend, a consistent all-rounder, perfect with or without milk.
Often: A coffee that is part of a rotating selection often brewed on batch, or as a guest espresso.
Occasional: A fancy treat, enjoyed as a hand brew from a pourover menu, or as a special release on the retail shelf for home.
Pictured: Full Court Press Coffee Roasters, United Kingdom
Where will I see this visual?
There are two ways that you’ll see the Always, Often, Occasional model.
Firstly, our coffee offer lists are now segmented with this structure. When you are perusing what we have in stock, you will immediately understand the impact that buying a coffee will achieve.
Secondly, you can find this visualisation alongside every coffee information sheet in our Roaster’s Portal.
The Always, Often, Occasional structure is built to help you find the coffees which best fit your needs. It is a organisational tool to help you better understand where each coffee sits; within the context of a producer’s harvest, an association’s cumulative offer, and our work in each given country. With this context, you can make informed decisions about the impact your buying has.
We hope you find this useful, and if you have any questions, get in touch!
