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March Events

March always feels like the deep breath before the exhale. The light lingers a little longer, the air softens (just slightly), and we start emerging from full-on winter mode. After months of bundling up and keeping cozy, it finally feels like we’re stepping out of hibernation — and we’re celebrating the best way we know how: with coffee, community, and a lineup of events at Tala.

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Finca La Primavera: Huila, Colombia

Finca La Primavera is managed by Orlando Osorio, a second-generation coffee producer who grew up working alongside his parents in Huila. In 2015, he took a decisive step, purchasing his own 12-hectare farm at 1,800 meters above sea level to build something independently. Today, Orlando cultivates Colombia, Cenicafé, and F6 varieties across roughly 9,000 trees.

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Carlos Cadena: Veracruz, Mexico

Through our nine-year partnership with Cafe Imports, we’re often able to taste exceptional coffees before they’re widely released. When their team shared this natural lot from Veracruz, we immediately knew it fit our style. The cup is crisp and structured, with vibrant acidity and a remarkably clean finish. It bursts with bright, fruit-forward character and lively sweetness, yet remains transparent.

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Nguisse Nare: Sadama, Ethiopia

There are coffees that impress on paper, and then there are coffees that stop you mid-sip. When the latest fresh-crop Ethiopia arrivals came through our friends at Crop to Cup, this lot from Nguisse Nare immediately stood out. Exceptional traceability. A remarkable score. An experimental anaerobic process executed with clear intention. But impressive details only go so far. What mattered most? The cup. And from the very first brew, it absolutely delivered.

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Long Miles - Bumba Hill: Kayanza, Burundi

Some coffees you admire from afar. Others you wait for. And then there are the ones that feel almost fated — the lots you’ve tasted in years past, remembered fondly, and quietly hoped would one day return to your cupping table.

For us, coffees from Long Miles Coffee have always lived in that category. Pun fully intended — we’ve been waiting long for Long Miles. And finally, the moment has arrived.

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Mastercol - Terra: Huila, Colombia

Mastercol – Terra is our first fresh-crop coffee of the new year from Huila, Colombia, arriving after an exceptional run of standout Huila lots throughout 2025. It immediately caught our attention as a double-fermented, single-varietal Caturra from Mastercol—one of our most trusted producer groups and long-term partners since 2017. This is a coffee that feels both familiar and exciting, building on everything we love about the region while offering a renewed sense of vibrancy.

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Amoret Espresso Blend

Amoret Espresso Blend is the foundation of our espresso drinks—it’s the coffee we build our milk-based drinks around and the blend that defines our approach to balance, sweetness, and texture. Designed specifically to shine in espresso and milk, Amoret delivers an experience that is both technically precise and emotionally resonant.

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Ruca House Blend

Ruca House Blend is our homage to the classic cup of coffee—the comforting, familiar, endlessly drinkable cup that feels right at any moment of the day. Designed to be extremely approachable without sacrificing quality, Ruca is a blend that welcomes the casual coffee drinker while still earning the respect of the seasoned connoisseur.

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Tala-La-La-La Holiday Blend 2025

Every year, as the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, one familiar thing returns to our shelves and our cups: Tala-la-la-la, our much-loved holiday blend. Despite its core coffees rotating each year, the release of this blend has become a true Tala tradition. It’s part celebration, part reflection, and entirely delicious.

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Mia Rhee Mia Rhee

BTS: Cafe Exclusive Drink Development

When you walk into Tala Coffee Roasters, there are three notorious features, just like the North Shore Roaster’s three café locations. Whether you’re in the renovated firehouse of Highwood, Libertyville Headquarters, or the revamped Winnetka gas station, Tala boasts a wide variety of drink offerings ranging from traditional coffee house wares to seasonal and specialty drinks.

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Finca El Placer: Huila, Colombia

Finca El Placer is a big name in coffee, and for good reason. Tucked into the high-elevation terrain of Acevedo, Huila, this distinguished farm has become synonymous with meticulous craftsmanship, vibrant flavor, and some of the most exciting Pink Bourbon lots in the industry. At the heart of it all is producer Jesús Arbey Iquira, a name celebrated by coffee professionals around the world for his precision, dedication, and deep understanding of his land.

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Joanna Tong Joanna Tong

How Do I Get Better at Tasting Coffee?

If you’ve ever taken a sip of coffee and wondered how some people can pick out tasting notes like peach, jasmine, and caramelized sugar, you’re not alone. Tasting coffee is a skill — one that develops over time. 

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Rung’eto Kii: Kirinyaga, Kenya

We’re thrilled to share our newest single-origin release: Rung’eto Kii, a vibrant and beautifully classic Kenyan coffee from Kirinyaga. Coffees like this one remind us exactly why Kenya remains one of the most celebrated coffee origins in the world. After a few challenging years for producers, it’s exciting to see Kenya’s coffee legacy shining bright once again, and this cup captures everything we’ve been missing.

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La Argentina & Pitalito: Huila, Colombia

Yet another impressive coffee from Huila, Colombia! This time it's the super exciting Chiroso varietal. This one from the farmers in La Argentina & Pitalito jumps out with ripe, strong, jammy cherry filling sweetness, tangerine juice concentrate, and round apple flavors. A truly beautiful coffee we're excited to share at an incredible price, punching way above its weight class.

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Kayon Mountain Farm: Guji, Colombia

It’s been a while since we’ve had an African coffee on our shelves, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring one back, especially this one. Kayon Mountain Farm is no stranger to our lineup, and for good reason. Quite possibly our most-loved coffee of the year, this naturally processed lot from Guji, Ethiopia, is back for another round.

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La Muralla, Huila: Colombia

Yet another Colombian coffee—and trust us, your taste buds will thank you, and so will your inner flavor adventurer. Meet your new crush: La Muralla, a radiant Pink Bourbon lot bursting with the juicy charm of raspberry pie, the citrus snap of blood orange, and the sparkling refreshment of limeade. It’s not just a coffee—it’s a flavor parade perfectly timed for the dog days of summer.

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Mike Michalak Mike Michalak

Brewing Tala Outside

I love cowboy coffee. There’s something rugged and romantic about scooping the grounds into boiling water, swirling it around, drinking it straight and a little gritty. I remember seeing my dad making it when I was a kid and I thought it was the coolest thing. But if you’re tired of filtering your coffee with your teeth, or you’re looking to level up from instant coffee, there’s an inexpensive, light, and portable way to bring your favorite Tala coffee with you on your next camping trip.

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Finca El Jardin: La Paz, Honduras

Finca El Jardin is a naturally processed Pacas varietal that shines with balance and clarity. The profile opens with crisp tones of navel orange and raspberry, zesty and refreshing, layered over a cozy, round sweetness of dates, brown sugar, and raisins. It’s a harmonious dance between juicy brightness and warm depth, proof of the careful processing and precision at the farm.

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Maya Johnson Maya Johnson

What is Ube?

Have you seen customers walking out of one of our cafes with a vibrant purple drink? Fascinated by the color but too much of a creature of habit to branch out? You are likely looking at the Ube Latte! With its recognizable purple color and its sweet, nutty flavor, the ube latte has gained quite the loyal fanbase over the years. But what exactly is ube?

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Gatuya Factory PB: Murang'a, Kenya

Simply put, Gatuya Factory PB is one of the most exciting and delicious Kenyan coffees we’ve tasted in the past two years. This lot hits the cup with an undeniable, mouth-watering juiciness and a candy-like sweetness that makes it nearly impossible to put down. With crystal-clear flavors of blackberry, grenadine syrup, and apricot candy, it checks every box we look for in a standout Kenya coffee—and then some.

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Nganzo: Kibirizi – Rutsiro, Rwanda

Just one sip, and you’ll see why we’re so excited about this one. Nganzo: Kibirizi is bursting at the seams with big, sugary flavors—it’s the kind of coffee that instantly transports you to your happiest, most candy-fueled memories. Think brown sugar, molasses cookies, chocolate syrup, lemon tart, and soft dried fruits all layered together in one golden, syrupy, deliciously over-the-top cup.

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