Prices Are Up, But We’re Not Giving You Less

Have you ever brewed your usual cup of coffee and thought, “Hmm… something tastes a little off?”

You’re not alone.

Lately, more coffee drinkers across the U.S. have been wondering if their go-to beans suddenly lost their magic. And if you're one of them, especially if you're a longtime Win Win Coffee fan, let’s clear the air and the cup, together.

Why Does My Coffee Taste Different?

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: coffee prices are rising, and they’re doing it fast. According to this insightful article, when market pressures increase, it’s often quality that gets cut first. And that’s exactly what’s happening across much of the industry.

But here’s the thing, we’re not “much of the industry.”

At Win Win Coffee, we made a decision early on: never sacrifice quality, no matter what. And that’s not just a fancy tagline. It’s something we live by, especially when it’s inconvenient.

We’ve had tough conversations with suppliers. We’ve taken smaller margins on certain blends. We’ve even had to pause a few favorites because the beans just weren’t up to our standards anymore. (If you miss our honey-processed Peru roast, trust us, we do too.)

But what we haven’t done, and never will, is lower our bar for what goes in your cup.

What Goes into "Quality"?

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes peek at what goes into maintaining great-tasting coffee, even when the world makes it harder:

1. Transparent, long-term relationships with farmers.
We work with growers who understand that good coffee isn’t rushed. One of our partner farmers in Colombia, Ana María, once told us, “I won’t ship it if I wouldn’t drink it.” That’s the kind of integrity we look for. And we reward it, fairly.

2. Rigorous cupping and taste tests.
Our team samples each batch, often multiple times, to ensure consistency. Yes, that means lots of slurping. And yes, someone once spit coffee on their laptop (RIP MacBook, you died in service of flavor).

3. Small-batch roasting.
We roast in small, controlled batches so your coffee tastes fresh and balanced, not burnt or bitter.

4. Listening to you.
When we get feedback like “The Ethiopian roast last month had a bit more citrus, loved it!” or “The espresso felt a bit flat this week,” we don’t just note it. We investigate. We taste. We adjust.

But… Has Something Actually Changed with Win Win Coffee?

Honestly? Maybe.

Coffee is an agricultural product. Beans vary from season to season depending on weather, soil, and harvest timing. Even the same bean, grown on the same plot, can taste slightly different from one year to the next.

But if it ever feels off, not just different, we want to hear from you. Because even when conditions shift, our commitment doesn’t.

In fact, one of our regular customers, James from Oregon, emailed us recently saying, “I noticed the Kenya roast this month has a deeper cocoa finish, was that intentional?” (It was! The current lot had a slightly longer drying process, bringing out the chocolate notes.)

That kind of connection is exactly what we want. You’re not just a customer, you’re part of the Win Win community. And you help us stay accountable.

How You Can Support Quality Coffee and Still Enjoy Every Cup

Here’s what we know: great coffee is a collaboration. Between farmers, roasters, brewers and you.

Here’s how you can play your part:

✅ Buy from roasters who prioritize transparency and ethics (hint: that’s us!)
✅ Pay attention to freshness. Look for roast dates, not just expiration ones.
✅ Experiment with your brew method. A small grind adjustment or water temperature tweak can make all the difference.
✅ Give feedback. Seriously, email us. We love it. (Unless you just want to tell us you microwave your coffee. Then we might need to have a longer conversation.)

We’re in This for the Long Brew

So, is your coffee tasting different lately? It might be. The world is changing fast. But one thing’s staying the same: our promise to bring you coffee with integrity, flavor, and heart.

We’ll keep fighting for quality, bean by bean, batch by batch, because your cup deserves that kind of love.

Thanks for being part of the Win Win family. We’re so glad you’re here.