By Adam Popescu
Published: September 14, 2010

As coffee futures hover close to a 13-year high and the industry battles crop production concerns, one constant in a challenging economy is consumer demand for gourmet coffee.

One such supplier filling thirsty cups is F. Gaviña & Sons, Inc., producers of Don Francisco’s coffee. The Vernon-based roaster has produced top-quality roasts for over 130 years, recently introducing a line of six new super premium Family Reserve coffees, available in local grocery stores throughout the Southland.

“I don’t like to tell people how to drink coffee,” fourth generation roaster, purchasing manager and resident Q grader Michael J. Gaviña said. “It’s very much a ritual for me.”

Gaviña, who favors Central American and East African roasts for their naturally sweet flavor profiles, starts everyday with two 12-ounce cups, sipping while reading and returning e-mails.
“I like an espresso after lunch to cleanse the pallet,” Gaviña said.

F. Gaviña & Sons, Inc. produces 35-40 million pounds of coffee a year, and sells to both the retail sector and through third parties including McDonald’s, Costco and food service companies throughout the City, Gaviña explained. All of F. Gaviña & Sons, Inc.’s coffees are created under the supervision of six resident Q Graders, professionally accredited coffee cuppers, certified by the Coffee Quality Institute.

Kenneth Davids, editor of the independent Coffee Review, awarded DF’s Family Reserve’s French Roast and Colombia Supremo coffees ratings of 89 on a 100-point scale. Davids also awarded the French Roast, Colombia Supremo, Kona Blend, House Blend and Sumatra coffees an average rating of 88.2.

Nearly 83 percent of consumers choose to prepare their coffee at home with over 40 percent of consumers opting for premium blends of gourmet coffee, according to trending study by the National Coffee Association of USA.

Coffee houses like Urth Caffé rely heavily on quality roasts to maintain clientele. Urth Caffe roasts its own coffee out of its downtown L.A. location. After starting out at as one store, Urth has expanded to Beverly Hills, Melrose, Santa Monica, the Downtown Artists’ District and soon-to-be in Pasadena.

“We have a strong business in both (take home and over-the-counter sales),” Urth’s co-founder Shallom Berkman said. “A lot of people take it home and brew it, a lot of people come in and get a cup of it.”

Urth is the only coffee house in L.A. roasting East African heirloom organic coffee. The specialty is harvested by farmers who cultivate fruit trees to provide shade for the 20 foot trees.

“Heirloom is a rare stock, originally found in Ethiopia,” Berkman said. “Heirloom trees are lower in acid and easier to digest. They have an amazing flavor.”

While demand is constant, supply has not been. Poor weather has contributed to weaker production in the coffee belt between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer in the past year, whittling down supplies in Colombia and Central America. However, roasters like F. Gaviña & Sons, Inc. are confident about a good season in Brazil, bolstering supply.

“We’re not looking short-term,” Gaviña said. “I’m a fourth generation roaster—I want a fifth to exist.”