We are incredibly grateful to have completed our first Cup of Excellence Thailand 2026 Cupping Experiences in Boston and Providence, surrounded by coffee lovers, friends, producers, baristas, and people who were simply curious to learn more about Thai coffee.
Across both events, we had the opportunity to share more than 20 coffees from Thailand and welcome more than 50 coffee lovers at each location. What made these afternoons so meaningful was not only the coffee on the table, but the conversations, questions, reactions, and connections that happened around it.
For us, this was an opportunity to bring people closer to the story behind Thai coffee, from the farmers and producers at origin to the processing methods and varieties that ultimately shape what we experience in the cup.
Discovering the Diversity of Thai Coffee
One of the most exciting moments during the cupping was hearing people react to the coffees for the first time.
I remember hearing someone say, “Wow, all 23 coffees taste so different!”
That reaction perfectly captured what we wanted people to discover.
Thailand is often still an emerging origin in the specialty coffee world, and sometimes people have a very limited idea of what Thai coffee can taste like. But when you put 20+ coffees from different farms, regions, varieties, and processing methods next to each other, you begin to see just how diverse Thai coffee really is.
At our Boston cupping, we tasted more than 20 coffees, while our Providence experience featured 23 different coffees from Thailand. Some coffees shared the same variety. Some shared the same processing method. Others came from similar growing regions. Yet, each coffee brought something completely different to the table.
We tasted coffees from varieties that are familiar to the specialty coffee world, as well as coffees from varieties that are sometimes overlooked.
Some people loved the winning coffees. Others found their favorites in coffees such as #15 or #5 from Sopa's Estate. Some were especially surprised by the Catimor, discovering how complex and interesting it could be compared with varieties that are often considered more prestigious, such as Gesha and Java.
And that is exactly what makes a cupping so special.
There is no right or wrong answer.
You might love a natural process coffee while someone next to you prefers washed. You might fall in love with Bourbon while someone else prefers Catimor. One person might be drawn to a bright and floral coffee, while another might prefer something sweet, structured, and fruit-forward.
We all taste the same coffee, but we experience it differently.
Learning About Coffee and Learning About Ourselves
One thing I love sharing during a cupping is that coffee is not only about learning what is happening at the farm or understanding processing and varieties.
It is also about learning what we like.
When we cup together, we have the opportunity to slow down, taste carefully, compare coffees, and pay attention to our own reactions. Sometimes we discover that our preferences are completely different from what we expected.
That is one of the most beautiful things about specialty coffee.
A cupping table can bring together people with completely different backgrounds and experiences, but everyone has the opportunity to participate. You do not need to be a coffee professional to have an opinion. You do not need to know every variety or processing method to know what you enjoy.
You simply need to taste.
Through these events, we hope people can become more curious about coffee and, at the same time, learn a little more about themselves and what they enjoy in the cup.
Boston: Bringing Thai Coffee to Our Community
Our Boston cupping was an incredibly special milestone for us.
We were honored to host the event together with Linger, and we are deeply grateful to Ren for giving us the opportunity and space to share Thai coffee with the Boston community.
More than 50 people came together to taste Thai coffees, ask questions, share their thoughts, and learn more about what is happening in Thailand's specialty coffee movement.
Seeing the reactions around the table was incredibly rewarding. People were curious, engaged, and excited to learn. For us, this is exactly what we hope to create through Newbery Street Coffee: opportunities for people to discover coffee beyond what they already know.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who took the time to join us and make the Boston event such a meaningful afternoon.
Providence: A Community That Truly Cares About Coffee
Our experience in Providence was equally special, and in many ways, it was a blessing.
Providence showed us just how strong its coffee community is.
The people we met genuinely care about coffee and, more importantly, care about what happens behind the cup. They were curious about the farmers, the producers, the varieties, the processing methods, and the future of Thai coffee.
More than 50 people joined us at Enjoy Coffee Roasters, and we were especially grateful to see so many friends from Boston make the trip to Providence to support us.
Seeing familiar faces drive all the way from Boston meant more to us than we can express. It reminded us that the specialty coffee community is much bigger than a single city. It is a network of people who are willing to travel, learn, support one another, and share their passion.
A huge thank you to Justin and Valentine for being such inspiring people and for helping create a space where coffee and community could come together.
And, of course, this event would not have been possible without the incredible team at Enjoy Coffee Roasters. Thank you for welcoming us so warmly and for putting so much care into making the event happen.
The Future of Thai Coffee
For us, these cupping experiences were about much more than tasting competition coffees.
They were an opportunity to show what Thai coffee can be.
Thailand has so much potential, and we are still discovering just how much there is to explore. There are countless farms, producers, varieties, processing methods, microclimates, and regions that are continuing to shape the future of Thai coffee.
The story of Thai coffee is still being written.
We believe the future will be built through collaboration between farmers, producers, exporters, roasters, baristas, coffee professionals, and coffee drinkers around the world.
When we support specialty coffee from Thailand, we are not simply buying a bag of coffee. We are helping create opportunities for farmers and producers to continue experimenting, improving quality, and building a stronger coffee industry at origin.
That is why sharing these coffees with people in Boston, Providence, and beyond means so much to us.
From the Cupping Table to the World Stage
These events also became an important part of our journey with Newbery Street Coffee.
Following the Providence cupping, we moved one step closer to our Kickstarter goal and began moving forward toward our $50,000 stretch goal.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported our campaign, shared our story, attended our events, purchased coffee, encouraged us, or simply believed in what we are trying to build.
Every contribution helps us move forward.
But more importantly, every conversation about Thai coffee helps bring Thai coffee a little closer to the world stage.
This journey is bigger than just coffee.
It is about farmers.
It is about communities.
It is about friendships.
It is about curiosity.
It is about learning.
And ultimately, it is about bringing people together through something we all love.
Thank You for Being Part of the Journey
To everyone who stopped by our events, tasted with us, asked questions, shared your favorite coffees, drove from Boston to Providence, helped organize the events, or supported Thai coffee in any way: thank you.
To Ren and the team at Linger, thank you for believing in the idea and giving us the opportunity to share Thai coffee with the Boston community.
To Justin, Valentine, and the entire Enjoy Coffee Roasters team, thank you for opening your doors and welcoming us into the Providence coffee community.
And to everyone who continues to support Newbery Street Coffee, thank you for believing in our mission to bring Thai specialty coffee and Asian coffee culture to more people.
We are only getting started.
There is so much more to discover, so much more to taste, and so much more to share.
Let's bring Thai coffee to the world stage together. 🇹🇭☕️🌎