Just as the holiday season finds us embracing enduring traditions while reflecting on novel events of the past year, we like each version of Fonte’s Holiday Blend to evoke the universal spirit of the season in its own unique way.

The foundation of this 34th iteration of Holiday Blend is an organically grown and natural processed coffee from Java’s Kayumas plateau. Juicy and jammy with syrupy mouthfeel supporting gummy bear and tropical fruit flavors, Kayumas evokes plum wine and is strikingly different from both the cleaner profile of washed Estate Javas from Blawan and Jampit and the earthly character of the wet-hulled coffees that dominate the Indonesian archipelago.

On its own, the thick, syrupy quality of the Kayumas can be a bit densely focused on the middle of the tongue. Adding a natural Ethiopia Hambela of heirloom cultivars from smallholder farms in the Guji zone creates wider spread and sense of transparency, brightening the cup while adding to the juicy fruit potpourri with blueberry and raspberry notes of its own along with milky chocolate.

A touch of snappy, cider-like acidity from the Nicaragua Segovia Diamante brings a pleasant sparkle to the blend, lighting up on edges of the tongue and adding spice and rustic notes of chicory root, cedar, and an almond flour nuttiness that emerge toward the blend’s finish.

Finally, we found that a small amount of Kenya AA contributes an additional winy-ness of a brighter variety to the much softer, sweeter port-like quality in the Kayumas, as well as a hint of cherry juice for good measure.

Together these create a supremely balanced cup—fruity but not overwhelming so, tempered with milky chocolate, nuts and rustic spice. Pleasantly wine-like but not puckeringly so. T hick and smooth in the middle yet lively around the edges.

We look forward to drinking 2026’s Holiday Blend as much as possible over the next two months and sincerely hope you will join us in enjoying this cup of holiday cheer.