Ethiotime1
Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Blue Bottle Coffee have linked up for their collaborative brand and product line, Samra Origins.
Named after the XO Records founder’s mother, the collab is a nod to his family’s Ethiopian heritage, and celebrates the Ethiopian culture and excellence in coffee as the birthplace of the drink. Samra Origins launches this month with a limited release of Exceedingly Rare Ethiopia Wolde Faye Koricha COE #7, which is recognized by the Ethiopia Cup of Excellence. This single origin coffee is produced by Wolde Faye Koricha and utilizes a natural process that upholds centuries of traditions that were originated by Ethiopian coffee farmers, offering a vibrant flavor profile with classic notes of fresh fruit and bright florals that the region is known for.
This summer, The Weeknd and Blue Bottle will also drop off the Samra Origins Blend, which will be offered in whole bean and as cold brew in select Blue Bottle cafes in the US. The creation of the blend stems from The Weeknd and his mother’s selection of which blend variation tasted the most similar to the coffee Samra makes at home, and has been fine tuned by Tesfaye and Blue Bottle.
“Ethiopian culture is an important part of my identity and I’m proud to work alongside the Blue Bottle Coffee team to shine a light on Ethiopian traditions, values, and of course, coffee,” Tesfaye said in a statement. “Growing up, I watched my mother perform Buna Tetu, a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. This sensory experience helped shape my understanding of community and taught me to always honor my roots. Samra Origins is a true passion project that I hope will inspire curiosity and encourage support for Ethiopia’s people, while also spreading the warmth and friendship so ingrained in Ethiopian culture.”
“Ethiopian coffee is truly in a class of its own and the country holds a special place within our Blue Bottle community,” added Karl Strovink, CEO of Blue Bottle Coffee. “Since Blue Bottle Coffee’s inception in 2002, we’ve sourced coffee from Ethiopia. In 2023, Ethiopia is still consistently among our top origins by volume. I’m excited that we’re extending our commitment there with Samra Origins so we can continue to share the best of Ethiopian coffee and support our network of producers in the country.”
In addition, Blue Bottle will donate to The Weeknd’s XO Humanitarian Fund, which supports the United Nations World Food Programme with a special focus on Ethiopia. “Samra Origins honors our longstanding commitment to caring for communities around the globe,” Strovink said. “We jumped at the opportunity to work with The Weeknd because his advocacy with the World Food Program inspires us to continue lifting up communities in need and highlighting their incredible work.”
“We are grateful to have The Weeknd and Blue Bottle Coffee’s steadfast support as we work to feed families in hunger hotspots worldwide,” Barron Segar, President and CEO of World Food Program USA, said. “Private sector partners like Blue Bottle Coffee are critical in generating both public awareness and funding to save the 43 million people on the brink of starvation across 51 countries.”
The Weeknd and Blue Bottle Coffee’s Samra Origins launches May 9, with a price tag of $65 USD per 100 gram tin and will be exclusively available on the Samra Origins website. Guests can sign up online for the waitlist on the site.
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