Their unique fairtrade coffee brand ‘Perkee’ is farmed by the Soppeexcca coffee co-op in Nicaragua, Central America. It is made from single-origin 100% Arabica beans resulting in a smooth, intense coffee with dark chocolate and caramel notes. The cooperative supports female farmers with women playing an integral role in the production of the coffee.
Following its launch in 2016, more than 100 Perkee baristas have been trained, and approximately 1.5 million cups have been sold.
The Great Taste judges described the Perkee espresso as having a “marked richness” and “deep chocolatey backbone.”
Executive Chairman of Bartlett Mitchell, Wendy Bartlett, said: “We have been thrilled with the way in which Perkee has developed both in terms of its popularity and the way it helps to support Soppexcca, the superb coffee producer behind the beans. For its quality to be recognized by Great Taste is fantastic. It is a testament to the passion and pride of everyone involved in both its production and service to our customers.”
The Great Taste awards is a food accreditation scheme for artisan and speciality food producers. More than 500 judges including food critics, chefs, and food writers took part in the blind tastings of more than 12,600 products. Winners are awarded the honour of adding the black and gold Great Taste label to their product.