After ten consecutive days of high temperatures above 90°F in Minneapolis, we shouldn’t even be talking about the holidays. But, this week's reprieve from heat with chilly nights has reminded me that the job of planning our holiday blends is afoot.
These are the best selling coffees of the season. Well intentioned gift givers are buying earlier than ever, and with a little planning, and whimsy, it can be an exciting time for the menu.
RELEASE DATE EXPECTATIONS
At Mill City Roasters, we offer two holiday blends whose names riff on our northern winters. Phones start to ring about these blends by mid-September, and the third week of October is when we plan to have these launched.
Snowblind, named after UV light reflecting off fresh snow, is designed to capture the stark brightness of winter. We look for flavors of sweet spice, punchy red fruit, and refreshing tartness for this blend.
Hibernate, is the complementary contrast to Snowblind. Cozy and comforting, it's for coffee drinkers who embrace the darkness and serenity of winter. Rich fudge, baking spices, and mulled wine are the notes we have in mind for this blend.
BUILDING HOLIDAY BLENDS
Creating a new blend can feel challenging, but try and keep it simple with two components to start! This can help with inventory and roast planning. Bonus points if you choose coffees that are already part of your standard lineup.
Consider building blends at the cupping table after they are brewed, also called wet blending. Take an empty cup and mix a spoonful of one coffee with another to get an idea of how a blend of those two coffees may taste. Adjust the ratio is easy and fast but just adding more spoonfuls of either coffee. If you are new to cupping or need a refresher, check out our four part blog series about Cupping Professionally.
As you start to hone in on your final ratio, make sure to ask yourself: Does your blend taste better than the components on their own? If not, some tweaks may need to be made around the blend ratio, your roasting style, or the coffee selection themselves.
SEARCH FOR INSPIRATION
Holiday blends can benefit from a custom package - it is gift-giving season after all. If you're bereft of inspiration, Lauren published a blog on her favorite branding and beverage industry newsletters called, In the Know: Newsletters from Outside the Coffee World, and has great publications to sign up for.
Sprudge publishes coffee gift guides annually, like this one from 2025 that highlights blends from roastery across the The Coffee Design features is also a great spot to see companies that are refreshing their brands and talk about why and how the change came about.
THE CLOCK IS TICKING
Summer will be gone before you know it. Menu planning and product creation takes time and intentionality. When everything eventually gets down to the wire, it will feel good to have all your boxes checked so you can put your production on rails. Put a little whimsy around the process, and this may be your best blend yet.
