As the holiday season approaches, we’re thrilled to reintroduce Sweet Thing, our Holiday Coffee crafted to be unlike anything else we release all year. What began as a playful year-end experiment has evolved into a beloved tradition, one where we challenge ourselves to create a blend that feels truly singular, festive, and unmistakably Sweet Thing.
Staying true to our light-roast philosophy, we set out to build a coffee defined by vibrant, harmonious flavours and naturally elevated sweetness. We started with a vision: a profile that was bright, lively, and texturally rounded; something that stands out while still feeling comforting and seasonal.
We were lucky to find the perfect starting point among coffees we’d already sourced with our close friends at Common Goal. The naturally processed Ethiopia Gigesa Gr. 1 immediately distinguished itself with its citrus and stone-fruit character and exceptional cleanliness. Using it as the base gave us the clarity we needed to shape the rest of the blend.
For the second component, we wanted something that would complement the Ethiopia while preserving the blend’s unique identity—balanced, refined, sweet, but not overly ferment-forward. Through our long partnership with Semilla Coffee, we found a perfect fit: a washed Pink Bourbon from Colombia La Esmeralda. This coffee that impressed us from the first tasting with its structure and depth with super intense, jammy fruit notes and deep, sugary sweetness.
After many rounds of cupping, ratio adjustments, and roast fine-tuning, this year’s Sweet Thing landed at a perfectly balanced 50/50 blend of Ethiopia and Colombia. Together, they create a cup that’s indulgent yet composed, with notes of Cherry Strudel, Orange Marmalade, and Pound Cake—flavours that evoke the feeling of a festive dessert shared at the end of a holiday meal. As our head roaster Tait describes it: “Expect concentrated, cooked fruits like cherry pastry and orange jam, balanced by elegant florals and vanilla.”
Sweet Thing remains our way of celebrating the season through a coffee that stands out—unique, joyful, and crafted with intention. Whether you’re brewing it for yourself or gifting it to someone special, it’s a blend that captures everything we love about this time of year.
Shop Sweet Thing now on our website here or find it on bar at any of our cafe locations here while stock lasts!
Happy Holidays (and happy brewing!) from the Timbertrain Team.
FAQ
1. What is Sweet Thing?
Sweet Thing is Timbertrain’s annual holiday blend; a festive, thoughtfully crafted coffee made to celebrate the season with warmth, balance, and joy.
2. What does it taste like?
Expect dessert-like notes of Cherry Strudel, Orange Marmalade, and Pound Cake. It’s sweet, vibrant, and comfortingly indulgent.
3. Why does Timbertrain make Sweet Thing every year?
It’s our way of celebrating the holidays, connecting with our community, and sharing something special to close out the year.
4. What’s the best brewing method for Sweet Thing, and should I add condiments?
Sweet Thing shines best as a drip brew and is most expressive when enjoyed black—no condiments needed.
5. Is Sweet Thing roasted as a pre- or post-roast blend, and why?
Sweet Thing is a post-roast blend. Each component is roasted separately to its ideal profile, then hand-mixed during packaging. While more labor-intensive, this approach gives us greater control and consistency in the cup.
6. What does the blending process look like during testing, and how is the final blend packaged?
We begin with sample roasts of each component, then test different ratio combinations—essentially a process of trial, error, and discovery. Once the blend is finalized, each coffee is roasted to its profile and hand-mixed before packaging.
7. What are the benefits of blending coffee?
Blending allows us to create more complex, layered flavour profiles.
8. What does Sweet Thing pair well with?
We recommend pairing it with simple, lightly sweet pastries, which complement rather than overpower the coffee’s flavour.
9. How long will Sweet Thing be available for purchase?
It will be available until the end of the year or until it sells out - whichever comes first!
