We take a closer look at five of this season’s Advent calendars and what makes them unique.
BY TANYA NANETTI
SENIOR ONLINE CORRESPONDENT
Featured photo by Getty Images
In the first part of this article, we found out how five coffee companies from around the world approached the development of their 2024 Advent coffee calendars. Now let’s get to know each of them and look closer at their calendars.
The Barn (Berlin)
The Barn is releasing two calendars: the Inspirational and the Masterpiece, with all Gesha beans, says Ralf Rüller, The Barn’s founder. “The Inspiration Calendar—with beautiful graphics created by our designer who does everything by hand—includes 24 coffees from as many producers from various regions, with the highest level of terroir and processing and varieties ranging from Bourbon to Geisha coffee.“
“Everything you need to know about The Barn is in this calendar box,“ says Ralf of the Inspiration box. “Through these coffees, we present 24 of our closest relationships with the producers who have defined what The Barn is today. These are not only people who have dared to change the way coffee is made—inspiring other producers, neighbors, and entire regions—but also people who have completely changed the way I see coffee today. With the calendars, we want to inspire our customers in the same way.“
Onyx Coffee Lab (Rogers, Ark.)
Niki Weegens, creative director of Onyx, believes that their calendar is about not just coffee, but a shared experience.
“What sets the Onyx Advent Calendar apart is the attention to detail and the sense of connection it fosters,“ Niki says. “We’re not just delivering great coffee; we’re crafting an experience that invites people to slow down and savor something new each day. From the carefully curated coffees that span multiple origins and processes, to the personalized brew guides and producer stories that we offer online, this calendar offers a deeper understanding of coffee’s complexity and artistry.“
“This year, we’ve also introduced video content from 24 industry experts, adding a communal layer to the experience,“ Niki notes. “It’s special because it brings people together—whether you’re sharing your thoughts with friends or engaging with our global community, you’re part of something larger. The calendar creates a moment of discovery and connection that’s truly unique to the world of coffee.”
Drop Coffee (Stockholm)
Joanna Alm, managing director of Drop Coffee Roasters, explains the ideas behind Drop’s offerings. “Our calendar is composed of 24 equally exceptional specialty-coffee beans, each of which is transparently sourced from talented producers and farms that we know personally and have long-standing relationships with. Each coffee has been carefully hand-selected by us and has a unique story that gives our customers a fantastic taste of what Drop stands for: great coffees from great people.”
A video series comes with the calendars to connect with customers, too. ”Our accompanying video series is also a fun way to connect with our fans and share this unique experience together, kind of like the Advent TV show from my childhood in Sweden,” Joanna shares. ”Steve and I could talk about these coffees for hours, but this year we are trying to limit our videos to two minutes to make it easier for viewers to follow them on Instagram. We had fun producing them and hope they are just as fun to watch!”
Klatch Coffee (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
Justin Christopher, graphic designer, content creator, and marketing manager for Klatch Coffee, describes Klatch’s calendar, dubbed “Making Spirits Bright.“ “We at Klatch are very proud of the global partnerships we have formed with coffee producers around the world. Our roastmaster Mike Perry returns to personally visit many of them year after year. ‘Making Spirits Bright,’ our 2024 Advent calendar, is a fun and easy way to share these award-winning coffees with our customers and to highlight unique relationships with producers that might otherwise be overlooked.”
“The visual design of our Advent calendar 2024 was inspired by the constellations that guide travelers,“ says Justin. “Like merchants guided by the stars, we are deeply grateful for these direct connections with coffee producers, and this special box gives us the opportunity to count down to the holidays with some of our most loyal fans.”
KaffeBox (Scandinavia)
“The KaffeBox Specialty Coffee Advent calendar is unique because it focuses on Scandinavian roasters showcasing their best coffees,“ says Tyler Olson, founder of KaffeBox. “The Nordic region has remarkable roasters, and the calendar is a fantastic platform to showcase their work. Furthermore, we are proud to donate 200 crowns (about $18 USD) from each calendar to various charities. For the past six years, this initiative has funded an entire well project (or several small projects) each year, and we are honored to continue this tradition into 2024.“
Tyler adds that their shipping method is an unusual one, but focused on freshness. “The calendar ships in separate shipments to keep the beans as fresh as possible. The first 12 days of the calendar are shipped one week before the second 12 days.”
The holidays are just around the corner. Don’t wait too long to get your hands on one of these beautiful calendars!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tanya Nanetti (she/her) is a specialty-coffee barista, a traveler, and a dreamer. When she’s not behind the coffee machine (or visiting some hidden corner of the world), she’s busy writing for Coffee Insurrection, a website about specialty coffee that she’s creating along with her boyfriend.
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