In the 175 episodes of the Coffee Sprudgecast, only a few are truly dedicated and earnestly focused on that most imporant of concepts: Proof of Taste. And on the latest episode, we take proof of taste to 100. Only the flavors matter. Only the best brew will do. Are you on the list? Are you ready to prove your taste once and for all??

On this week's episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast, hosts Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen start by brewing coffee using a gorgeous ceramic Vandola that was thrown, glazed, and fired in Costa Rica. Then we dive into the world of Scenery Coffee, the London-based coffee company that just took home top honors in the Notable Roaster category at the 17th Annual Sprudgie Awards. Experimental processing, traditional brewing methods, coffee and coffee gear from near and far: truly this episode has it all…and then some!

A little more on this incredible vessel you see above, courtesy of Coffee Balam, who sent us their beautiful Vandola Coffee Brewer designed by Minor Alfaro Alpízar along with their Alfaro Master Roast coffee blend of Catuai and Caturra grown and processed on Costa Rica's Nicoya Peninsula. Together they made a gorgeous, smooth, and beautiful brew. Coffee Balam donates five percent of proceeds to support cultural preservation projects in the Chorotega community.

Trying this brewer + roaster combo was a total surprise to us, and we were thrilled to have such a cool concept come in through the general contact form at Sprudge. If you out there in Sprudge land reading this have something incredible you'd like to send our way for future consideration on the pod, get in touch!

Meanwhile, Scenery Coffee took home top honors at our global voted Sprudgie Awards, and were kind enough to send along some coffees to sample at Sprudge HQ, with which everyone on team Sprudge was quite impressed. We brewed two of their lovely coffees on this week's episode—India Ratnagiri Estate LAB-6 and Costa Rica Corazón de Jesús "Los Toños" Java—and spent time learning more about both (Scenery's website is excellent). We brewed those coffees this week with the Miir Coffee Hand Grinder, Miir Pourigami brewer, an Acaia Pearl coffee scale, and enjoyed from Slow Pour Supply 2-Way Cups.

Check out these coffee tools and other coffee gear at our popular gear hub Coffee Gear!

At the end of the day, taste was well and truly proven. Because that's what it's all about. We really can't say it enough. It's all about…proof of taste.

The Coffee Sprudgecast celebrates the seventeenth year of Sprudgie Award winners and honorees, presented in partnership with Pacific Barista Series, on this very special episode.

Hosts Jordan Michelman and Zachary Carlsen fuel up before getting into it with the help of Klatch Coffees' Valentine's Day offering Aphrodite Nº 3 and the delightful Garden Lemongrass herbal tisane from DONA. The Aphrodite Nº 3, ground using MiiR's sturdy hand grinder and brewed up on the trusty Ceado Hoop Brewer, offers flavor notes fit for the season: subtle florals (elderflower, rose) and nuanced red berry. The Garden Lemongrass herbal tisane, part of DONA's incredible Tea Library collection, kept us grounded and soaring with unmistakable lemongrass goodness.

And one more thing... we need to talk about these coffee potato chips.

Seattle's Umami Kushi—famous for their okazu pan, delightful snacks, and delicious pop-ups—has been crafting artisan-level potato chips available to purchase at their shop. Umami Kushi teams up with Boon Boona Coffee Roasters for a coffee-forward (but not too forward) BBQ flavored potato chip that's well worth the trip to Rainier Beach.

The hosts crunch and munch on the chips, made with a carefully considered blend of spices and just the right about of coffee. The coffee says, "hey I'm here, I'm helping," instead of what it can sometimes do ("hey look at me look at me TASTE ME LOVE ME"). Zachary Carlsen goes out on a limb to say that this is one of the best coffee snacks he's ever had (and trust us, he's had a lot of coffee snacks). Jordan Michelman suggests the classic school lunchroom hack of adding them to a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And guess what? We did.

Give Umami Kushi a follow on Instagram @umamikushi to learn more about their stunning potato chips and where to find them—and thank you, thank you to Umami Kushi for reaching out!

Perhaps the 18th Annual Sprudgie Awards will finally feature the category Best Coffee Food. We're looking at you, Umami Kushi, and we're also looking at any brownies with delicious coffee in it—and we're decidedly not looking at you, 2 Affogato.

Listen along to learn more about the 17th Annual Sprudgie Awards Presented by Pacific Barista Series, and a very special thank you to PBS for your continued support of this program—ensuring every nomination is free, every vote counted, and every alternative milk exquisite. ❤️

This episode of the Coffee Sprudgecast is sponsored by Baratza, noissue, Ceado, Pacific Barista Series, La Marzocco, and DONA.