Our coffee was featured in Fellow’s limited, 12-hour release on Sept. 16
A Moment and a Testament
To be recognized and featured by one of the most respected names in specialty coffee — Fellow — for their weekly Fellow Drop was nothing short of thrilling. This wasn’t just another coffee release for us; it was a moment of recognition and a testament to the months of work that went into making it happen.
For those who may not be familiar, Fellow Drops is a highly selective program. The company receives thousands of samples from roasters across the country each year, and through a rigorous selection process, they choose and spotlight some of the most exceptional roasters in the world.
Being chosen means your coffee is recognized among the very best in the industry — a mark of quality and craftsmanship that few roasters ever experience. It’s a short window, a fast-moving release, and a signal that both the coffee and the story behind it meet the highest standards.
But this moment didn’t happen overnight. Getting our coffee onto Fellow Drops required months of coordination, planning, and attention to every detail. Every stage — from sourcing to roasting to content creation to logistics to production and fulfillment — needed to be carefully orchestrated to ensure a seamless release.
That’s where our team truly shined. It was incredible to watch it all come together — and with so many smiling faces!
How It Began
Looking back, my first correspondence with Fellow happened a little over a year ago. Hailie graciously responded to an overly enthusiastic email (out of, like, twelve…). We chatted about DOCR’s Wholesale Program — what we offer, how we source our green coffee, and what our team is capable of.
After sending just short of ten samples over the next eight months, we finally landed on an exceptional coffee: a Colombia Collab Lot through Unblended Coffee’s Young Producer Program.
By sourcing this coffee — and by drinking it — we were directly supporting young Colombian producers as they experiment, learn, and shape the future of coffee.
A dessert-like, fruit-forward coffee that shines with notes of pomegranate, cherry cordial, and rich chocolate, it’s an indulgent yet balanced cup that showcases the depth and vibrancy of Colombian coffee at its best. The story behind the cup is just as inspiring.
This lot came to us through Unblended, a company reshaping the future of coffee by connecting farmers and roasters committed to supporting young talent. Their Young Producer Development Program acts like an incubator for start-up producers — providing mentorship, a low-risk space to experiment, and a foundation for future independence.
It’s a partnership that not only delivers exceptional coffee but also invests in the next generation of producers who will carry specialty coffee forward.
Exceptional producer and master of fermentation Sebastian Ramirez leads much of this project, adding his signature “red fruits” co-ferment to the Collab Lot to create a vibrant, sweet, consistent, and well-rounded coffee.
Once the coffee landed at our HQ in Ferndale, Nate profiled it to highlight its natural characteristics. Each batch was monitored closely, with real-time adjustments to bring out the sweetness, acidity, and complexity that define the profile.
The roast aims for clarity and nuance — allowing the unique flavors to shine while maintaining balance and drinkability. While brewing, we noticed that with wider ratios, we were tasting tropical and stone fruits like peach; when tightening the brew ratio, we found rich chocolate, jammy berries, and dessert-like qualities.
The Drop
The coffee was featured on Fellow Drops on Tuesday, September 16. Then came the flood of orders — coffee drinkers were just as excited and enthusiastic about this coffee and its story as we were.
We were floored by the outpouring of love and support, but mostly, we were excited to share this coffee with the rest of the world. From there, every bag was carefully weighed, packed, and prepared for shipping, ensuring it arrived fresh and ready to brew.
Every step was intentional — this coffee wasn’t just about taste; it was about delivering an experience that met the highest standard expected of a Fellow Drop.
A Huge Shoutout to Those Who Made It Happen
I want to take a moment to recognize our team’s effort in supporting this Fellow Drop.
Nate, DOCR’s Director of Coffee and President, kept in constant communication with the fine folks at Unblended, making sure the coffee landed exactly when we needed it to. He then profiled it with utmost care and absolutely knocked it out of the park.
Amelia, our Graphic Design and Marketing Lead, handled asset coordination, copywriting, and website updates — ensuring every piece of communication reflected the quality and care behind the coffee. With help from Noah, our Lead Media Specialist, and his eye for photo and video, the two collaborated on content creation and marketing with Fellow, helping tell the story in a way that reached coffee lovers far and wide.
Check out the reel Noah created for our Instagram post below.
Christian, our Financial Director (and wearer of many hats), managed logistics and the website’s integration with Fellow’s platform — keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, our production team worked tirelessly to meet demand. Anthony, our HQ and Production Manager, coordinated roasting, bagging, and scheduling so production stayed on track — roasting coffee for hours, day after day, while ensuring quality remained consistent. This was no small feat in getting that many bags out the door in such a short window — he crushed it!
Emma, Lauren, and Eve all pitched in during production week, ensuring every bag was prepared with care. Even a few of our partners lent a hand, helping the team stay on track during the busiest moments. Every single person’s effort was essential to making this Drop happen.
What stands out most isn’t just the individual contributions — it’s the way the team came together. The coordination between creative, operational, and production work was seamless, a reminder of how much can be achieved when everyone is aligned on a shared goal.
More Than a Milestone
Being featured on Fellow Drops is more than an honor — it’s a milestone. It’s a chance for new coffee lovers to discover our work, for longtime supporters to celebrate alongside us, and for our team to see their dedication recognized on a national platform.
It’s a reminder of why we do what we do — and why every detail, from sourcing the coffee to shipping the last bag, truly matters.
Until next time.
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About the Writer: Amélie Boulanger is the Director of Sales & Education at Dessert Oasis Coffee Roasters. She’s the driving force behind our wholesale program, ensuring that every partner cafe — near and far — has everything they need to serve an exceptional cup. Whether she’s helping teams level up their coffee knowledge or sharing her infectious enthusiasm for the craft, Amélie brings equal parts expertise and heart to everything she does.If you’d like to connect with Amélie, reach out at amelie@dessertoasiscoffee.com — she’d love to talk shop (and probably pour you a cup while she’s at it).