As any Richmonder can tell, something is brewing in RVA. There’s collaboration around every corner, enthusiasm about the region, and an appreciation for local talent and creativity. Grid magazine scratched the surface of the many success stories in the last issue, featuring RVA Makers. At that time we reported on a number of our own initiatives to become bigger than the printed page. One of the RVA Makers projects that grew from our last issue was a joint venture with Blanchard’s Coffee Co., 804 & 1/2, Relay Foods, and Thrive Coffee.

Spearheaded by Stephen Robertson, of Blanchard’s Coffee Co., RVA witnessed its first coffee cupping event that used crowd sourcing to choose the next direct trade coffee and farm to be featured by Blanchard’s. After local coffee fans piled into the Blanchard’s Coffee Co. Roast Lab, Robertson dimmed the lights and introduced the group, via Skype, to Raul Valdez of the San Rafael Urias Estate in the Antigua region of Guatemala. Raul’s coffee was ultimately the favorite of the crowd compared to the excellent Costa Rican and Honduran coffees also on the list.

The debut event proved successful, with RVA coming together to cup some seriously tasty and sustainable coffee that has direct ties (and greater financial benefit) to the farmers who grew it. Grid is proud to announce that as a result, the collaborative coffee project can now be tasted at Ellwood Thompson’s Community Market, with a portion of proceeds from sales directed to a local charity. Blanchard’s Coffee Co. is also introducing the new coffee at other cafes and private events in the coming weeks.

In addition to coffee, Grid has selected the winner of the “You Name It. We’ll Make It.” ice cream contest in collaboration with Bev’s Homemade Ice Cream.