Milk Chocolate, Orange Rind, Raspberry Candy
Rise Up Blend is a dark-roasted espresso from Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo - low acidity, a milk chocolate base, and a thread of raspberry candy and orange rind to keep things lively. It holds up well black, and with milk the creamy texture comes into its own, making it a natural fit for flat whites and morning espressos alike.
Dark, chocolatey espresso with fruit
Rise Up Blend brings together two quite different origins - Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo - and the result is a dark-roasted espresso that's richer and more layered than its straightforward character might suggest. Milk chocolate forms the base, orange rind adds a little brightness, and raspberry candy threads through in a way that lifts the whole thing without tipping it into sharpness. Acidity is kept well in check, so it drinks smoothly whether you're pulling a flat white or an Aeropress on a slow morning.
The DRC component comes from Rebuild Women's Hope, a cooperative on Idjwi Island founded by Marceline Budza in 2013, which supports over 15,000 women through coffee production - contributing to education, healthcare and economic development in the community. The Brazilian side comes from Fazenda Mió, the same farm behind Volcano's single-origin Brixton espresso, where part of the proceeds fund an agroforestry research project.
Add milk and the blend's creamy texture really comes through; drink it black and the chocolate and fruit notes hold their own. If you like your espresso bold but not austere, this is a reliable place to land.
About the Roaster
Volcano Coffee Works began with Kurt Stewart, a New Zealand-born chef, wheeling a vintage Piaggio Ape cart along a West Dulwich pavement and serving espresso to whoever fancied one. That spirit - unpretentious, curious, quietly determined - has carried through to a London roastery, two south London cafés, and a team built around the idea that good coffee should do good in the world as well as taste good in the cup.
