Gold Line OLD

SMC's "Gold Line" originated from the two-fold recognition to celebrate coffee's origins in East Africa as well as to honor the heritage of African women and their affiliation with powerful and influential African female matriarchs in ancient historical texts. We deliberately pick each blend with their legacy in view.

"Who is she...

...who comes up from the wilderness/ Like pillars of smoke,/ Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,/With all the fragrant powders of the merchant.” (Song of Songs 3:6)

Caramel Bloom

The Sheba blend pays tribute to the many hands of black women responsible for its production across the coffee supply chain. Ethiopian women in particular epitomize the coffee narrative. Please read this helpful SCA article written by Dagmawi I.E. (click on image above for redirect): "To this day coffee remains a social drink where it is freshly roasted, ground, and brewed for immediate consumption by women at home over a ceremony that lasts well over an hour. The attachment of Ethiopian women to coffee is so dominant, Ethiopians would only be puzzled to hear of the existence of initiatives such as #ShesTheRoaster that are meant to bring about equality and equity in the global industry. If it was not for the commercialization of coffee in Ethiopia and the associated business activities that generate cash, the men of Ethiopia would have remained beekeepers and committed coffee drinkers."

"I am black...

...but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem,/ Like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon." (Song of Songs 1:5)

Black and Tan Profile

Understanding the subtle nuances of coffee roasting that contribute to the perfect blend goes hand in hand with perceiving and in turn respecting the need for diversity as a whole. Work is at the core of our daily living, and in a society, we all play a part that contributes to its welfare. Therefore, the pursuit of equity education and understanding its relationship to the coffee supply chain remains our crucial need. Please read this synopsis and "about the author" for Roast Magazine's most recent publicaiton, "Cheap Coffee" to get a glimpse of the historical and present absence of this kind of education amongst most consumers and roasters throughout most of the western world (click image above for redirect).

"How beautiful...

...is your love, my sister, my bride!/ How much better is your love than wine,/ And the fragrance of your ointments/ Than all spices!" (Song of Songs 4:10)

Succulent Apricot Tagine and Fresh Grapefruit

In exclusively selecting coffee from this region of Africa, we hope to direct the attention of our consumers to East Africa as a harbor of peace and diplomacy throughout the world. Ethiopia has long served as a power center and intermediary between Africa and the middle East, such as when King Negus granted safe harbor to the Muslims during hijra and of course when the Queen of Sheba herself paid voluntary triubute to King Solomon. The distinct grape and citrus undertones of the Sheba blend provide an organic trademark that will perpetually shift one's focus to coffee's beginning. For more background on coffee's origin story, please read this neat article by Lindsy Goodwin on The Spruce Eats webpage (click image above for redirect).

"Your lips..

...drip fresh honey, my bride;/ Honey and milk are under your tongue;/ And the fragrance of your garments/ Is like the fragrance of Lebanon." (Song of Songs 4:11)

Georgia Peach Finish

The end of a matter is always predicated and greatly dependent on its beginning. Certainly we see that coffee, having originated in Ethiopia, has made its way across the globe through colonialism, export and transplant. However, a new era in the evaluation of coffee as the number two export in the world has captured the intrigue of individuals all over the earth intending to not only understand the origins of coffee but even to dive deeply into understanding their own roots as well. Please consider well the experience of Bartholmew Jones and his mission to "make coffee black again" in this article from The Hill (Please click the image above for link redirect."

The Story

Approximately 3000 years ago, during the reign of King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba "came to Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels bearing spices and with very much gold and precious stones." Because the precise name of this Queen is not identified, it can be assumed that the association of this Queen and her place of origin is very significant.
According to World History Encyclopedia, Sheba has been commonly associated with the Kingdom of Saba in Southern Arabia, near to Yemen. Flauvius Josephus regarded it as the area around Ethiopia and Egypt. Even others have identified Sheba as a colony of the Kingdom of Aksum, which consists of present-day Ethiopia.
Regardless of the precise location in geography, we can verily say that this Queen of Sheba is also "the Queen of the South," referred to by Jesus in Matthew 12:24. According to this verse, "the Queen of the South will rise up with this generation and condemn it."

coming soon

About the Artist

Isaiah Malnory-Brown prides himself on the eclectic and eccentric imagination that influences his style. Growing up in Milwaukee, he has worked with a number of musicians and filmmakers in the area, complimenting their unique characteristics with his own consistent and heartfelt design. He has been featured in the MKE film festival for his animation “The Amulet” and also animated a full-length music video called “I Don’t Dream Anymore” for the band Fuzzysurf. We are proud to call Isaiah the artist behind “Gold Line” and look forward to his promising career.