Full Potential Blend

The creation of Full Potential Blend, was spearheaded by a Commonplace staff member outside of our roasting team. This year’s staff-developed blend is brought to you by Erin Bertuzzi, Commonplace Shadyside Kitchen Manager. Erin contributed her culinary expertise, curiosity around blend creation, and passion for community into building to this blend. Proceeds from this blend benefit Café Momentum, a nonprofit organization transforming the lives of young people by equipping our communities’ justice-involved youth with life skills, education, and employment opportunities to help them achieve their full potential.

Erin is a skilled baker who loves creating delicious and diverse treats in the Commonplace Kitchen and working diligently with her team to ensure every bite tastes amazing. She also deeply values community and creating opportunities for people to access the knowledge and experiences they are passionate about. These two themes come together in Full Potential Blend, meticulously crafted around Erin’s vision for an approachable blend that pairs perfectly with one of her favorite items from the Commonplace Kitchen – sticky buns.

In Erin’s words,

“I am so excited to launch a coffee that I think is really approachable, unique, and meant to pair with a morning pastry. As the kitchen manager, it was important for me to bring in the flavors of one of my favorite items we make, our sticky buns. Cari, the special lady who started the food program at Commonplace, created this recipe, and it is just perfect. I was lucky to learn from her for a few months before she retired, and I want to ensure her flavors live on here. I can't wait for people to experience that love and warmth in this cup of coffee.”

Full Potential Blend is the fourth iteration of our annual staff-developed blend. Blends like this are only possible because of our incredibly talented team, and the unique ideas and care, staff like Erin, bring to this project. This blend features a combination of two delicious coffees from our lineup – Yuki Minami, a natural processed coffee Brazil and Bukeye, a washed process coffee from Burundi. It also features a very special cinnamon co-ferment coffee from Sebastian Ramirez at Finca El Placer in Colombia. The result is truly special: a sweet and warm profile that pairs perfectly with a sticky bun from the Commonplace Kitchen.