CHEVY CHASE, MD.—A new coffee is brewing at Ritz-Carlton hotels and resorts across the United States. First Drop Coffee is proprietary and branded for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in America. It is made 100 percent from coffee beans harvested by Rainforest Alliance Certified farms in Mexico and Brazil.
In addition, select hotels will feature the First Drop Reserve, also a 100 percent Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee. This premium artisan coffee is roasted in small batch form using only the top 3 percent of the world’s Arabica coffees. The Ritz-Carlton exquisite blend hails from East Africa, Central America, and South America. Each single origin component is roasted one bag at a time to maximize the flavor profile of that specific bean. Only after each origin has been roasted to its perfect range, are the coffees blended together.
“At The Ritz-Carlton we are committed to continuously reviewing our products and vendor partners to ensure the use of high quality, socially responsible products,” says Rainer Zinngrebe, Vice President Culinary & Corporate Chef for The Ritz-Carlton. “We believe it is the right thing to do and our guests also share this passion. But the best thing about First Drop is the taste. It caters to the current coffee palate of our guests and applies well to a variety of brewing methods from pour-over, French press, Chemex, and every espresso combination.”
