Gates of Valor

Medium-Dark Roast - Sumatra 

Steady • Historic • Uniting

📜 The Story Behind the Blend

In the autumn of 1777, American forces held their ground in the wilderness and fields of Saratoga County, New York. Under the command of General Horatio Gates, a diverse and determined Continental Army halted the advance of British General John Burgoyne. This pivotal moment would become the most decisive turning point of the American Revolution.

At the Battles of Freeman’s Farm and Bemis Heights, it wasn’t just tactics that secured victory; it was the sheer courage and unwavering resolve of the American soldiers. Gates’ leadership, calm, calculated, and resolute, was instrumental in uniting militias, regulars, and citizen-soldiers into a cohesive force.

The triumph at Saratoga compelled Burgoyne’s surrender, shattered British momentum in the North, and convinced France to formally join the American cause. Without Saratoga, there may have been no Yorktown. Without Gates, there may have been no Saratoga.

💡 Why Gates’ Valor?

Ballston Brothers Coffee pays homage to this legacy of strength through unity. “Gates’ Valor” transcends the actions of a single individual; it embodies the collective courage of every farmer, blacksmith, scout, and citizen who stood firm. It’s a tribute to shared bravery, bold, grounded, and unmistakably American.

So, when you savor a cup of this medium-dark roast, you’re experiencing the spirit of Saratoga, bold like the general and brewed for a greater cause.

FARM: Smallholder Producers
REGION: Sumatra
CUPPING NOTES: Black Tea, Brown Spice, Citrus
ALTITUDE: 1,000 - 1,500 MASL
PROCESSING: Wet-hulled
VARIETAL: Catimor, Typica
CERTIFICATIONS: Gr1 DP, Giling Basah

DETAILS: The unique microclimates of Sumatra encourage slow cherry development, producing coffees with distinctive earthy depth and layered complexity. Coffee is a cornerstone crop in the region, providing income for thousands of smallholder farmers across remote villages. Produced by smallholder farmers who typically cultivate coffee on 1–2 hectare plots, this coffee is part of a long tradition of community-driven agriculture. Farmers often hand-pulp and ferment the coffee locally, using simple methods passed down through generations. Many communities invest in shade-tree planting and soil stewardship to maintain long-term productivity and protect their surrounding ecosystems. This lot is classified as GR1 DP (Grade 1, Double Picked) meaning it has undergone careful hand-sorting twice to meet the highest quality standard for export. It is processed using wet-hulling (Giling Basah), a traditional Indonesian method where parchment coffee is hulled at a higher moisture content than fully washed coffees. This unique step, combined with Sumatra’s humid climate, contributes to the region’s hallmark profile: syrupy body, deep spice notes, and tea-like finish.