Common Good Coffee is a small-batch specialty coffee roaster based in La Mesa, CA. We source ethically, roast intentionally, and deliver fresh-roasted coffee to homes and offices across San Diego and nationwide. This is coffee done for the common good.
This coffee comes from the lush highlands of , near , a region known for rich biodiversity, steady rainfall, and beautifully expressive coffees.
Finca El Platanillo has been family-run since 1977. Today, it’s managed by Stuardo Coto, whose approach centers on balance — caring for the land, supporting the community, and continually improving coffee quality.
Sustainability here isn’t a trend or a checklist. Long before certifications became common, the farm was already prioritizing ecosystem health, water conservation, and long-term productivity. That mindset eventually led to decades of Rainforest Alliance certification and climate-focused farming leadership.
Beyond coffee, El Platanillo invests heavily in people. The farm provides access to fresh water, shared garden space, and educational opportunities for families living on and around the farm. A local school — built on donated farm land — now offers technology access and coffee-focused education programs, helping create long-term opportunity across generations.
This coffee is naturally processed, meaning the coffee cherries are dried with the fruit still intact. This allows natural sugars from the fruit to deeply influence the flavor, resulting in a richer, fruit-forward cup.
Expect a bold yet balanced profile with notes of cherry, plum, vanilla, and brownie, supported by a smooth sweetness and satisfying body. This coffee shines as espresso, but also performs beautifully as drip, pour-over, or full immersion.
Finca El Platanillo represents everything we value in specialty coffee — long-term thinking, stewardship of land, care for community, and a relentless pursuit of quality. Every cup reflects decades of intention and craftsmanship.
The Wind+Sea is our all-time best seller. With fresh berries and warm almond flavors up front, a smooth medium body, and citrus acidity that doesn’t overpower, the Wind + Sea is good for any time of day and for every type of coffee drinker.
Tastes Like: Dark Chocolate, Almond, Berry, and Tart
Roast: City (Medium)
Brew Methods: All manual brew methods and drip machines
** All coffee is roasted on Thursdays and shipped on Fridays **
Grown by E-Cafe Chiapas, this farm placed 5th in Mexico's 2018 Cup of Excellence—remarkable given E-Cafe didn't acquire the property until 2015. Beyond coffee, E-Cafe funds community programs including a boarding school for underprivileged children and affordable financing for local producers.
Processed with 10–14 hours of fermentation, washed, and dried on raised beds in a greenhouse (30–35°C), then color- and size-sorted for consistency.Tastes Like: Brown Sugar, Plum, Almond
Roast: City+ (Medium)
Brew Methods: All manual brew methods, drip machines, and especially good on an espresso machine and cold brewed.
** All coffee is roasted on Tuesdays & Thursdays and then shipped within 24 hours. **
This custom blend was crafted and approved by the firefighters at SDFD Station 7. If you tried the cold brew at Motors For Minds then grab a box of Station 7 to brew it at home.
Tastes Like: Dark Chocolate, Almond, Berry, and Tart
Roast: Full City (Dark)
Brew Methods: All manual brew methods, drip machines, and especially good on an espresso machine.
** All coffee is roasted on Thursdays and shipped within 24 hours. **
A few words from the importer —
Antioquia is the second largest coffee producing region in Colombia (behind Huila) and a leader in the industry. There are over 97,000 registered coffee growers in the department, who together farm area of 114,000 hectares. A total of 125 municipalities in Antioquia depend on coffee for their livelihood. The coffee that contributed to this lot was produced by smallholders growing on the slopes of Southwest Antioquia (Suroeste Antioqueño), on farms ranging from 1 to 4 hectares.
Tastes Like: Lime, Red Apple, Juicy
Roast: City (Medium)
Brew Methods: All manual brew methods and drip machines
** All coffee is roasted on Thursdays and shipped on Fridays **
Tastes Like: Caramel, Citrus, Tropical, Juicy.
Roast: City (Medium)
Brew Methods: All manual brew methods, drip machines.
** All coffee is roasted on Thursdays and shipped within 24 hours. **
This organic lot comes from the Korofeigu Cooperative, a network of 97 smallholder farming families in the Bena Bena Valley of Papua New Guinea’s Eastern Highlands. Coffee here is grown the way it has been for generations—on small garden plots, under native shade trees, and without the use of synthetic fertilizers or chemicals. The result is a coffee that feels both deeply rooted and distinctly expressive.
Grown at elevations ranging from 1,400–1,900 meters, this coffee benefits from cool nights, rich volcanic soils, and slow cherry maturation. Farmers primarily cultivate traditional Arusha and Blue Mountain varietals, harvesting ripe cherries by hand before delivering them to centralized washing stations. The coffee is fully washed and sun-dried, a method that helps preserve clarity while allowing the natural sweetness of the coffee to shine.
In the cup, Korofeigu Organic offers a full, syrupy body with a honeyed aroma and a bright, lively acidity. Expect notes of caramel sweetness, layered with citrus and cranberry, and a subtle savory quality that adds depth without overwhelming the cup. It’s a balanced, juicy coffee that feels vibrant yet grounding—approachable enough for daily drinking, but complex enough to slow down and savor.
This is a coffee that reflects its origin clearly: community-grown, organically produced, and thoughtfully processed. A great choice for those who love coffees with body, brightness, and a sense of place.
The CGC Sample Box is the perfect to way sample 3 beautiful coffees without breaking the bank. It is also makes the perfect gift! Inside you’ll find 3 x 8 oz bags: two of our best-sellers and third coffee hand-selected based on your roast preference.
1. Wind+Sea (Blend):Our best selling blend and a true crowd-pleaser.
Tastes Like: Dark Chocolate, Almond, Berry, & Tart
Roast: City + (Medium)
2. Mexico Chiapas :This Mexican coffee is bright & clean.
Tastes Like: Stonefruit, Milk Chocolate, & Honey
Roast: City (Medium-Dark)
3.A Coffee Chosen Just for You:Select your preferred roast-level below and we will pick a single-origin or blend that we know you’ll love.
Tastes Like:Get-you-out-of-bed-before-the-alarm-deliciousness
Roast: Based on Your Preference
Not every coffee needs to be bright and fruity.
Some coffees earn their reputation through depth, richness, and complexity. Our June Coffee Feature comes from the volcanic highlands of Sumatra, Indonesia, where generations of farmers produce one of the world's most recognizable coffee profiles.
This Indonesia Mandheling delivers a rich, creamy body layered with notes of dark chocolate, cedar, sweet tobacco, and warm baking spice. The result is a coffee that feels substantial in the cup—smooth, comforting, and remarkably memorable.
Grown in the lush mountains surrounding the Leuser Range, one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, this coffee is cultivated by smallholder farmers who have refined their craft for generations. The coffee is then processed using Indonesia's traditional wet-hulled method, known locally as "Giling Basah," creating the distinctive character that has made Sumatra famous among coffee lovers worldwide.
Tasting Notes
Dark Chocolate
Cedar
Sweet Tobacco
Baking Spice
Origin
Country: Indonesia
Region: Aceh, Sumatra
Elevation: 900–1,500 MASL
Process: Wet-Hulled (Giling Basah)
Grade: Triple Picked (TP) Organic
Why We Chose This Coffee
While many specialty coffees focus on bright fruit notes and acidity, this coffee highlights body, texture, and richness. It is the kind of coffee that invites you to slow down, settle into the moment, and enjoy every sip.