Luminous Coffee – Colombia Washed Pink Champagne Pink Bourbon
A maximalist name for a maximalist coffee.
Luminous Coffee
So, here’s a small roaster with an eccentric twist. Based in Las Vegas since 2019, Luminous is a shop that fully embodies its “always be extra” motto. Their coffee comes in Chinese take-out boxes adorned with colorful, loud illustrations – not garish as such, but right up against the line. I’ve heard the branding compared to “Claire’s in the nineties,” which may be apt, though I can’t say I had the pleasure of visiting that establishment – no piercings from a teenage mall employee for this guy. That said, if it was anything like Luminous’s coffee, I feel like I missed out.
The roaster describes its flavors as “fruity and floral,” which, while true, is also a bit of an understatement. Their presence in “Colombia Washed Pink Champagne Pink Bourbon” is more than just notes – we’re talking full-on flavors, where strawberries and citrus shine through.
Even with that, the funk is what lands like a ton of bricks. You can read the technical description on Luminous’s product page, but in short, they ferment the beans to the high heavens, and the “Colombia, etc.” is a punch and a kick of maximalism. If you prefer pure subtleties, it might not be the coffee for you, but big flavors don’t automatically disqualify a coffee from being complex. It’s impressive how much oomph they managed to pack into the beans.
Pungent flavors aside, Luminous distinguishes itself by using a “dropstore” model instead of an always-available ordering system. What is a “dropstore?” It’s an online outlet with limited availability. Currently, it opens – or drops the merch – around noon Pacific, and stays open for twenty-four hours. The window could change without warning, and signing up for their text messages puts you “first in line,” so to speak. If you miss the drop, you’re out of luck for another week.
It’s not a cheap pleasure, and a two-hundred-gram bag will run you $30, though it comes bundled with extras: A small bag of decaf, a couple of single-serve instants, stickers, candy, and even water purifiers. The appropriately quirky pour-over instruction sheet is a good bonus.
Chalk me down as a fan – Luminous takes the tired “exclusivity” concept and paints it in vibrant colors. And, the end product is a step above its peers.
Find them: Web • Instagram
The World Cup Keeps Rolling
Let’s do a quick World Cup check-in for Norway, because why not?
While 100% of you1 picked Norway to win the championship, I will admit to having doubts. A 4-1 victory over Iraq looks good on paper, but that game was too close for comfort at crucial times. Iraq could easily have had more goals. Still, a win’s a win, and the four goals all but cemented Norway’s spot in the second round (aka, Round of Thirty-Two).
The 3-2 victory against Senegal wasn’t bad when you consider that country’s impressive World Cup lead-up. Lately, though, things haven’t looked too rosy behind the scenes, with unpaid players and dietary issues. Morale wasn’t at an all-time high during the Norway game.
In that sense, it’s hard to say what either of those matches means in the big picture. Norway faces France on Friday – both teams have qualified for the second round, and have indicated they’ll rotate out some of their better players for that match. It’ll be a flawed measuring stick.
If I were a betting man, I’d wager Norway will make it to the Round of Sixteen. They will, in all likelihood, meet either Sweden or the Ivory Coast in the second round – both manageable, albeit one more so than the other. (A Norwegian B-squad beat Sweden 3-1 three weeks ago.) The Round of Sixteen will surely be harder.
And, as it stands, my money is on France to win the whole tournament.
Merch for the People!
Don’t just read Awesomeness – wear it! This distinguished publication proudly features two official shirts – or magnets, stickers, or whatever medium you can think of: The Hallgrrrl and Zune. Why those? For one, the Hallmark channel and Riotgrrrl are, as I’ve said before, the natural combination. And, who doesn’t love the Zune?
Go shop at The Better Taster Boutique for only the finest goods.
Two votes!