May 19, 2016
We have been actively searching for coffees that score well and have a moderate price, so our offerings are diverse not only in taste attributes, but in cost. Of course, we don’t aim low: our standard for taste quality is not flexible on the low end, and we won’t ever change that. But finding a well-priced coffee, where the farmer gets their premium and the cup is good, is a win-win for everyone.
Here we compiled a list of six….
NicaraguaNicaraguan coffees from the Segovia, Jinotega, Ocotal and Matagalpa regions are nice balanced cups. They often possess interesting cup character along with body and balance, outperforming many other... ...more Acopio Suyatal – $5.95
Suyatal makes a great “daily drinking” coffee, showing balanced levels of sweetnessSweetness is an important positive quality in fine coffees, and is one of five basic tastes: Sour, Sweet, Salty, Bitter, Savory (Umami). In coffee, sweetness is a highly... ...more and acidityAcidity is a positive flavor attribute in coffee, also referred to as brightness or liveliness. It adds a brilliance to the cup, whereas low acid coffees can seem... ...more. Malt sugar and roasted nut tones give way to cocoa nib-like finishSimilar to aftertaste, but it refers to the impression as the coffee leaves the palate. Aftertaste is the sensations gathered after the coffee has left the mouth. We... ...more, and with a low, but structuring, acidity. Good for espressoA small coffee beverage, about 20 ml, prepared on an espresso machine where pressurized hot water extracted through compressed coffee.: In its most stripped-down, basic form, this is... ...more.
BurundiBurundi coffee bears resemblance to neighboring Rwanda, in both cup character, but also the culture surrounding coffee. Burundi is a small landlocked country at the crossroads of East... ...more Kibumbu Kayokwe – $5.95
CaramelCaramel is a desirable form of sweetness found in the flavor and aroma of coffee, and is an extension of roast taste. Extremely light or dark coffees will... ...more and lactic sweetness come off like ‘flan’ cake, with a sachet of baking spice notes, and juicy pink grapefruit in light roasts. Bracing citric acidity ties cup notes together. Incredible as espresso.
CongoKivu is the general name for East Congo (Kinshasa), covering a very broad geographical area, and the lake of the same name that divides them. It borders on... ...more Bweremana Tufadike Cooperative – $5.95
Raw sugar to sorghum syrup, with tart blackberryBlackberry flavor in coffee sometimes relates to slightly more developed roast levels.: Blackberry is found as a fragrance, aroma or flavor in some coffees. I find that it... ...more juice and cedar chips. Big sweetness with inky bodyAssociated with and sensed by mouthfeel, body is sense of weight and thickness of the brew, caused by the percentage of soluble solids in the cup, including all... ...more, roasted cacao and grape tones in deeper roasts.
TanzaniaIn terms of the Tanzania coffee character, it belongs to the Central/East African family of washed (wet-processed) coffees, bright (acidy), and mostly aggressively flavorful of which Kenya is... ...more Mbozi Masangula Station – $5.65
A cup with brooding sweetness, raw sugar flavors balancing Baker’s cocoa tones. Peach tea and mild citrus accent the cup, and Full City develops a rich cacao bar flavor.
ZambiaFrom the country formerly known as upper Rhodesia in a country now named for the Zambezi River, Zambian coffees range from Kenya-like brightness to subtle, balanced coffee with... ...more Kasama EstateA "coffee estate" is used to imply a farm that has its own processing facility, a wet-mill. In Spanish this is called an Hacienda. A Finca (farm) does... ...more – $5.50
The profile boasts pungentRefers to an aggressive, intense aroma or flavor, often related to spices (pepper) or roast tastes. Pungent foods are often called "spicy", meaning a sharp or biting character,... ...more molasses, pipe tobacco leaves, rusticA general characterization of pleasantly "natural" flavors, less sophisticated and less refined, but appealing. : What is Rustic? This is a general term we came up with... Dried... ...more earth tones, and cooked rhubarb. Impressive body carries bittersweetness long in the aftertasteAftertaste refers to lingering residual sensations in the mouth after coffee has swallowed. It might be distinguished from "finish" which is the final sensations of the coffee while... ...more.
TimorTimor-Leste (East Timor) is a tiny island between Australia and Sulawesi, annexed by Indonesia and liberated in a referendum several years ago. Small scale coffee farming was jump-started... ...more Ramelau Ainaro-Maubisse – $5.90
Rustic fruits and cocoa bittersweetness. Both green and ripe banana, papaya puree, grape-like brightess, and an aromatic wood hint. Incredible body.