Indonesian Flores

Flores is a small island located off Indonesia. The milling tradition is wet-process. This process uses water at the mill to transport the seed through the process, which allows for the removal of defects to float to the surface. Wet processing often produces a brighter, cleaner flavor profile, with a lighter body than dry process coffees.

The Flores coffee was sweet and floral, with a good, syrupy body and a clean overall cup of coffee. Flores coffee als has uses in espresso.

I thoroughly enjoyed this blend. I purchased this half-pound at EVP Coffee of Madison (www.evpcoffee.com) and highly recommend both the blend and the coffee house.

bean rating: 4.75 out of 5 (near perfection).

Kenyan AA

The last of the Kenyan (different from the Kirinyaga already blogged about). This Kenyan blend has a distinctly bright acidity and lingering aftertaste. The aftertaste is dry and somewhat winy (not like a toddler or nagging signficant other).

Regarding Kenyan coffee, it is estimated that 6 million plus Kenyans are employed in some capacity in the coffee industry. The high plateaus plus acidic soil create perfect conditions for coffee growing.

Bean rating: 3.5out of 5. I enjoyed the initial acidic punch, but didn't really care for the lingering aftertaste. this is the kind of blend that gives you the dreaded coffee breath.

Kenyan Kirinyaga

I picked up a half pound of this "dark roast" from Victor Allen's and am enjoying it as I type. This coffee starts off with a fruity/sweeter hint and then graduates to a darker flavor. The taste lingers and kind of swirls on the palate for a while. It is quite a complex cup of coffee. It takes some time to grow on you, but once it's there, it sticks around like a long lost friend.

Bean rating: 4.5 out of 5

random coffee facts

1. coffee is the world's second-most traded commodity (to oil);
2. coffee trees can only be grown where there is no winter frost;
3. Only 2 types of coffee plants are actually cultivated - Arabica and Robusta;
4. The average yield from 1 coffee tree is 1 roasted pound of coffee;
5. Brazil is the world's largest producer of coffee;
6. No coffee is grown in the US, except for Hawaii and Puerto Rico

new entries

Coming soon...just picked up a couple of half pound bags from Victor Allan. I think that will be my first VA review.

Grounds for Change

Grounds for Change specializes in 100% Fair Trade coffee. They are a certified organic coffee roaster. During the recently held Java Jive event, I won a pound of Mexico Cafe Femenino. No, this isn't feminine coffee, rather it is coffee grown by women. It is a medium roast, with a bright and clean finish. Low on the acidity totem pole, with a nice initial punch.

Bean rating: 4 out of 5