1. Growers First
The Growers First Foundation started ten years ago as a way to end injustice and exploitation of South American coffee farmers. It has since set up the Growers First Company to market and sell coffee directly from the people who know it best – the growers.
You can buy your coffee online either in a single order or with a two bag monthly subscription. If you only buy one bag, make it their new organic Mexican medium roast. This rich, tangy bean is the perfect lunchtime pick-me-up and is best drunk in its purest, strongest espresso form.
2. India Monsooned Malabar Coffee
While not drunk widely, Indian coffee is known for its hints of spice and fruit and its rich, full body. India Monsooned Malabar is particularly notable because of its unusual production process: Dry beans are left exposed to the elements in roofless warehouses during monsoon season. This mellows the flavour and makes the body even fuller than a typical Indian coffee. It is best drunk as a simple filter coffee – black and mild.
3. Swiss Water
For those with a delicate constitution, Swiss Water offer great coffee flavour without the cold sweats. Their range of coffees employs the traditional Swiss Water Process of decaffeination. Developed in the 1930s, this filters and traps caffeine without draining away any of the taste. The result is a chemical free, fresh tasting cup of coffee that won’t leave you with a nasty case of the jitters.
Swiss Water is suitable for most coffee makers and will taste fine in a run-of-the-mill cafetiere or home espresso maker.
4. Bolivia Beneficio Buenaventura
This variety of coffee fits into the category known as “micro regional”. Most large coffee brands sell multi-origin coffee, which will come from several different sources across the globe. Even in most regional coffees the beans may have been grown anywhere within several hundred square miles. While this may still be delicious, such blending removes the subtleties of flavour caused by small variations in climate, soil and altitude.
With this Bolivian treasure, those subtleties sing out loud and clear, demonstrating that no two coffee beans ever taste the same. Like wine they are sold seasonally and in Lots throughout the year, with each Lot possessing its own unique characteristics. By all accounts the recent, fruity Lot 45 is one of their best yet.
Bolivia Beneficio Buenaventura is for aficionados only. Sold “green”, you will have to roast it yourself at home before grinding and filtering. Only top-of-the-range coffee machines will do for such a premium bean; use a single pour over machine if you have one.
5. Cafe du Monde coffee and chicory
Chicory has been used by the French for centuries as a substitute for coffee or to boost the flavour of a weak brew. This flavour combination has now been perfected in New Orleans by Cafe du Monde, who recommend their blend be prepared with half and half hot milk.
Their coffee and chicory comes in three varieties: regular, decaf and French roast. Online, Cafe du Monde also have a lovely selection of gift baskets. Try the Rampart St. Basket, which includes a delicious beignet mix along with a cup and saucer and, of course, their famous roasted coffee and chicory.
This was a guest post by John for Russell Hobbs who offer a range of coffee machines and other kitchen appliances like food processors to suite all tastes!
