August 2012 Tasting Box

La Vista, Nebraska

It’s not every day that you drink a cup of coffee roasted specially for you by a Grammy Award winner. Jason Burkum, of Beansmith in La Vista, Nebraska left the music business just a few years ago to become a coffee-roasting apprentice, and roasting has been his passion ever since. For these Ethiopian beans, Jason likes to amp up the pressure at the start of the roast to get some of the moisture out, and then soften the heat towards the end, to gently draw out the beans’ natural sweetness. The outcome is full of authentic Yirgacheffe character – an aromatic cup with smooth lemon curd acidity leading into delicate jasmine and blueberry notes.

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• Producer

  Various smallholders

• Origin

  Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia

• Varieties

  Heirloom (Ethiopian)

• Elevation

  1,800-2,100 meters above sea level

• Process

  Fully Washed

• Our Notes

  An aromatic cup with smooth lemon curd acidity leading into delicate jasmine and blueberry notes.

San Rafael, California

Equator Coffee & Teas in San Rafael, California is a stand-out roaster, not only because of its excellent quality, but also in its dedication to protecting the environment. The company is one of the first American roasters to use a planet-friendly roasting machine that reduces carbon emissions by 80%. Although Equator has been known to do plenty of their own farming, these beans were grown by Pedro Ruiz in Boyaca, Colombia. Dark chocolate with layers of caramel and candied cherry make this a classic Colombian. Subtle notes of oak, cocoa, and nougat add nuance and complexity to complete this exquisite coffee.

Craft Coffee subscriptions are the best way to drink better coffee for less money. With prices as low as $7.99 per 12oz bag, Craft Coffee's subscriptions are the best coffee deal anywhere -- online or offline.

• Producer

  Pedro Antonio Ruiz-Mendoza, San Isidro

• Origin

  Guaquira, Somondoco, Boyaca, Colombia

• Varieties

  Typica, Caturra

• Elevation

  1,600 meters above sea level

• Process

  Washed

• Our Notes

  Dark chocolate, with layers of caramel and candied cherry make this a classic Colombian. Subtle notes of oak, cocoa, and nougat add nuance and complexity to complete this exquisite coffee.

Viroqua, Wisconsin

In an old train depot along Wisconsin’s Kickapoo River, an enormous 1930’s roasting machine whirs. The only known surviving machine of its size and type, the German machine turns out 30 kilos of elegantly roasted coffee at a time. This is how a small company like Kickapoo Coffee creates beans with a huge reputation. In this month’s box, the award-winning roaster gives us a rich and exotic take on a coffee farmed by the Tairora Smallholders in Papua New Guinea. This lush brew bursts with tropical flavors: sweet mango acidity, a creamy coconut milk body, with tarragon and cardamom notes carrying through into the finish.

Craft Coffee subscriptions are the best way to drink better coffee for less money. With prices as low as $7.99 per 12oz bag, Craft Coffee's subscriptions are the best coffee deal anywhere -- online or offline.

• Producer

  Tairora Smallholders

• Origin

  Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea

• Varieties

  Typica, Bourbon, Caturra, Arusha

• Elevation

  1,400 - 2,000 meters above sea level

• Process

  Dry Fermented, Washed

• Our Notes

  A lush coffee bursting with tropical flavors: sweet mango acidity, a creamy coconut milk body, with tarragon and cardamom notes carrying through into the finish.