December 2011 Tasting Box

Hillburn, New York

Sometimes it takes more than a village… it takes land. After being forced fromtheir original home during the 36-year civil war, the 80 families of Guatemala’s IxilA’Achimbal Collective had to carve out a new spot in Trapichitos, with the help of AgrosInternational. But a painfully complex past has given way to a beautifully complex coffee.Nurtured by a close relationship with an American coffee importer and expertly roasted by Plowshares,you can practically taste how dearly the Collective care for their land and, of course,their product: aromas of mulling spices lead into a cup with a round apple cider acidity, atoffee-like sweetness, and a toasted almond finish.

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• Producer

  Ixil A'Achimbal Collective

• Origin

  Trapichitos, Nebaj, Quiche, Guatemala

• Varieties

  Bourbon, Typica

• Elevation

  1,400 meters above sea level

• Process

  Washed

• Our Notes

  Aromas of mulling spices lead into a cup with a round apple-cider acidity, a toffee-like sweetness, and a toasted almond finish.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

This coffee from Kenya’s Rumukia Cooperative Society has a history of being impolite.The village of Tambaya, which roughly translates to “manners,” was given its name byBritish colonists who were surprised when the locals resisted their takeover, displaying,in their opinion, bad manners. Why that surprised them is beyond us. What we do knowis that this blend of SL-28 and SL-34 varieties from New Harvest Coffee Roasters was astandout on our cupping table. If there’s such a thing as ambrosia, this just might be it:heavy, syrupy body and flavors of brown sugar and crème brûlée give way to nectarineacidity and a clean, dry grapefruit 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

  Rumukia Cooperative Society

• Origin

  Nyeri, Kenya

• Varieties

  SL-28, SL-34

• Elevation

  1,700 - 1,800 meters above sea level

• Process

  Washed with fresh river water from the Gura River. Sun-dried.

• Our Notes

  A heavy, syrupy body and flavors of brown sugar and creme brulee give way to nectarine acidity and a clean, dry grapefruit finish.

Santa Rosa, California

The world is constantly changing, and the coffee industry is no exception. After yearsof allowing for direct trade with growers, Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee, shook thingsup a bit with the establishment of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange. Now, all Ethiopiancoffee is pooled together and sold by type, making it hard to trace a bean to a specificfarm. And yet, it was easy for us to green light this exceptional brew from Yirgacheffe,roasted for us by California’s Ecco Caffe. The heirloom varieties create a lovely antique quality: heady aromas of jasmine lead into a cup with sparkling lemon zest acidity,delicate malty sweetness, and flavors of black tea and raisins.

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

  Ethiopia Commodity Exchange

• Origin

  Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia

• Varieties

  Heirloom (Ethiopian)

• Elevation

  1,850 - 2,300 meters above sea level

• Process

  Wet-processed

• Our Notes

  Heady aromas of jasmine lead into a cup with sparkling lemon zest acidity, delicate malty sweetness and flavors of black tea and raisins.