September 2013 Tasting Box

Viroqua, Wisconsin

Kickapoo Coffee Roasters embodies just what a modern micro-roaster can be. Their process is a unique blend of old and new, traditional meets state of the art technology. Take for instance, their tricked out 1930's era roaster, where handmade Amish belts whirr alongside infrared lasers monitoring the roast with mathematical precision. When this high tech approach meets old school care, Kickapoo's artisan sensibility can thrive under the possibilities of modern technology. This exquisite brew from the Kirinyaga Cooperative in Kenya is a perfect example - hand-picked, hand-sorted beans, roasted with present-day precision. The result shows all the subtlety and depth this crop has to offer –a truly modern classic.

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

  Kibirigwi Cooperative

• Origin

  Thunguri, Kirinyaga, Kenya

• Varieties

  SL-28, SL-34

• Elevation

  1,600-1,750 meters above sea level

• Process

  Washed

• Our Notes

  White grape aromas open into vibrant blackcurrant and tangerine acidity and a soft brown sugar sweetness. A silky mouthfeel gives way to a crisp, dry finish reminiscent of black tea.

Louisville, Kentucky

Since the 60's, Guerrero, Mexico has been a hotbed of guerilla activity and drug-related violence. But recently it seems that great coffee might help tame this Wild West. Guerrero coffees are usually ignored on the international market. But, the farmers at El Eden knew that if they could make a truly unique coffee, unlike anything else in Mexico, they just might get noticed. We're happy to say that they've done just that. Their ridiculously complex brew, prepared using the decidedly un-Mexican natural process, left our tasters totally floored. We're always on the hunt for new roasters and new flavors, so we're especially proud to feature first time Craft Coffee-ers Quills Coffee, whose masterful roast reminded us just what it means to taste something truly unexpected.

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

  El Eden Cooperative

• Origin

  Atoyac de Alvarez, Guerrero, Mexico

• Varieties

  Typica, Bourbon

• Elevation

  1,350-1,600 meters above sea level

• Process

  Natural

• Our Notes

  Lush and complex, this coffee opens with aromas of fig and brandied cherries that lead into a cup alive with flavors of ripe peaches, plums, and raspberries. Deep caramel sweetness and a honeyed mouthfeel linger long after the cup is through.

San Francisco, California

On a clear morning, you can stand on the canyon edge of Marco Anonio Romero's coffee farm in Hulia, Colombia and through your binoculars glimpse something on the opposite canyon edge – Antonio Zuniga's farm. Zuniga and Romero's shared commitment to great coffee has bridged this craggy distance. We're proud to bring you beans from these hillside neighbors, hand-selected by Four Barrel Coffee in San Francisco. They've roasted this dynamic, layered brew according to their hallmark computer-free, intuition and skilled based approach. So when you take a sip, think about the canyon between Zuniga and Romero, between Colombia and San Francisco, between San Francisco and your home, and remember – coffee has the power to make those canyons seem, well, pretty small.

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

  San Agustin Los Cauchos Farmed by Marco Anonio Romero and Antonio Zuniga

• Origin

  Los Cauchos, Huila, Colombia

• Varieties

  Caturra

• Elevation

  1,800-1,925 meters above sea level

• Process

  Washed, dried on parabolic beds

• Our Notes

  This lively and delicate cup opens with aromas of clove and orange zest. A sparkling hibiscus acidity balances warming flavors of cinnamon, toasted almond and vanilla that linger on the finish.