Coffee is an essential part of millions of people's daily routines and with a seemingly endless variety of options available, it can be tough to know where to start. One of the most significant decisions you'll make when choosing coffee is whether to go for a single origin or a blend. In this post, we'll dive into the differences between single origin and blended coffee and the unique flavors that each has to offer.
Single Origin Coffee: Single origin coffee is sourced from a single location, typically from one specific farm or region. This type of coffee is prized for its unique, distinct flavor profile that is the result of various environmental factors, such as soil type, altitude, and climate. Single origin coffee often has a more pronounced taste, with notes of fruit, chocolate, or spices being more prominent.
Blended Coffee: Blended coffee, on the other hand, is made up of two or more single origin coffees from different regions. The goal of blending is to create a balanced, consistent flavor profile that is not influenced by the individual characteristics of one specific region. Blends are often created to achieve a specific flavor profile, such as a bold and smooth taste.
In conclusion, single origin and blended coffee each have their unique characteristics and flavors, and the decision of which to choose ultimately comes down to personal preference. Whether you prefer the unique, bold flavors of single origin coffee or the consistent, balanced taste of a blend, there's a coffee out there that will suit your taste buds. Experiment with different types and find what works best for you!
Overall, both single origin and blended coffee have their own unique flavors and benefits, and it ultimately comes down to personal preference. By understanding the differences between these two types of coffee, you can make a more informed decision and enjoy your next cup of coffee to the fullest.
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For coffee lovers, the choice of beans can make all the difference in the taste and overall experience of their cup of coffee. Coffee grading plays a crucial role in determining the quality of coffee beans, and understanding how it affects taste is important for coffee drinkers. In this post, we'll discuss the significance of choosing high-grade coffee and how coffee scoring impacts taste.
Coffee Grading System: Coffee grading is a process used to evaluate the quality of coffee beans based on various factors, including size, shape, and the presence of defects. Coffee beans can be assigned a grade ranging from specialty grade, which represents the highest quality, to commercial grade, which represents the lowest. Specialty grade Arabica beans, grown at high altitudes with optimal growing conditions and hand-picked, result in a more consistent flavor.
The Influence of Coffee Scoring on Taste: The taste of coffee is significantly impacted by the quality of the beans used. High-grade coffee, such as specialty grade Arabica, offers a more complex and refined flavor profile, with notes of fruit, chocolate, and spices being more prominent. In contrast, low-grade coffee, such as commercial grade Robusta, has a straightforward, bitter taste. By choosing high-grade coffee, coffee drinkers can ensure a better-tasting cup and an authentic coffee experience.
To sum up, choosing high-grade coffee is vital for coffee enthusiasts looking for a better taste and a more authentic experience. Understanding coffee scoring and its impact on taste is crucial in making an informed decision when selecting your next bag of beans. Whether you're a coffee connoisseur or just starting out, taking the time to choose high-grade coffee will result in a more enjoyable and satisfying cup of coffee. So next time you're shopping for coffee, keep in mind the quality and origin of the beans, and you'll be sure to find a coffee that suits your taste buds perfectly.
With over 100 species of coffee, the two most widely produced and sold are: Coffea Canephora (Coffea Robusta) and Coffea Arabica
Truth is... the Robusta coffee bean is much different than the Arabica bean. With nearly 1/4 of the population using/consuming these big guys, they are, by far, not the most preferred coffee bean.
Why?
Because they taste like crap. Really though... Robusta coffee beans are known to be of less quality than its close relative, the Arabica coffee bean. But it's not all bad for this Rubusta style bean.
Check out this map about where the different plants are grown. R=Robusta M=Mixed A=Arabica
Lets go over some basics:
Bigger isn't always better: Robusta coffee beans are significantly more circular, whereas Arabica are more oval.
Plant size: Arabica coffee plants usually grows between 2.5 – 4.5 meters tall compared to the 4.5 – 6 meter height of the Robusta coffee plant.
Conditions: Robusta requires slightly warmer temperatures 18°-36°C (64-97°F) and a bit more rainfall (2200-3000 mm/yr) than the Arabica coffee plant. See this chart.
Tasty huh? Often Robusta has a taste similar to burnt tires; a rubbery, harsher taste, with a grain-like overtones. Sounds nasty huh? (Imagine eating a big chunk of old tire..ew!). So why the bad taste...
Internal Content: Like stated here, Arabica has about 60% more lipids and almost twice as much sugar than Robusta. This is most likely why we prefer the taste of Arabica over Robusta.
More caffeine: The Robusta bean has more caffeine, and caffeine carries a bitter taste which makes it an more unpleasant Experience. In fact, the Robusta bean has 2.7% caffeine content, almost double the 1.5% of Arabica
Fun fact: Robusta beans use caffeine as a chemical defense for the coffee seed. The quantity of caffeine in the Robusta is toxic to bugs.
Price: The Robusta bean is about half the price of Arabica green beans on the commodity market. See (Robusta vs. Arabica) for real time trade prices
Sustainability: Robusta has a higher yield and is less sensitive to insects, because of that fun caffeine fact we mentioned above. It is a lot easier to tend to on the farms. Its less... picky per say.
As you can imagine... the quality of coffee has slowly and slowly deteriorated in an effort for large companies to squeeze the most profit. It's VERY hard to scale quality.
Enter plug: That is why our Uganda and Colombian roasts are SO DANG GOOD! We have the ability to roast small batches, to every order, and get your coffee to you extremely fresh. Did you know... In a perfect world, for best drinking practices, you should be consuming your "fresh" coffee within 2-3 weeks of it being roasted? Do you think you are? I wonder how long that bag that you just bought has been sitting. End plug.
Summing it up:
With all of these subtle and not so subtle differences between Robusta and Arabica beans, you had better watch what you are buying. Robusta coffee is widely used by big companies, and it is sprinkled (more like dumped) into most of the pods, capsules, and instant coffee blends that are available for purchase. The Italians love the Robusta bean though, because of the deep and rich crema it can produce in espressos. It would be common to receive a Robusta derived espresso over there.
Most of the companies who claim to have "The Strongest Coffee In The World" are not joking. There can be some serious caffeine in those blends. BUT at the sacrifice of quality. Big time. So next time you go and real a coffee label, take a look at what kind of coffee you are buying! Those 100% Arabica bean claims on coffee labels are actually a thing. You will more than likely end up enjoying Arabica over Robusta, but if you really need that caffeine, you now know what to look for.
Side note: Do you think light roast or dark roast has more caffeine? Check back next week to find the truth to this aged myth!
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Hey party people!! Who’s ready to go back to work/school today?? (I feel you. I’m not ready either).
]]>Hey party people!! Who’s ready to go back to work/school today?? (I feel you. I’m not ready either).
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For those hard-to-start mornings,@hstlcoffee seriously helps. I honestly love the Bananas Foster blend. There’s just a hint of fun mixed into the roast. (Enough to get that work week grind started once again). This blend is full bodied with a smooth flavor. They are also fair trade certified! (Super plus)!!
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They have multiple other flavors including mocha fudge.(Who wouldn’t want to start their morning with a little chocolate)? Check out their page for some more of their flavored roast series and regular roasts as well! Super yummy and super fresh!
Can’t wait to try the mocha fudge next!
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How was your Labor Day weekend? Let’s connect! Don’t be shy, I’m always up to hear about your day or what coffee your trying! Let me know what you’ve been up to in the comments. (Let’s see who had the most interesting Labor Day)! 3, 2, 1...GO!! ☕️❤️
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Try some seriously good Banana's Foster Coffee!
]]>Boy, we were so tired of low budget and low quality coffee that we decided to make a stand... and boom.. HSTL. Coffee Company started.
Our mission is to keep the quality astonishingly high and keep the beans fresh af. Seriously fresh...
Did you know that technically you should be drinking your "fresh" and "roasted to order" coffee within a week to two? No other company even honestly roasts there coffee to order... even if the say they do... until now.
How can we do it? We take our time. We put the customer first. not the company. All of our daily orders are roasted and send out... one batch at a time... seriously. Just taste our beans. You''ll see for yourself. I mean seriously... they are grown on the slopes of a freaking volcano!
By sourcing 85 or higher scored beans, freshly roasted to order and small batch single origin specialty coffee bought from top quality coffee farms from across the world we ensure remarkable bodied coffee that completes our mission. One of a kind flavors, quick turnaround times, and a top notch customer experience makes us stand out from the rest. We promise quality... and some freaking awesome, and definitely unique, flavors. Just see for yourself. https://hstlcoffee.com/ |