The Drink:

When I tell people that I run a coffee blog and online store, one of the frequent questions that I hear is along the lines of, “What do you think of Jamaica Blue Mountain?” or “Do you sell it in the store?”

These aren’t questions from hardcore coffee geeks either, this is from average Joe’s and proves that Jamaica Blue Mountain (JBM) has a lot of fans (and not to mention a clut like following in Japan). JBM is one of the most expensive and rare coffees in the world, the second coffee that Sea Island Coffee sent my direction for review. It’s not as rare and unique as the Kopi Luwak that they also sent me, but it still fetches high prices because of the strict certification process that limits of the amount of beans that are allowed to display the Jamaica Blue Mountain label.

To earn the JBM label, the coffee has to come from just the right spot at just the right elevation. The area is just 6,000 hectares (each hectare is equal to about 2.47 acres), located in just three parishes (think countries if you live in the United States). The coffee is grown in the Blue Mountains, up to 6,000 feet above sea level. There’s just 25,000 properties in that small area, owned mostly by small farmers that are lucky enough to own land there (although a few larger estates snuck in).

The requirements don’t stop there. Before earning the JBM label, the coffee has to be certified by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica and they only allow the highest quality beans to be exported out of the country with the sought after label.

Background

Many connoisseurs agree that Jamaica Blue Mountain coffee is one of the world’s best. An exquisite balance of aroma, body and acidity is the medley which makes Blue Mountain Coffee very special. However, it is the mellow sweet aftertaste that separates this unique brand from all others.

Single Estate Name: Clifton Mount Estate
Owner: The Sharp family
Region: Jamaica Blue Mountains
Micro-region: Newcastle
Altitude: 1300 metres above sea level
Use of Shade Trees: Inga shade trees
Total Rain per Year: 1800 mm
Processing Method: Fully Washed
Variety: Typica
Drying Method: Sun-dried
Flowering Period: August-September
Harvesting Period: March-June
Other information: Oldest functioning coffee estate in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, founded circa 1750. Largest Blue Mountain coffee estate. One of the highest altitude estates in the Blue Mountains at 1300 metres above sea level.

Review

This version of JBM greeted me with a dark chocolate aroma that reminded me of a Nestle Crunch candy bar that was just unwrapped. There were hints of herbal aromas and floral tones that was a lot like walking by a flower shop on a spring afternoon.

It did have the stereotypically smoothness that JBM is known for and a medium-heavy body.

As far as taste, a dark, dark chocolate flavor with a hint of dark roast dominated my taste buds. Underneath were sweet floral and herbal flavors. As the taste faded away, a creamy dark chocolate flavor mixed with a hint of smoke to give my taste buds one last thing to talk about.

A quarter pound bag of Jamaica Blue Mountain Clifton Mount Estate is £14.49 or about $23. (Sea Island Coffee does ship anywhere in the world.) It’s not cheap and definitely not an every day coffee unless you’re Donald Trump. But think of it like a fine wine, something to try and share with your friends.

Final Score

Jamaica Blue Mountain Clifton Mount Estate from Sea Island Coffee earned an excellent four out of five coffee mug rating on the Daily Shot Of Coffee scale. Sure there’s a little bit of hype surrounding the coffee, but it backs it up with a thick, delicious flavor. It’s the perfect coffee for someone that wants rich flavor and a hint of dark roast taste.

—

Fine Print.

Worth The Price Tag? Jamaica Blue Mountain Clifton Mount Estate From Sea Island Coffee Review is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

I managed to get two partial days out of my trip to explore the city and visit coffee shops. The weather was mostly beautiful during my stay but the air was cool and there was a constant damp that crept through my body, making a warm beverage always welcome. I narrowed down the overwhelming number of possibilities to three shops after some online research.

Zeitgeist- 171 S. Jackson Street

Zeitgeist Coffee and Art

On the edge of Pioneer Square, Zeitgeist has created an oasis of calm where time appears to slow down. It has a comfortable feel, and is also visually pleasing. The coffee bar is two-thirds of the length of the shop. The wall behind the bar is finished in a beautiful warm toned wood with lots of shelves. Those shelves house a coffee pot collection which appears to exhibit the history of coffee pot design. Zeitgeist also exhibits local artists, which adds to the overall feel. The café doesn’t feel overly designed but it was certainly well thought out. The high ceilings and large windows offer patrons space to work and think.

Zeitgeist Coffee collection of coffee pots

I arrived late on a weekday afternoon. I ordered a sandwich, salad as well as a single shot Americano. The tasty pastrami and cheese sandwich came on delicious bread with an olive tapenade spread. The Americano was nice and smooth, no acidity at all with a touch of sweetness.

Victrola Roastery and Café- 310 E. Pike Street

The beautiful exterior of Victrola Coffee Roasters

Victrola Café is located in a section of town that is really nice to walk around. It is tucked into a little bend in the road, with a classic look to its exterior. Inside the café, a wall of windows separates the roastery from the seating area. You can watch their coffee being roasted, packaged and loaded in the truck. I guess I’ve never been a fan of seeing into the guts of a place I’m eating or drinking in. The roastery as backdrop seemed incongruous with the classical music playing in the café and detracted from the atmosphere. Their cupping room was set up and ready to go in the back of the shop. They offer free weekly public cuppings.

Victrola Coffee Roasters cupping room

I ordered a single cup of their Tanzania Nvozu- Indunda, Mbeya, Mbozi made in a pour over. This Tanzania was super flavorful with a slight bright winey tingle on the tongue. There was a berry like sweetness and a pleasing acidity. Although I might not spend too much time hanging out here, the coffee was really well done.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters- 616 E. Pine Street

Stumptown Coffee Roasters Pine Street location

Although Stumptown in Manhattan is on my list of places to visit, I still haven’t made it there. The Pine Street location in Seattle is a small shop tucked into a neat little commercial district. There was a nice beat coming through the speakers and a laid back, homey feel. Although this was a small café, everything about it worked. The benches and tables along the side allowed for ample seating and offered plenty of plugs underneath the bench for electronics.

Stumptown Coffee Roasters stills of a coffee documentary in the background

I admit to feeling a little left on my own trying to pick a perfect cup in the other shops, but here the barista was more involved and welcoming, and seemed interested in slowing down to answer my questions. There were several choices offered as a single cup but I decided to splurge and go for one of their Grand Cru — a Stumptown term for their best of the best.

Single cup coffees are made in a Chemex at Stumptown. I had the Guatemala Finca El Injerto- La Cima. This was a real solid coffee. It was incredibly smooth and even with a hint of brightness that slowly came out as I made my way to the bottom of the cup.

I had great coffee at all three shops. It was wonderful to see the remarkable business all of the shops were doing. I spent about an hour hanging out and enjoying my coffee in each spot and was surprised by the steady stream of people that came through the doors. There would be a line of four or five people about every ten minutes. People seemed to know what they wanted and ordered a large variety of coffee and coffee drinks. I was left to believe that the culture of coffee has slowly seeped into the veins of Seattle residents, making good coffee a way of life.

One solid cup of coffee after another: A brief Seattle coffee tour is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Normally the EkoBrew is $17, but today it’s just $9 (shipping included). I like the reusable k-cups because they’re more environmentally friendly (there’s no K-cup to throw into the trash after every use), it doesn’t come with the outrageous K-cup price (just pay for it once) and most importantly I can make the coffee exactly how I want. For me that’s freshly ground coffee from some of my favorite roasters. It’s a great way to get a quick cup of coffee before rushing out the door in the morning.

Background Information

EkoBrew single-cup brewing packs cut down on the waste associated with single-brew coffee systems and allow coffee connoisseurs the freedom to brew with beans of their choosing. The spacious filter houses all the grounds necessary for a mild or dark cup, and a low-tamp dispersion cone evenly soaks grounds for maximum extraction. The filter stands up to daily use thanks to a durable plastic frame and a heavy-gauge micro-mesh filter. After brewing, the filter washes clean, allowing it to be repurposed as a crib for a baby hummingbird.

Features

• Reusable single-cup system-styled filter cuts down on waste
• Deep chamber for mild brews or cups stronger than bathtub gin
• Heat-resistant grips
• Heavy-gauge, stainless-steel micro-mesh filter
• Durable silicone seal prevents grounds from infiltrating mugs
• Low-tamp dispersion cone for heightened flavor
• Allows for use of any coffee
• Click here to see compatible brewer models

Get your EkoBrew here!

EkoBrew Reusable Single-Cup Packs – Only $9 is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Cappuccino

With a huge selection of makes and models and equally varying prices it can be daunting to choose your perfect Espresso Cappuccino Maker. If you are looking to buy the perfect kitchen appliance to help you make the perfect espresso cappuccino at home then read on.

A good cappuccino is made up of good coffee beans, proper grinding of the beans, well-made cappuccino and proper milk frothing. It is important to understand that to get a good cappuccino you need a good espresso which puts the emphasis on finding a good espresso maker.

To find the most appropriate espresso maker you need to look at the pros and cons of the steam-driven, pump-driven and bean to cup technologies. Below we take a look at various technologies, their pros and cons, best prices and places to shop for them.

Steam Driven Espresso Maker

There are many steam driven espresso makers at the low end of the price scale. Though very reasonably priced, you will not get the best coffee from steam driven machines due to several reasons.

Although they are called steam machines they do not really produce proper steam but rather very hot water in vaporous form. You can only get proper steam from water that is both vaporized and pressurised.

Why all the fuss with steam you may ask. Well, without proper pressure being used to push water through the coffee granules you will miss the rich espresso flavour and frothy head which is combined with foamed milk for a perfect cappuccino.

But you can still get an adequate espresso from some steam machines at the higher end of the price scale such as DeLonghi EC5 Steam-Driven 4-Cup Espresso and Cappuccino Maker.

Pump Driven Espresso Maker

The pump driven espresso machines have become the most popular for home and commercial use. Here the pressure is derived from an automatic pump instead of steam.

To get a good espresso you need three things:

• Adequate temperature of the water
• Adequate pressure of the water as it goes through the coffee grounds
• Proper grinding of the coffee beans

Pump driven espresso makers take care of two of care of the first two requirements leaving only proper coffee grinding.

This is fine if you don’t mind taking some time to master the craft of coffee grinding. If you grind too fine the result will be a poor tasting espresso.

Alternatively you can settle for pre-grind coffee which is never as good as freshly grind. Good pump espresso machines are priced between $75 and $200 so if this is your budget, check out the range at Amazon. A good buy is the Lello 1375 Ariete Cafe Prestige Coffee Maker with many positive customer reviews.

Automatic Bean to Cup Espresso Maker

The bean-to-cup machines do everything- grinding the coffee beans, brewing the espresso and frothing the milk. You just pop the coffee beans in one end and wait for the perfect espresso/cappuccino in the other end.

You can expect to pay a premium price for this kind of machine with prices ranging between $250 and $1,200 for a good bean to cup machine.

A good machine at the lower end of this price scale is the Krups XP7260 Compact Fully Automatic Espresso Machine with Auto Cappuccino Kit.

A good high end machine is the DeLonghi ESAM3500.N Magnifica Digital Super-Automatic Espresso/Coffee Machine.

Are there any disadvantages? Well they are considered too perfect by some espresso purists who think they take the joy out of coffee making. But for the rest of us they are simply a stress free way to make a cafe style perfect espresso cappuccino at home.

Which is the right Cappuccino Espresso Maker?

Well the answer depends on many factors such as how much you love to make a prefect espresso/cappuccino at home, how much time you wish to devote to making it and of course your budget.

The automatic bean to cup machines are perfect for the person with a good budget and does not wish to devote too much time to the art and science of making perfect espresso each time.

Pump machines are also perfect for someone without a high budget and/or wishes to have more input in the end result in terms of grinding own coffee beans.

Pump machines are a suitable first purchase for someone on a tight budget and wants something better than a traditional stovetop coffee maker.

—

Eric Filter is a freelance writer who loves coffee and writing to help readers choose the best burr coffee grinder and espresso maker. 

Photo by niallkennedy.

Best Machines to Make a Perfect Cappuccino is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Drink up, coffee will help you live longer.

Welcome to Fresh Brews. Each week, I scour the internet, stumbling through dozens of blogs and across hundreds of newspapers to find stories for our round up of all that is informative, entertaining and random in the coffee world. Enjoy!

Coffee buzz: Study finds java drinkers live longer
Some tea drinkers may hate on coffee, but it’s going to be hard for them to dispute this. The National Institutes of Health and the AARP say that coffee drinkers live longer. In fact, it looks like each cup of coffee you drink per day, nudges up your changes of living longer. If you weren’t already drinking coffee, go grab a cup now! Shout out to regular reader Mike Brown for spotting this article.

Taste Test: The Best Store-Bought French Roast Coffee
Huffington Post is usually spot on when it comes to coffee, however, they derailed, crashed and burned, and went way off track here. I don’t want to give it away, but their top picks come in huge plastic tins, are filled with cheap, low grade pre-ground coffee and can only be bought at the grocery store. I’m taking away their coffee reviewing license and not giving it back.

Friday Feature: the Coffee Bike from Project Rwanda
When I’m not drinking (or writing about) coffee or watching the Yankees, I’m probably out on my mountain bike. I know a little too much about bikes, but I never knew that a bike could make a coffee taste better and help coffee farmers earn a higher wage.

Be A Helpful Coffee Snob
This article is for the coffee snobs out there. You know who you are, the one’s who look down their noses at us average Joe’s. I’ll admit that I even find myself falling into that category from time to time. But next time I think about making a snide comment about the guy that just put sugar and cream into the Stumptown pourover that they just paid five bucks for, I’ll think about a more productive suggestion.

Summer Coffee: Tips, Tricks, and Drink Ideas
It’s getting hot in here. Colin over at Boise Coffee has some great suggestions on how to stay caffeinated and cool at the same time this summer. I know that there’s a couple on this list that I’m going to have to try.

At Starbucks and Thanksgiving Coffee, It’s Not Just a Cuppa Joe
Starbucks and Thanksgiving Coffee are two completely different companies. One is a giant corporation and the other is a small roaster that works with only 100% Fair Trade Coffee. This article takes a look at some of the ways both companies are working to improve the environment and the lives of farmers.

And make sure you stop by Coffee Responsibly. There you can find all sorts of direct trade, fair trade, organic and other awesome coffees.

—

Stay up with all of the wild and wacky coffees via our Facebook page and Twitter account, where these stories and others are shared.

Photo by 27147.

Fresh Brews: Coffee Drinkers Live Longer, Summer Coffee And More is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

Not the actual cleaning supplies you'll need to clean your coffee maker.

This is a guest post by Jeremy Godfrey. Learn more about how you can guest post for Daily Shot Of Coffee.

The coffee maker is a wonderful appliance for saving time and money. Most machines that are available have a pre-program button that allows you to set the time you want the coffee ready. Now in the morning you can awake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee waiting to help you start your day. If you are a fan of more complicated drinks such as espresso, cappuccino, cafe mocha, etc., you can be your own barista and brew these drinks from the comfort of your home for pennies a cup.

Like the other appliances in your home, the coffee maker requires regular maintenance and care to keep it working. The eight tips below will help you give the coffee maker the love and attention that it deserves. After all, each day it brings you happiness, why not do the same?

1. Develop a Schedule – Once a month give the coffee maker a deep cleaning to remove any of the build up from coffee grinds and spills that can happen on the inside and outside of the machine. Being diligent about cleaning will help to ensure that pot of heaven you brew will always taste fresh.
2. Eliminate Dust – You dust your home every week but have you ever dusted your coffee maker? It makes a big difference for keeping the machine running smoothly. Take a bottle of canned air which can be bought from the hardware or office supply store and use it to remove dust from the heating element, control panel buttons and other hard to reach external areas.
3. Soak Removable Parts - Take the coffee maker apart; throw the removable parts such as the brew basket, filter and water reservoir into the sink to soak for about an hour. You can use liquid soap or take a more natural approach by mixing equal parts of water and vinegar. Use a double-sided sponge or an old toothbrush and scrub off any stains.
4. Clean the Carafe – Take some liquid dish soap, put a few drops inside the coffee pot, and fill with hot water. Fill the pot until the soap suds reach the top of the pot and set it aside for about 30 minutes. Once enough time has passed, take a sponge or cloth and rub the inside of the coffee pot. Pour the soapy mixture into the sink and rinse the pot well to eliminate any traces of the detergent.
5. Clean the Heating Element/Outside – Use a solution of two parts vinegar to one part warm water and put it in an old Windex bottle. Spray the top of the heating element and the outside of the coffee maker wait about 10 minutes and any stains will be gone!
6. Cleaning the Inside – There are cleaning detergents made for coffee makers but the best approach is to use a natural cleaner – vinegar and water. Fill up the coffee pot with a combination ¼ vinegar and ¾ water and pour it inside the reservoir. Run the brewing cycle normally and let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes. Fill the pot with clean fresh water and run it through again. Continue this until the vinegar smell is gone. The acid in the vinegar will remove leftover coffee oils and/or mineral deposits that can build up inside the coffee maker.
7. Daily Duties – Between cleanings, there are a couple daily tasks you can do help keep your coffee machine clean.
   a. Spills: Any stains that occur wipe them off immediately, especially if they involve the burner. Burnt coffee will ruin the bottom of the coffee pot and the heating element.
   b. Rinse: Pour out leftover coffee and rinse the inside of the pot with hot water. Leaving coffee in the pot will end up staining the pot which overtime will cause bad tasting coffee
   c. Filters: If you use paper filters, throw both the filter and the grinds into the organic bin after the coffee has brewed. If you use a reusable filter, remove the coffee grinds and put it in the organic bin. Rinse it out with hot water and either dry using either paper towel or let it air dry. Leaving coffee grinds in the filter can cause mold to start growing and overtime can affect the taste and quality of the coffee.
8. Inspection – Take a close look at the machine for signs of wear and tear.
   a. Power Cord – Look at the power cord to see if it’s damaged and/or frayed.
   b. Plastic Components: Look at the plastic areas for and see if they are warped and/or discolored. This can indicate a leak inside the machine.

Happy Brewing!

—

Jeremy Godfrey is a Community Coordinator at EasyApplianceParts. They’re a DIY resource and retailer of dishwasher partsand love to contribute to communities they care about. They are care about saving money, DIY, the environment and helping homeowners tackle their own home repairs.

Coffee Maker Maintenance Guide: 8 Tips for Keeping Your Coffee Maker in Perfect Condition is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

And the winner of the coffee from Coffee Responsibly is…

Cameron

Cameron, keep an eye on your email inbox. I’m shooting you an email shortly.

He wins his choice of coffee from Coffee Responsibly. Coffee Responsibly is the source for direct trade, fair trade, organic and other awesome coffees. It’s a win/win situation, you get great coffee, the farmers get a decent wage for their hard work and it’s coffee that doesn’t harm the earth.

Thanks to everyone that entered! I wish everyone could’ve won, but that definitely would’ve been beyond the budget for this contest. However, stay tuned. I’ve heard some rumors that there’s another giveaway in the works.

And remember, next time you’re looking for coffee to stop by Coffee Responsibly.

Are You The Coffee Responsibly Winner? is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

The Drink: Marley Coffee One Love
Type: Ground Medium Roast, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, Single Origin
Overall Rating: 3.25 Out 5 Coffee Mugs

My first review of Marley Coffee was their Get Up, Stand Up, one of several we received here at Daily Shot of Coffee. However my introduction to the company came well before that – back in February I received a sample of their One Love coffee through a promotional give-away. As I have learned more about Marley Coffee over the past few months, I have been impressed by the company’s spirit and energy. Some of it might just be good marketing, but from what I have tasted so far there are a lot of good flavors to get excited over.

The promotional coffee was an Ethiopia Yirgacheffe – ground, which made sense in the case of a giveaway: When I started reviewing coffee, I did an informal poll inquiring about acquaintances’ home coffee habits, and was surprised how few people owned a coffee grinder.

In a sealed foil bag, the many smells within a coffee dissipate quickly, but when I poured boiling water over the grounds, many of the original aromas came out. There was a fruity smell with hints of chocolate. After brewing the coffee in a Melita pour-over I sat down and relaxed with the pleasant smells wafting up from my cup. Along with the hint of fruit there was a smooth and mellow brightness. At the end I detected a subtle smoky aftertaste and was left with a faint tingle on my tongue.

This sample– my first taste of Marley Coffee — definitely did its job to peak my interest in the company’s offerings. Packaged ground coffee is always a little flat, but from the flavors I experienced I would expect the whole bean coffee to really pop.

Marley’s One Love, despite being ground, earned a respectable 3.25 out of 5 on the Daily Shot of Coffee scale.

You can order online from Marley Coffee’s website One Love Ground for $9.95 for an 8 oz. bag and One Love Whole Bean for $15.95 for a 12 oz. bag.

—

Fine Print

Marley Coffee One Love: Helping your morning go right is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

So to celebrate the launch of the site and raise awareness of it, I thought we should do a coffee giveaway. I mean who doesn’t love coffee giveaways? Well, I suppose the people who don’t drink coffee, but they’re kind of weird you have to admit.

The Prize

The prize is your choice of coffee featured on Coffee Responsibly shipped directly to your door for free. You can choose from coffees from roasters like Barista On Duty, Kuma Coffee, Marley Coffee and more.

Your Chance To Win

Visit Coffee Responsibly. Choose your favorite coffee there.

[Required] Come back to this post and leave me a comment telling me which coffee you want and why.

[Bonus Entries] After you leave a comment, share this post with your friends on Twitter and like this post on Facebook. Each will get you an extra entry.

Pretty easy right? Just make sure you tally all of your entries via the Rafflecopter widget. All entries have to be received by May 17 at 12:01 am EST ! So hurry, this contest only lasts a day and a half.

The Fine Print

Winner will be chosen at random.

Value of prize is $20 or less, plus shipping.

Shipping only available to residents of the United States. If you live outside of the U.S. you can still enter, but will have to arrange for shipping. Sorry, but it gets pretty expensive to ship coffee out of the country, beyond the budget for this content.

Any questions? Good luck!!!

Win Coffee From Coffee Responsibly is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee

The Drink:

I’ve been really fortunate to try a lot of rare and expensive coffees from around the world. However, I don’t think any is more unique than Kopi Luwak.

Kopi Luwak, also known as civet coffee is one of the most expensive and rarest coffees in the world. It also has a very unique production process. Did I mention unique.

Kopi Luwak is made from the beans of coffee cherries that have been eaten by the Asian Palm Civet, a relative of the mongoose that’s about the size of a cat. The civets eat the cherries for their fleshly pulp, leaving the beans relatively untouched. The beans pass through the civet’s intestines, then are defected and picked by farmers.

Yes, it is what you think it is. After the beans are gathered, they are washed, dried in the sun and roasted. I’ve seen prices for a pound of Kopi Luwak reaching upwards of $600. The unique digestive processing in the animal’s stomach is supposed to reduce the bitterness of the beans and result in a more flavorful cup of coffee.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding Kopi Luwak. It was featured in The Bucket List, a 2007 movie featuring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman and every couple of week’s there’s a “news” story about the rare beans.

This isn’t my first time trying Kopi Luwak. I first tried it back in 2009 and I liked it. However, looking back now as a slightly more experienced coffee blogger I wonder if I was just caught up in the hype surrounding the expensive and rare beans.

Plus, the more I learned about how the beans were produced, the less I wanted to support them. The beans are completely washed and roasted at high temperatures so it isn’t a cleanliness issue. The issue is that the civets are kept locked away in tiny cages and force fed coffee cherries. Traditionally the civets are wild, but as Kopi Luwak great in popularity the civets were captured, locked away and treated inhumanely. I would’ve passed on Sea Island Coffee‘s Kopi Luwak until I read that the beans were collected in the forest and not on a factory farm.

Background

Extremely rare and coveted, Philippine Alamid Kopi Luwak coffee is produced by civets, a relative of the mongoose, who have a taste for the sweet, red coffee cherries that contain the beans. The beans pass through the civet after fermenting in the stomach and that’s what gives the coffee its unique taste and aroma. Collected from the jungle floor, then thoroughly washed and dried – this is the coffee that everyone’s been talking about.

With earthy Sumatra-like tones, the Philippine Alamid Kopi Luwak has a heavy, caramel body and low acidity, but also a nuance in the taste that is hard to put the finger on. Perhaps that is unsurprising given the unorthodox method of processing.

Origins: Philippines

Review

This Kopi Luwak greeted me with a thick aroma, that would describe as heavy if scents could have have a weight. The aroma was filled with milk chocolate and hints of caramel.

It had a very smooth sip, that reminded me of a thin syrup with a bit of dustiness as it faded away.

As for as taste, it was mix of earthiness and dark chocolate. There was a hint of spices right before it faded away.

Fifty grams or about 1/10th of a pound is £15.49 (they do ship anywhere in the world). Roughly translated that’s about $25 for a small bag or $250 per pound. It’s not an every day kind of coffee that’s for sure.

Final Score

Overall, I liked Sea Island Coffee’s Philippine Alamid – Kopi Luwak and can say for certain that I wasn’t caught up in the hype this time. It was good, had a unique taste and a very smooth body. I don’t know if it’s better than some of the other expensive and rare coffees that I’ve tried, but I would have it again.

Should you try this coffee? It’s probably not for everyone, but if you like a little bit of adventure mixed in with your coffee, it’s not going to kill you. Give it a shot.

Have you tried Kopi Luwak? What did you think?

Stay tuned later this week, I’m reviewing two other rare coffees from Sea Island Coffee including Jamaica Blue Mountain.

—

Coffee roasters and companies, if you’re interested in having your coffee reviewed, message us via the contact form and we’ll work together to do a fair and honest review some of your whole bean coffee.

Fine Print.

Rare, Expensive And Very Unique: Kopi Luwak From Sea Island Coffee Review is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee