Jamaica Blue Mountain

VOLCANICA7/5/24EAST AFRICAN COFFEE STATUS & OUTLOOKBased on the USDA’s latest outlook, Africa accounts for 11-12% of the world’s total coffee production, including 10.5% of the Robusta crop and 12.5% of the 23/24 Arabica crop. There are 54 countries in Africa, but only about a dozen produce coffee.While Ethiopia accounts for most of it, the high-quality specialty grade Arabica coffee production is limited to 6-7 East African countries, including some very small countries with problematic histories.Located in the equatorial coffee belt, East African coffee benefits from ideal coffee growing conditions, including volcanic soil, high altitude, climate, access to fresh water and tradition. Conscientious processing, disciplined coops and dedicated smallholder farms also play a role.Coffee is a subjective topic and while good coffee can be found throughout the equatorial belt, the acid rich East African coffees are recognized as the world’s most distinctive. The traditional varieties and grade from Ethiopia (Yirgacheffe) and Kenya (south-central highlands) are particularly noteworthy and often compared.While some would include 100% authentic Kona (miniscule production, hard to get & subject to fraud), the best Tanzanian and the crazy expensive Geisha (Panama & elsewhere) among the best, the coffee from Kenya and Ethiopia is widely viewed as the world’s most consistent, distinctive and recognizable. Regardless of source, it is important to note that countries producing the most distinguished specialty coffee also produce average or worse coffee.In a way, East African coffees are like finalists in a beauty contents, it’s hard to pick the winner. The contest is also dynamic, i.e., this year’s crop winner could be next year’s loser.While the demand for specialty coffee continues to grow, small coffee farmers have been burdened by an exploitive value chain. Living on a few dollars a day, Africa’s small coffee farmers have had little incentive to produce the low yielding crop. If impoverished farmers do not get a bigger piece of the value chain’s pie, higher prices and a shortage of high-quality coffee seem likely.FINDING REPUTABLE RETAIL ROASTERSWhen purchasing country of origin coffee, the quality will vary by crop year, terroir, region, sub-region, botanical variety, grade, processing, storage, logistics, roast and freshness. Excluding effective auctions, higher prices may not guarantee a better tasting coffee.Storage and freshness are key because coffee does not age well. Indeed, assuming the flavor has not been compromised by logistics and storage, fresh green coffee has a 6–12-month shelf life while fresh roasted whole bean has a 30-day window.As the importer of these potentially fine coffees, IT IS THE RETAIL ROASTER WHO DETERMINES THE QUALITY AND FRESHNESS OF OUR COFFEE.Finding a reputable retail roaster with good customer service, a good menu of single origin coffee and consistency is a Herculean task. Given the limited shelf life, always looming new crop and roaster inconsistency, the ongoing journey never ends.Organic, free trade, direct trade, sustainable, certified, relationships and consistent buying all make sense, but coffee that shoots the lights out on the cupping table is really what the specialty coffee game is about.While there are exceptions, roaster websites are not generally well developed or organized and many do not disclose all the information required to make an informed purchase, including the origin, roast, ounces per bag, processing, etc. Some lack contact information while others fail to follow up on inquiries. Many also use a poor choice of colors and fonts that make the websites difficult to read.Fortunately, many roasters specializing in East African coffee provide more detail and organized information, including the granular source, varietal, processing, roast and roast date.Blends are being hyped by roasters and while they might be relevant to coffee drinkers, they are not very relevant to coffee lovers that already know what they want. Affordability is another issue because there are high-quality single origin coffees that are affordable and offer real value. Indeed, many blends are priced higher than good single origin coffee.VOLCANICA EAST AFRICAN COFFEE: As Good As It GetsVolcanica is currently offering nine East African single origin coffees, including the Kenya AA (Nyeri Hill Estate), the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe and the Tanzania Peaberry (Nitin Estate, Ngorongoro Crater). All are washed and roasted light or medium light.In addition to being among the highest quality East African coffee on the market today, they offer real value. Indeed, Volcanica’s 16 oz pricing is less than what many of their competitors are charging for 12 oz.Volcanica’s website is also developed, organized and provides granular details appreciated by coffee lovers. JBC has also done a good job with their website development and disclosure.I have chased the perfect cup of East African coffee for over forty years and these three are among the best. Will sample the other six in the months ahead and share the results with another post.

I started purchasing this whole bean coffee about one year ago. Unfortunately from one of the largest online coffee vendors in the US. However, the shipping cost if the purchase is less than $75 adds an additional $10 to the cost.Then I decided to search on Amazon to see if any coffee vendor sold this same type of whole bean coffee et voila, enter Volcanica. Since they sell through Amazon and the same for shipping, there is no shipping charge if a Prime member. When I first tried this coffee it was about six or seven dollars cheaper but even this price hike is tolerable because of the quality and taste of it.I have been purchasing coffee from this aforementioned vendor for more than a decade; however, since I discovered the Sumatra Gayo, I now buy only three coffees. This Sumatra Gayo has now replaced my everyday drinking coffee which was the Ethiopian Yirgacheffe whole bean coffee. The Yirgacheffe region of Ethiopia produces some of the best coffees anywhere. After all, coffee was first found in Ethiopia.When I first tasted this coffee I really thought I had received a bag of Jamaica Blue Mountain. I simply could not believe I was drinking a Sumatran coffee. But I was. About the fifth purchase of this coffee I was dealt another surprise. But this one was not a good surprise. The coffee did not the smooth, rich flavor I was used to. What happened? Why did this wonderful coffee turn so off-putting? So acidic? So unpleasant tasting. Maybe I was inebriated? No, since I can’t imbibe alcohol any more.However, this last purchase I made and received just two days ago was back to the FANTASTIC coffee I had experienced years ago. Why did it change. I believe I found out the reason. In case you don’t know, when coffee beans—especially Arabica coffee beans—you must let the beans oxygenate by expelling carbon dioxide. That takes a minimum of seven (7) days. The key word is ‘MINIMUM.’ I had a bag of these beans in the freezer from my purchase previous purchase one month before. The roasting date was in February 2024 and was and like the several purchases before it, was roasted just a little over one week when I ground 17 grams of beans approximately beginning on the eighth (8th) day after roasting. This last purchase, however, was roasted in mid-February which was approximately six weeks after roasting. (The bag of beans in the freezer is still there. I simply will not purchase another bag until May 2024 and from now own will wait about six weeks after roasting to grind and make the coffee.Because the Volcanica beans are NOT in a bag that allows the carbon dioxide to escape during the first seven (7) days following roasting I will pour the beans into an open container for two additional weeks for them to oxygenate. As long as the beans have six weeks of resting following the roasting date I will get to enjoy one of the three best coffees in the world—IN MY OPINION. I have indeed read several roasters and coffee experts agree with my thoughts regarding the Sumatra Gayo Whole-Bean Coffee.Although not anywhere near the price of the Jamaica Blue Moon Estate or the Hawaii Kona Volcanic Estate coffees, Volcanica’s price for their Sumatra Gayo’s price of $25.99 is a steal. The low acidity, full bodied taste, its smooth and rand deep, rich flavor are qualities that make this such a favorite anywhere.ABOLUETELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

This coffee is really good for the price.

This is simply the best bagged coffee I’ve ever had. It’s sweet and clean—very much unlike the bitter, burnt brands. It’s pricey though, so I treat myself to a bag just now and then.