african coffees

i have been paying more attention to the types of coffees that i get when i go to starbucks. just recently, they have repackaged their coffee giving color codes to the bags based on region of the beans. so far, i have found that the african/arabia blends have been my favorites. these tend to be darker, bolder roasts. i currently have four out of the five listed from this region (in the link above) either at home or at my office. if you like dark, strong coffee, i would definitely recommend any of these. (the rift valley is the only one i don't currently have, but i do remember tasting it and liking it.)

the one major exception to this trend is starbuck's columbian coffee. for some reason, i really love this blend. and it is classified as a mild blend, not bold. every time i order a cup of columbian, i find myself saying, "wow!" the taste is truly remarkable.

addicted or dependent

i just need to state for the record that i am not addicted to caffeine. i might be dependent on it, but i am not addicted.

there is a difference.

kenya

stopped by the bux this morning for a cup of kenya, which is the feature this week. the description from the site indicates flavors of berry and fruit (sweet tropical) as part of the this particular bean. however, before i looked it up, i tasted my cup of kenya to see what i could ascertain using my own tastebuds. i registered more of an earthy, nutty taste than citrus tones. perhaps if i tasted this alongside another coffee for comparison, i might detect more of what is said i should expect.

they also mention that this coffee is "prized for its bright and refreshing acidity." this i can verify. it is not overly acidic. it is distinguishable.

food recommendations for this blend are:

Berries, oranges and currants evoke Kenya's fruity undertones - sip it over a berry tart for complete insight into Kenya's awesome depth.

hmm...i'll have to try some berry pastry next time i swing by and receive a cup of kenya. i like this blend. it is from the african/arabica region and it is definitely strong coffee.

note: i drink my coffee black. sometimes with a pastry, the sugar will enhance the taste of the coffee as i drink it. if you are one to put sugar in your coffee, there is a chance you might find some of the flavor mentioned above. not sure. try it and see.

elephant kinjia

i found this black apron exclusive this past summer while in frisco this past summer. i purchased a few bags being that it was very hard to find even in a city with a good share of starbucks. tonight, i ground up some beans and ran the grounds through my cappuccino machine.

although my home equipment doesn't seem to make coffee as great tasting as an actual starbucks shop, i could still taste the chocolate as i drank the cup. perhaps my unfiltered water or the unseasoned machine made a difference in the flavor, but i missed the black current and cherry notes in this round. since i need to finish up this bag, i will probably try again through my mr. coffee to see if i can find that taste.

this is a tanzanian coffee. bold. the blurb at starbucks (first link in this entry) mentions that pineapple and/or mango would compliment this coffee. i will have to break open a can of pineapple the next time i brew this blend.

shirkina sun-dried sidamo

wow! what a taste! this happens to be starbuck's black apron exclusive coffee. if you follow the second link to the black apron exclusives then you will read that there exists in this coffee a hint of black cherry as well as bit of clove and chocolate.

i walked into my favorite bux (on cedar bluff) and jeff hooked me up with a sample from a tasting they had earlier that evening. i smelled the blend; it smelled like a good, strong coffee. i took a taste; very smooth tasting for a dark roast like this. and then came the taste of the cherry, right after i swallowed, almost like it was time released.

my goal in passing through the bux tonight was to wind down with a tall decaf, but it was well worth having the caffeine to taste this. this particular bux is out the black apron at the moment. if you are interested in purchasing these beans, you might check the black apron link above to place an order or try to find stock at another starbucks. (there's one on every corner, you know.)

i should warn you that with the name "black apron" comes a price to match. but if you ever have to spend $13.00 for half a pound of coffee, this is the time.

i love strong coffee!

it's the only way to drink coffee. i've been on a huge starbucks kick for the past couple of year, only realizing i really love coffee more recently. but the thing is: it has to be strong. instant coffee is definitely out. weigel's and pilot are rather "truck stop" tasting. starbucks, for me, makes a level of strong coffee consistently that i really enjoy.

now i know many people don't like starbucks because of pricing. it really isn't that much more than other non-convenient store prices, but then so is the quality. my grandé cup of bold is around $1.70. the pricing misconception is the specialty coffees. (usually when this point is made, the confession is, "oh, well, i don't drink regular coffee." -- then quit your whining!)

i am not locked into starbucks on my strong coffee adventure. (this might not be that much of an adventure, either.) but it is my staple for good, stronly brewed coffee. as i find ones i like, i'll post it here.