Awakening - Moonbean Coffee Company - Toronto, Ontario

Preparation:  French Press

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent

Aroma:  7

Balance:  8

Flavor: 8

Smoothness:  8

Likes:
-Mellow
  Nutmeg

  Peppery
  Cloves

Dislikes:


Summary:   I like this coffee.  It is mellow and easy to sip.  I would say it has a medium body with hints of spice as described above.  A nice middle of the road flavor that is very comforting.  I do not detect much acidity.  This coffee would be great over ice on a hot day. 

Overall score:  8

* I just had this coffee on ice and found it delicious and refreshing!

What I Found Out About Galapagos Coffee

I did a little research on Galapagos coffee.  This is a very brief summary just intended to educate you and not bore you.  I was interested in finding out more about this coffee because of my tasting this week.  The Galapagos coffee was very, very unusual and an unexpected tasting experience. 

French explorers planted Arabica coffee trees in 1869 on the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador.  They were soon abandoned for almost one hundred years.  Then in 1990 harvesting this Arabica coffee was resumed.  These coffee trees are now protected in a national park where the trees are grown free of pesticides and fertilizers.  They are also grown at a lower elevation than most coffees and this makes the beans softer and less acidic than those grown at higher altitudes.

This coffee is light roasted and various websites boast that the flavor is a "true taste experience with an intense and impressive aftertaste".  Hmmmm.......my taste buds weren't kidding me!!!

In summary,  I am really glad to have sampled true Galapagos coffee beans (thank you, Danny)  and  I really enjoyed learning how unique they are.  The truth is that I didn't really like them that much.  Maybe as time goes on I will acquire a more sophisticated palate.   Until then.......Danny -  the next cup is for you!

Ether - Philz - San Francisco, California

Preparation:  French Press

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent

Aroma:  9

Balance:  8

Flavor:  9

Smoothness:  8

Likes:
- Robust
  Dark

  Flavorful
  Sweet

Dislikes:


Summary: This coffee did not disappoint me as it was pleasant from start to finish.  My first whiff of the beans was intoxicating and wonderful.  Philz certainly does find the perfect descriptive name for its coffee beans!  Ether!  I made a cup for my afternoon pick-me-up and it succeeded in every way.  It is intense with lots of dark robust flavors.  There are tones of maple and nuts.  A fun and flavorful coffee!

Overall score:  9

Galapagos - Legare's - Portland, Oregon

Preparation: French Press  

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent
Aroma:   8
Balance:   5

Flavor:  5

Smoothness:  5

Likes:

       Aroma

       Fragrance

       Lemon Flavors

       Bold

Dislikes:

      Acidic

      Sour

      Winey

      Tart

 Summary:  This coffee was a new tasting experience for me.  The fragrance of the beans after grinding was very pleasant.   I smelled undertones of chocolate.  Even the aroma after pouring the hot water over the ground beans was full and smokey and inviting.  What a surprise when I took the first sip!!!  Very lemony and tart!  Even now after having a half cup and waiting a few minutes, my mouth is still puckering with a sourness.   OK, I take another sip and.......lemons!  I can feel some of the acid in my stomach churning, but not too bad.  Interesting coffee; chocolate aroma and lemon flavor. This will be a good one to try next time in a drip coffee maker.  Also, I plan to do some research on Galapagos coffee and learn more about the region.

Overall score: 5

Devil's Brew - Moonbean Coffee Company - Toronto, Ontario

Preparation: French Press  (second tasting)

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent
Aroma: 8
Balance:   7
Flavor: 8
Smoothness:  7

Likes:
- Flavorful
  Rich
  Dark
  Smokey
  Spicey
  Strong
  Hazelnut Flavors

Dislikes:


Summary: After a week of incredible activities,  I really wanted to sit down and have a great cup of coffee and relax this afternoon.  Since I still had enough beans left of my favorite coffee tasting so far, I decided to try the "Devil's Brew" again.  Only this time I made it using a french press.  As you can see I downgraded it a bit.  It still was awesome, but the aroma not as intense and the flavor was also less intense as I remember.  This could be due to the fact that the beans are older now and have not been kept properly and that the method of brewing is also different.  There was enough change from the first tasting that I experienced a significant variation in flavor and aroma.  I definitely will go out and get the ceramic coffee storage containers!!!!

Overall score: 8

Properly Storing Your Special Coffee

Since I have a bit of a cold and sore throat I am going to forgo my coffee tasting today.  Instead, I am educating myself on how to best store coffee so that it will retain as much flavor as possible and stay fresh longer. 

The first part is actually obvious to me.  It is better to buy coffee in whole bean form and store it in whole bean form.  (Grinding your own beans is easy and worth the effort)

The second part is a bit of a surprise to me.  Roasted whole beans should last 1 to 2 weeks, when stored at room temperature.   And, they need to be kept in an airtight container that blocks out all light.  No plastic or metal containers as they can contaminate the taste.  Ceramic is best.

I never really knew what to do with with my coffee beans.  One friend always puts hers in the refrigerator while another always puts hers in the freezer.   So, this is the deal.......the refrigerator is not an option.  It is not cold enough and the coffee will act like baking soda and absorb and deodorize the odors.  Yucko!  Freezing is an option, though.  If you know that you will not be using your awesome coffee beans in the near future or you have a large quantity then you can freeze them!  Ok, but there is more to it than just tossing them in the freezer to chill.  They should be in their original package airtight then put into a zip lock bag that has the air squeezed out.  Finally, the beans should be put into yet another bag that blocks out all light......say a brown paper bag.  Easy!  When you are ready to use your coffee, take out just how much you need and let it thaw before grinding.  Please note:  coffee should only be frozen and thawed once. 

So, freezing is an option, but not the first option to store coffee beans.  (Freezing may alter the taste)

In conclusion, keep your coffee away from the following:

* Air
* Moisture
* Excessive Heat
* Direct Sunlight



And use a special ceramic container or special vacuum coffee container to store it if you want to use it right away.

That's it for now.  I learned something and the only other thing I have to say is  "GO DUCKS!!!!"









 

Silken Splendor - Philz - San Francisco, California

Preparation: Cuisinart drip

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent
Aroma: 8
Balance: 7
Flavor: 6
Smoothness: 7

Likes:
- Smooth
  Mild
  Flowery
  Citrus

Dislikes:
- not enough flavor
  unremarkable

Summary: This is a pleasantly smooth coffee.  I think it is named appropriately as it does seem splendidly silky.   It is light to medium bodied and easy on the palate.  There are tones of flowers with a tart and citrus finish.  The aroma from the freshly ground beans was wonderful!  I was expecting to experience a more intense flavor because the aroma was full and robust.  This is not a coffee to add cream and sugar to because you would lose the coffee in the mix.  It is best alone.

Overall score: 7

****  I plan to use the french press next time to compare the flavor experience/intensity.

Bali - Legare's - Portland, Oregon

Preparation: French Press

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent
Aroma: 6
Balance: 4
Flavor: 4
Smoothness: 4

Likes:
- Flavorful

Dislikes:
-Tart
 Acidy
  Fruity
 Nippy
  Sour
 Tangy
  Sharp

Summary:  The more sips I take of this coffee the less I like it.  It has a strong sharp flavor that is not disagreeable, but also not intensely pleasant either.  My stomach is aching right now from the acid and I feel some heartburn brewing in the middle of my chest.  This coffee is sour on my palate and causes a lasting tangy sensation in the front of my mouth and tongue.  I will give it another chance on a different occasion because Danny remembers liking it,  but for now this is not my coffee of choice.

Overall score: 4

Giant Steps - Blue Bottle Company - San Francisco, California

Preparation: French Press

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent
Aroma: 8
Balance:  8
Flavor: 9
Smoothness: 8

Likes:
- Flavorful
  Mellow
  Nutty
  Malty
  Savory

Dislikes:


Summary: I obviously liked this coffee a lot.  It is pleasing and well balanced.  It tastes like a medium roast as it is not light or dark, but has flavors of both.  It is not acidy,  and it is pleasantly long on the palate.  I would drink this coffee anytime of the day or evening and especially would enjoy drinking it by itself without anything to distract from the enjoyment of the wonderful flavor.

Overall score: 8

Midnight Darkness - Moonbean Coffee Company - Toronto, Ontario

Preparation: Cuisinart drip

Scores:  Scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being excellent
Aroma: 7
Balance: 3
Flavor:  2
Smoothness:  3

Likes:


Dislikes:
Ashy
Tobacco
Sour Finish
Acidy
Harsh

Summary:  This is a dark roast that doesn't have the robust flavor that I like.  It reminds me of a coffee that someone drinks while smoking.  The aftertaste stays in my mouth a long time -  minutes after my last sip.  My stomach also feels acidy.  My palate tastes like cigarettes smell.  I am disappointed as I was looking forward to a more pleasing experience.

Overall score: 3

What Exactly Is "Aroma"?

To me the aroma of coffee occurs at different stages of making an awesome cup of joe.  It is the smell that swirls upward when I first open a sealed bag of fresh beans. Then it is the wiff I get after I remove the top of the grinder.  Finally, it is the fragrance of hot freshly brewed coffee permeating the room as I pour myself a cup. It is one of the principal categories used by professionals to evaluate coffee.

After a little research I found that there is much more to aroma....... it is a science.  There are over 800 coffee compounds found in aroma. Over 800 coffee elements interact with the olfactory epithelium.  Okay, not going any further.  Enough!  I want to have fun with coffee as an average "JOE".  Tomorrow I will be tasting something very special.  Tune in folks.........