Hi, my name is Kathy, and I’m from Michigan. What’s your name and where are you from? When introducing ourselves, we preface the conversation with our name and often our geographical location.
The label on your bag of coffee is an introduction to your beans inside. Just as you would introduce yourself to someone, the label on your coffee helps introduce you to and understand your coffee and its origin.
If you are part of the Roaster’s Choice Single Origin Monthly Subscription, you receive a uniquely different coffee(s) every month. The first description you will notice on your bag of beans is the geographical origin of your beans. Single origin coffee, unlike blends, come from a specific country, region, and farm.
This past month I received a coffee from Rwanda Kigeyo Washing Station FTO. This bean grew on steep slopes of volcanic mountains near Lake Kivu in Rwanda. The farm is fair trade certified and practices sustainability both for the environment and economics.
Every coffee has a story (often referred to as the terroir), and you can learn more about your beans and where they came from in the farm description.
Coffee from Ethiopia originates from the birthplace of the morning brew. Ethiopia is home to many diverse varieties of bean, and many of the coffee farms in Africa are owned and operated on a small scale. Brazil, on the other hand, is one of the largest exporters of coffee in the world. Many of the farms here in this country are much more significant and therefore produce coffee on an industrialized scale.
The next item you will notice on your coffee label is the description or cupping notes. The cupping notes are the accent in which the coffee speaks. Some have bright fruity and floral notes while others have nutty chocolatey flavors.
The roast date informs you of the bean’s freshness. Author Ruth Brown instructs readers in her book, Coffee Nerd, to treat coffee as you would a seasonal, fresh produce. This seasonality is another reason why you will notice different coffee’s throughout the year. Just as fruit goes in and out of season, so different varieties of coffee beans reach the peak of their season at various times throughout the year. Coffee by Gillespie is always roasted to order. Therefore you are guaranteed the freshest coffee beans to brew, savor, and enjoy.
Get to know your coffee and savor the rich, fruity, nutty, chocolatey, or floral flavors you morning brew has to offer! Check out all of the Single Origin Limited Varieties Coffee by Gillespie provides or sign up for the Roaster's Choice Single Origin Monthly Subscription to enjoy a new coffee every month. Happy brewing!