What Gives Organic Origin Coffees Their Taste? It's The Attitude of the Latitude & The Flavor of the Land

A trained roastmaster can taste a coffee and tell you what region of the world it comes from, without even looking at the label. Impressed? We are, because a great roastmaster isn’t easy to find…but somehow, we were lucky enough to have found Chris DeMezzo. He has been sourcing and roasting the best coffees for Joffrey’s from all corners of the earth for over 30 years. Our very own Roastmatser Chris shared with us why coffees from different regions of the world taste different, and what flavor experience you will have drinking each of Joffrey’s Organic Origin Coffees.

What is Organic Origin Coffee?

Organic Origin Coffee is organic coffee that comes from a certain area of the world, and the beans have unique flavor commonly found in that region. These coffees are organic, which means that the beans are produced without artificial flavors, or artificial pesticides, and non-organic fertilizers. (Read more about USDA organic standards here.) Also, on top of being organic, many of the coffees below are certified fair trade.

All About the Beans

So, the flavor of our Organic Origin coffee comes from the beans, but where do the beans get their flavor? They get it from the nutrients and minerals in the soil and in the other plants that grow around them. Roastmaster Chris explained in detail what coffees from different parts of the world taste like.

Central and South American Coffees

Coffees from this region are usually medium bodied, and a bit tangy. When you sip the coffee, you can taste hints of citrus and milk chocolate (if the coffee is from Central America), or dark chocolate (if it’s from South America). Both regions grow beans that make beautiful medium bodied coffees (a few examples are coffees like Joffrey’s Brazil Cerrado, Colombia, Costa Rica, or Guatemala). What’s great about coffees from these regions is that they play nicely with coffee flavors, which is why Roastmaster Chris likes to use these beans to make Joffrey’s flavored coffees.  Make no mistake though, these beans make delicious coffees on their own. Stay tuned! We’ll describe some of the Central and South American Joffrey’s Organic Origin coffees below.

Southeast Asian Coffees

Coffees from Southeast Asia have quite the personality! If you’ve ever had Joffrey’s Sumatra coffee, you know what we’re talking about. These earthy, heavy bodied, savory gems have notes of dark chocolate and citrus, and a certain smoothness that will put a smile on your face.

African Coffees

In Africa, the coffees are as diverse as the people! Roastmaster Chris says it best, “In Africa, you can find anything and everything! Coffee started in Africa, so every species of coffee grows there. The weather and landscapes are so diverse, and can make many different types of beans.” (If you’re a Joffrey’s coffee drinker, just think of the diversity in our African coffees, like Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, Kenya AA, and Tanzanian Peaberry. The one characteristic many African coffees have in common is that they’re slightly tangy and astringent, like a dry red wine.

Hawaii

Hawaii is the only U.S. state that produces large amounts of commercial coffee, and boy is it good! Hawaiian coffee a medium bodied drink known for its fruit notes and signature buttery, silky, smoothness.

Unique as a Finger Print

Coffees from the same regions can have a lot in common, but, like wines, no two coffees are exactly alike. Joffrey’s Roastmaster has handpicked his favorite organic coffees from all regions of the world, and appreciates them for their unique characteristics. Let’s see which ones he picked.

Organic Sumatra Permata Gayo  

This coffee, from a cooperative of small coffee producers, is what Roastmaster Chris calls “an earthy, heavy bodied coffee, with hints of sweetness.” The flavor packs a punch, with notes of dark chocolate and vanilla bean. Chris roasts the beans medium/dark, which fits perfectly with their flavor. Organic Sumatra Swiss Water Decaf is the decaffeinated version of Organic Sumatra Permata Gayo, and Swiss water refers to the process used to decaffeinate the coffee.

Organic Guatemala, Café Femenino

This fully-washed sun dried coffee has a clean snap, and a tangy tartness to it. When you drink this, you’ll taste hints of chocolate and walnut, and you’ll notice a clean smooth finish.

Organic Colombia Cosuraca

This sun dried coffee also has a tanginess to it, with noticeable notes of citrus, apple, coco, and a nice floral aroma.  Roastmaster Chris roasts it medium/dark, and this coffee falls right between medium and light flavored.

Costa Rica La Amistad

This fully washed, sun dried coffee will deliver a clean, super tangy taste with notes of cedar, hazelnuts, caramel, and dark chocolate (clean-tangy). Tea drinkers will also notice a hint of black tea taste.

Organic Peru Cajamarca

Cajamarca is another beautifully tangy coffee with notes of citrus, dark chocolate, and maple syrup. The flavor is rich and the aroma is beautiful. It’s roasted medium to maintain the citrus flavor.

A Little Something for Everyone

Many of these coffees are similar to one another in terms of certain flavor characteristics, but not all. Each coffee has its own distinct personality, and each coffee drinker has different preferences. Roastmaster Chris says it best. “Choosing a favorite coffee is a personal decision because everyone’s tastes are different.” So, which coffee should you buy first? Grab one of each, try them out, and find your perfect coffee match!