It is because that there is an abundance of information that can be placed on coffee descriptions by each individual roaster. e.g.. Costa Rica SHB. Why does this not happen? Ultimately, the information passed along to the consumer can range from frustratingly minimal to exhaustively overbearing.

Coffee beans before roasting.

At the very least, the name you find on the bag or label of a given coffee, will tell you if the beans constitute a blend, a dark roast or a single origin coffee. You see, clever advertising and packaging actually disguise what the consumer, namely you, are buying. Many consumers assume that all coffees are blends, but that is not the case. The coffees that are offered by individual roasters who create them are in abundance, but again they don't tell us what grades of single origin coffees are used.

The correct method in my opinion is that every coffee should state the designation, farm or estate name, often accompanied by information concerning the grade.

In most of Central America, the better coffees are graded by the altitude at which they are grown. In Guatemala for example, the top grade is strictly hard bean (SHB), which denotes a dense coffee that owes it's heft and concentrated flavor to having been grown at or above the minimum SHB altitude of 1600 meters (Approx. 4500 Ft).

These coffees are free from chemical sprays and are slower growing, meaning that the higher the mountain that they grown, the more character and natural oil the bean will possess. It is this oil that gives the coffee flavor. So the lower the grade, the less flavor and the more robust is the flavor.

Colombian Coffee Plantation

Many Roasters Blend the high and low grades together, purely to keep the costs down and profits up. This in my opinion deceives the general public in thinking that the coffee they have purchased is of good quality. The consumer also doesn't realise that the commercial roasters also use enhancers in their blends to bring the coffee to taste. eg. Instant coffee, flavored coffee and most of the pre-ground coffees in vacuum packs.

Roasting Coffee.

The best coffees have virtually no defects, which allows the bright fruit flavors inherent in coffee to shine through unimpeded. So make sure that great coffee begins with great beans. The cost difference between an average coffee and an excellent coffee is minimal per cup, because with the better coffees you don't use as much per cup. Unfortunately, there is not enough good coffee to go around for everyone, only to the select few like yourself, who have taken the time to understand coffee.

We are dedicated in giving you the very best from every coffee producing country. The best coffees are grown between 4000 and 8000 FT and are graded as A.A. or Grade 1, depending on which country the coffee comes from. Next is A. Grade, A.B. Grade, X. Grade and last is Y. Grade. These grades relate to Arabica coffees or Mountain grown. The species that is grown on the plains is called Robusta. This coffee receives full sun and matures very quickly so the flavor is quite robust, as the name indicates. So you see, there are many tricks associated to coffee, so don't get caught or be fooled with the fancy packaging or coffee which is low priced.

Dry method of drying coffee cherries Drying Racks

This leads us back to the question of Why should you buy our coffee?

The answer is,

• ALL the coffees we sell are A.A. Grade or Grade 1.
• There are NO chemical sprays.
• There are NO preservatives.
• All coffees have character.
• Our coffee is not adulterated.
• All coffees are no more than 2 days roasted.
• You are only a step away from ordering!

Coffee is not just a drink, it is a gesture of friendship between You, the consumer and ME, the roaster.