Me doing my thing...

- Life is way to short for bad coffee.

Single verses Blends

This may not be news to many of you but Single origin coffees are on the rise. They are running strong in Melbourne and have been for awhile but the trend is forging ahead here in Brisbane. It makes me very happy to hear this. Although I do love my blends it is nice to experience the true nature of a bean in all it's glory.

I began this journey working for Jasper coffee and really missed it on my return to Bris. Now that I work at Bellissimo I have this desire satisfied again.

The major difference is that a blend has been created. A single is just that, one single region and it can be nothing else. (dependent on the roast of course)

When you create a blend you begin with either a single origin or an ideal flavour and then you add to it create you desired experience. This can be anything from three to eight different regional beans. Talk about multicultural!! These beans would never come together in any other way. Ethiopian and Brazil with a small percentage of PNG. Wow. They are not exactly neighbors.

You get the idea.

A single is unique. It is only influenced but the soil and climate of the region it is grown. How high it is. How much rain it received. How it is harvested and dried. All of this effects the final product. And that being said, a harvest one year may be completely different from the next.

We are after all talking about an organic product.

One mistake many people make is to expect the same flavour experience from a single as to that of a blend. You will rarely find a single origin that gives you a similar experience.

My advice to you is that you get out there and try different single origin coffees from different roasters. You might find the one that really tweaks your fancy. I can still remember the Cuban Altura Lavada I had at Jasper quite a while ago now, but the memory still lingers on. Yes, it was that good. Better even than the Wallenford Estate Jamaican Blue. I know right. In my opinion only and only for my taste. You might disagree.

But you will never know if you don't explore.

"Life is too short for bad coffee."

Toby to the rescue...

Delayed blog entry

Sydney. Early flight with one side of the family in tow. Grumpy.

After way too long the air staff offer the coffee option. What? Come on Qantas get you act together.

Get to our first destination and they offer an espresso. Sure I'll try anything at this point. Its 10:30 and my caffeine demon is still not happy.
I get why looks to be a good shot of coffee. But the first sip reveals I have been duped. It singes the tip of my tongue and kills of some of my precious taste buds. I wait. Then finish it out of respect for my hosts.

Still not right.

We are now traveling to our next commitment when out of the corner of my eye I see Toby's Estate.

I almost slam on the breaks and power slide into a parking spot I'm that excited. I have heard very good things about this company and that the quality is exceptional. I was not disappointed.



The Corner Cafe. I forget the area because I was so focused on the coffee. I look about and I am quickly impressed by what I see. Tiny little cafe but the seats are full and they look like they really know what they are doing.

Several lovely Asian ladies running the show and a beautiful Novo Simonelli machine shining away. I was getting my hopes up even more.

My espresso was Devine.




"Life is too short for bad coffee."

D&D

Dandilion & Driftwood. Highly praised by it's reputation. Is the bar set too high?

Nope.

The place was a buzz and it was hard to even get a table. Lucky for me my guest got there early. A very simple but stylish back courtyard that you could miss if you did not know it was there.

I asked for the stronger flavour for my long mac and the owner offered the Driftwood blend. It came to me in a nice glass and the crema looked a little darker than usual. There was even a little more milk than I would expect for a mac. But it was by no means an inferior coffee. So much so I had another! I would have loved to spend the time and have a chemex or Syphon but I had work to do. Training to arrange.

All in all my experience was exceptional.

I would highly recommend that you pay a visit.


"Life is too short for bad coffee."