 |
 |
|
| Give A Gift Of Great Coffee |
| Coffee makes a special gift for the coffee enthusiast and new coffee drinker alike. It’s a great opportunity for someone to try a new variety or enjoy specialty coffee for the first time. To help you find that unique gift, we’ve asked three coffee experts for some advice when buying coffee as a gift and some top picks for 2009. |
|
 Recommendations from Kevin Sinnott |
 Coffee is associated with romance. Many couples met over coffee, which makes a great almost-date when you’re both feeling your way through the early stages of a relationship. Coffee also gives you the opportunity to serve a loved one by brewing it, an act of kindness to show your affection. Here are a few coffees I recommend for that special person in your life:
|
Under $10: Q-Certified Organic Estate Costa Rican from Boyds Coffee; $8.25 for 12 oz – This is a coffee that’s at its peak this time of year. It has caramel notes that go well with chocolate, just in case you’re considering combining the two. Boyds (www.boydscoffeestore.com) only sells it pre-ground, but they are obsessive packagers. It’s just slightly dark roasted, to emphasize the caramel notes, but no bitterness.
$10 - $20: El Descanso Huila, Colombia from George Howell Coffee Company; $14.95 for 12 oz – If you think Colombian coffee all tastes alike, you’re in for a surprise. This coffee has a citrus note, but also has some vanilla and chocolate truffle. It is available at www.terroircoffee.com.
Over $20: La Gloria & El Limoncillo, Nicaragua from Orens Daily Roast; $44.95. $44.95? Did you read this correctly? Yes, you did, and it’s worth every cent, if you’re willing and able to pay the price. This is a real over-the-top award winning coffee that has honeysuckle and cocoa notes. What a treat! La Gloria & El Limoncillo can be purchased online at www.orensdailyroast.com.
|
| Kevin Sinnott is a world-recognized consumer authority on coffee. He’s appeared on Oprah Winfrey, 20/20 and many other TV shows and is curator of www.coffeecompanion.com. He is the author of the book, GREAT COFFEE and owns one of the largest private collections of coffee brewers. Kevin can be reached at Kevin@kevinsinnott.com. |
| |
| Recommendations from Margaret Swallow |
 What better way to celebrate loved ones than brewing up a great pot of coffee to enjoy together? Coffee is a perfect gift because it features a practical item (anyone who has a coffee pot needs coffee to brew) that can be made special via your choice of the coffee. Here are a few of my favorites: |
Under $10: Millstone Coffee, manufactured by the J.M. Smucker Company. Millstone is the brand I generally use and Bed & Breakfast Blend is my favorite - it’s a nice medium dark roast and has a deep coffee flavor. Millstone Coffee is available in grocery stores in most of the US and it can also be purchased online at www.millstone.com.
$10 - $20: For a coffee in this price range, I recommend the Tanzania Peaberry from Equator Estate Coffees & Tea (www.equatorcoffees.com). The peaberry bean is a natural mutation that results in the coffee cherry producing one seed (bean) instead of the usual two. Coffee aficionados believe that this results in a more concentrated flavor. For someone that has never tried this unique coffee, it should be a great flavor experience.
Over $20: For a truly special gift, I recommend the Taster’s Gift Box from Jones Coffee Roasters. There are four half-pounds of different blend that offer a nice variety of coffee flavors. Mireya Asturias Jones was born on the family coffee farm in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala and the Finca Dos Marias (the farm of the two Marias) is currently managed by the fifth generation of her family. The Taster’s Gift Box can be purchased at www.jonescoffee.com
|
| Margaret Swallow is a longtime advocate in the global coffee community and former executive director for the Coffee Quality Institute. Margaret has visited coffee farms in 12 countries spanning Central and South America, Eastern Africa and India. She is one of the Founders of the International Women's Coffee Alliance (IWCA) and is currently serving on the IWCA Board; more information is available at www.womenincoffee.org. |
| |
Recommendations from Randy Pope
|
 Special occasions are a great time to try single origin coffee. If you’ve only had coffee blends, single origin coffee can provide a new coffee experience and allow you or a lucky gift recipient to experience the true taste profile of a coffee. |
Under $10: Sample size bags make great gifts and are an excellent way to introduce coffee lovers to single origin and specialty coffees.
$10 - $20: My favorite blend is Dancing Goats® Blend from Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters. This prize winning blend is dark, smooth and sweet with a nice floral aroma. It’s available at www.DancingGoats.com.
Over $20: A Single Origin favorite is Kurimi, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe from www.intelligentsiacoffee.com. This coffee has a very interesting taste profile and is accurately described as an elegant cup.
|
Randy Pope has more than 25 years of experience at BUNN in the technical training and coffee brewing areas. In addition to his expertise in new product research and development, coffee recipe creation, and quality assurance, Pope has presented training to more than 40 customer groups, at National Coffee Association Fall Education Conferences, and at the third annual Specialty Coffee Association of Europe’s 2004 Rimini Exhibition & Espres Show. He is a member of SCAE and the SCAA Technical Standards Committee. Pope is the author of articles for the Specialty Coffee Chronicle, Tea and Coffee Trade Journal and the blog www.deardrbrew.com.
|
| The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily state or reflect those of BUNN and should not be considered an endorsement, recommendation or favoring of any mentioned product, service, person or publication. |
