The Newsletter November 2023

The Newsletter November

Issue #8: Coffee brewing methods around the world, emerging origins & a look into our video game wholesale partners.

 Brewing methods around the world:

Written by Ryan

Whilst the 'western' world has experienced the the 3 wave speciality coffee movement, which has seen the introduction of fast-service espresso-based coffee, and later, the introduction of multi-purpose cafe spaces offering a variety of brewing methods. The rest of the world, and in particular less (or growing) economically developed countries, have seen different trends in service and in particular, brewing methods. Let's have a wee look at some of those favoured brewing methods around the world.

Vietnamese Drip Coffee:

The hot, humid conditions of Southeast Asia encourage the need for high extraction, cool-brewed coffee. They've been brewing ice-cold filter coffee for decades, often adopting a longer brew time of around 5 minutes, with a finer grind, to make you feel like the squirrel from Dreamworks' Over the Hedge - or quicksilver in X-Men - or -insert super-fast pop fiction reference here-

The brewers look like the one pictured above. In classic Vietnamese style, this concentrated cup is often paired with condensed milk for a sweet, high caffeine kick.

 Turkish Coffee/Ibrik Coffee:

Using an Ibrik, pictured above, the brewer combines cool water with extremely finely ground coffee (and sometimes some sugar) and a form of coffee cooking occurs - by a hot flame below a pot of hot sand. The consumer then drinks the brew, coffee grinds and all. The brewtime is roughly 10 mins.

Brazil/Cafezinho Method:

By brewing finely ground, dark-roast coffee with sugar and water, a traditional brewing method in Brazil, the consumer is expected to experience a balance of bitterness from the darker roasted, high-concentrate coffee with the sweetness of the sugar. This immersion brew method utilises a cloth filter, often inside a cafetière style brewer.

Ethiopia/Jabena Coffee Ceremony:

Predictably, the home of coffee host the most endearing coffee brewing method.

Brewing with what is known as a Jabena (a clay-shaped, elegant pot), over hot coals, the coffee boils up through the jabena's neck, it is poured in and out of another container to cool it. The liquid is then poured back into the jabena until it bubbles up. To pour the coffee from the jebena, a filter made from horsehair or other material is placed in the spout of the jabena to prevent the grounds from escaping. This ceremonial brewing method is an o.g so to speak and I'd love to try it some day.

For the time being, I guess I'll have to stick to using either a V60, stovetop, Aeropress, Cafetière or Clever-dripper. Not that we're spoilt for choice or anything...

Farmers working in the Yunnan coffee plantations.

Written by Adnan

Emerging Origins:

Being a speciality coffee roastery, we are always in search for the best tasting and exciting coffees we can. We have sampled a lot of coffees, mostly focusing on African, South American and Central American origins, but there are a few alternative origins that are emerging as future coffee-growing powerhouses.

China:

Known mainly for its production of teas, the resource-rich economic leaders of the world are broadening their horizons. Coffee has actually been around in China for a while, being first introduced back in the 1800s, when a French missionary bought it to the Yunnan province, although it didn't take off immediately. This has now massively changed, Starbucks who paved the way, entering the Chinese market in 1999 when it opened a store in Beijing’s World Trade Building, this triggered a huge coffee culture in China.

Since then China has started to export to Europe and has seen demand almost triple in the past four years! They are now even producing more than other well known coffee producing countries including Kenya, Papa New Guinea and Costa Rica. With Yunnan, mostly producing Arabica coffees scoring 80+ on the SCA scale, don't be surprised to see a bag from the Yunnan province in your local speciality coffee shop soon!

Wholesale partners: Hangar 13 UK LTD

The game developers known for the 'Mafia Trilogy' remastered versions are right on our doors and we're proud to supply their office with the Smokey Bird blend and Colombia Tumbaga Decaf coffee.

The Mafia series is world-renowned as one of the best open world RPG video game series acclaimed for it's historically accurate maps and storyline.

Location: A Secret