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61 Beans Coffee-of-the-Month: March Our March coffee, El Rey de los Monos, or "King of the Monkeys," comes from the farmers of FAPECAFES co-operative in Palanda, Ecuador. Just like the care and quality taken by the farmers of FAPECAFES in growing and processing this coffee, its quality really shines though in the cup as well. It is full of juicy, jammy sweetness, aromas of cocoa, perfume, malt, and baking spices, and an acidity that is assertive and clean. The play between acidity and intensity of flavors helps to accentuate this coffee's natural sweetness. All this is rounded out by a refined, washing mouthfeel, and an aftertaste like tonic water and caramelized sugar. |
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Colombian Coffee Cuppers Visit Equal Exchange By Beth Ann Caspersen, Equal Exchange Quality Control Manager During the week of Jan. 24, Equal Exchange hosted the 7th Annual Cooperation in Quality Seminar at our coffee roastery in West Bridgewater, Mass. Our guests were two coffee cuppers, Yaneth and Angelica, from the ASPROCAFE Ingruma co-operative in Caldas, Colombia. Equal Exchange has sourced coffee from ASPROCAFE Ingruma for more than 13 years. Over the last six years, Equal Exchange has invested heavily in the co-op's organic coffee project by holding two organic coffee competitions and providing extensive training to their quality staff. We were excited that after two years of trying to obtain a visa to the United States to attend the Cooperation in Quality Seminar, Angelica and Yaneth were given the necessary visas to attend the seminar in January. The two women spent the week roasting, cupping, pulling espresso shots and learning about the world of specialty coffee. Angelica and Yaneth were able to try a variety of coffees from around the world and sample chocolates and fruits to expand their tasting experience. They stayed in our home (with me and my husband, Todd, who is the Equal Exchange Director of Purchasing, and our son Magnus) and learned about our lives in the United States. Their trip also included a snow storm (they had never seen snow before!) and an inspirational visit to the Equal Exchange Café. They were very appreciative and impressed by the Equal Exchange co-op. Yaneth told me, "Equal Exchange is more than a company, it's a big family that works together for the greater good." |
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Equal Exchange Drinks with an International Flare New! Try Organic Earl Grey tea served with steamed milk and honey. This black tea latte has fragrant citrus notes of bergamot. This drink, which we have appropriately named "London Fog," originated in Vancouver, Bristish Columbia, and is now available to you by your very own baristas at Equal Exchange Café! Tired of your regular drink order? For a limited time we are offering Thai Iced Coffee. This special drink is made up of our Organic Espresso mixed with sweetened condensed milk, served over ice and topped with frothy milk! |
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Meet Our Staff: Josh Reynolds, Barista Where do you call home? Atlanta, Ga. Last book you read: The Power of Nonviolence: Writings by Advocates of Peace. What's currently on the iPod? Janelle Monae - and if I'm working, it's probably playing in the café, too. Most influential role model: Martin Luther King, Jr. Favorite Boston eatery: Angela's (in East Boston). Espresso drink of choice: Macchiato. Ideal vacation: Anywhere to visit friends. Best time of day: Approaching sunset in the summer. What are you doing on your day off? Working at my other job or running to try to keep up with Sarah (fellow barista) in our marathon training. |
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A Visit to COMSA Co-op, Honduras By Josh Reynolds, Barista From 2005 to 2007, I worked on community development projects with the Peace Corps in a community on the border of Honduras and El Salvador. Some of the project included working with coffee farmer co-operatives in the area around Marcala. Marcala is known as the co-op capital of Honduras, with a long history of political and economic independence...and great coffee. One of the groups I worked with was an association of small coffee farmers named Cafe Organico de Marcala or COMSA. Each farmer has their own crop but they pool their resources together for the infrastructure and marketing to dry and export the coffee. Each family earns money according to how much coffee they produce and additional profits are reinvested in infrastructure or spent on the social mission of COMSA. As an organization, COMSA is committed to investing in the health and education of its communities. The members are also very concerned about climate change and are working on promoting integrated organic farming in the area. The co-op offers trainings for members to expand beyond organic coffee production toward the goal of organic self-sustainability - raising their own animals, protecting forests and watersheds, and finding ways to generate their own energy. COMSA was recently given an award by a consortium of Honduran organizations for its success in sustainable development. I'm also talking them up so much because they've recently started selling about 10 percent of their coffee to Equal Exchange! If you'd like to hear more about how Fair Trade is supporting my Honduran friends in their struggle to be free and happy, feel free to chat me up while I'm making your drink. |
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