Cafe Britt Australia

*FREE SHIPPING on all Gourmet Coffee & Gourmet Hot Cocoa orders over $150!

What Makes A Coffee Gourmet

Coffee drinking is one of the most widely spread traditions across many cultures in the world.  It is found in a myriad of varieties, flavors and at many price ranges. What constitutes the variety in coffee and what makes a true gourmet coffee?

The foundation of a gourmet coffee is a good bean. About 70% of the intrinsic quality of the coffee bean is determined by the genetic characteristics of the seed.  The other 30% of the coffee quality is determined by the ecosystem in which the coffee is cultivated. If you have a quality bean growing in an ideal environment you then need experienced processing of the bean for consumption. Together, these factors produce the best gourmet coffee.

The Plant

There are two main types of coffee beans, Arabica and Robusta. Arabica beans are considered the premium and best tasting beans.  Robusta is a less expensive bean but flavor is sacrificed for cost. It also differs from Arabica in that it is much easier and faster to grow and is more resistant to disease and weather. Though some blends mix the two types of beans, the best gourmet coffees are made from 100% Arabica beans. In Costa Rica, it is forbidden by law to grow any bean but the Arabica variety.

The Altitude & Climate

Arabica beans require unique growing conditions. The plant is very susceptible to disease and pests. For the plants to thrive they need a high altitude of at least 1,200 meters and an average temperature of 20° C (70° F). In the few places in the world where these strict conditions are met, Arabica beans thrive and vary due to other environmental factors including the climate, latitude, altitude and the regional soil type. Arabica beans are especially prolific growing in Costa Rica’s enriched volcanic soil.  Each of these factors will affect the aroma, body, flavor and acidity of the brewed coffee.

The Processing

Once an Arabica bean is grown in an ideal environment, it must still be handled correctly to bring the best gourmet coffee to your cup. Harvesting by hand is important so that only the ripe coffee cherries are plucked and used for processing.  The cherries must then be water processed and sun dried by experienced farmers before they are roasted.  There are a number of levels of accepted roasts, the lighter showing off more of the natural bean’s character, where the darker roasts bring the beans natural oils to the surface creating a more intense flavor.  Whatever level roast, it is important the beans are not burned or over roasted, which covers up the bean’s natural flavor.  Finally, well cared for beans must be packed in a container that will allow coffee to “breath” and expel its natural gases but prevents external agents such as humidity or air to get in. This proper packaging, such as Cafe Britt's, maintains freshness from the plantation to your cup.

 

Enjoying Gourmet Coffee

Knowing all the factors that are necessary to create a gourmet coffee helps one appreciate it.  Once you invest in gourmet coffee, you can follow a few simple steps to get the most out of it.  First, grind fresh beans and brew them in a French Coffee Press for best results.  Conduct taste tests with different blends and determine which you prefer for your  daily cup, with  afternoon sweets and  after dinner.  Exploration and experimentation of gourmet coffees is half the fun for a coffee connoisseur.


Buy Gourmet Coffee Online

Café Britt is one of the world’s few “country-of-origin” producers, which means that our range of gourmet coffees are grown and produced in Costa Rica. With great care and passion we grow and source these gourmet coffee and ship directly to Australia. FREE SHIPPING on all Gourmet Coffee orders over $60!

Buy Online: Epresso coffee beans

COSTA RICA ESPRESSO COFFEE
$28.50

Buy Online: Tarrazu Coffee Beans

COSTA RICA TARRAZU MONTECIELO COFFEE
$28.50

Buy Online: Decaf coffee beans

COSTA RICA DECAF COFFEE
$28.50

Buy Online: Dark roast coffee beans

COSTA RICA DARK ROAST COFFEE
$28.50

Buy Online: Organic shade grown coffee beans

COSTA RICA SHADE GROWN ORGANIC COFFEE
$28.50

Cafe Britt offers gourmet coffee and exceptionally smooth hot cocoa directly from Costa Rica.

With great care and passion we grow and source the finest products and ship directly from country-of-origin to Australia.

Smooth and Delicious

Disclaimer: Cafe Britt Australia is an independent Australian registered trading name. It currently has an exclusive agreement with Cafe Britt Costa Rica to import and distribute original and genuine coffee retail products within its designated region, being anywhere in Australia and New Zealand. Whilst Cafe Britt Australia may be responsible for the design, contents and marketing of all genuine products sourced and supplied by Cafe Britt Costa Rica in the designated region, it does so on its own accord. Cafe Britt Australia does not represent Cafe Britt Costa Rica in any manner and the two are separate and independent entities. The website www.cafebritt.com.au is independent and not interrelated to the website www.cafebritt.com and is in no way associated with that website. Any content, material, representations, warranties, advertising or views contained in this website are not to be associated with the website of Cafe Britt Costa Rica, in www.cafebritt.com.


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