Coffee 101: For Starters
Coffee Cupping
"Why Cup Coffee?"
There are many different "Volcanically grown coffees" to enjoy from Volcanos’, all of which are of exceptional quality, assured through an extensive process of "cupping".
Much like wine tasting, cupping is the process of sipping a variety of different coffees a number of different ways and looking for the key attributes that make a particular coffee stand above the rest. A major misconception about coffee is that if it is ranked as the highest grade (ex. Colombian Supremo, Kenya AA+) or comes from a quality estate, it is unequivocally "The Best". This is a major falsehood that has often limited the coffee drinker to enjoying mediocre "boring" coffees.
Although growing conditions such as high elevation and proper cultivation are of fundamental importance, there are also conditions that effect coffee dramatically that cannot be controlled such as weather, or in some instances economics and politics. That said, it is important to cup a wide range of coffees from various quality estates as well as specific lots within the estate.
One particular award winning estate could have too much rain the next year, or not enough, resulting in a dull, flat taste that does not express the true splendor of that particular coffee. In that instance it might be best to try the harvest from a similar estate on the other side of the volcano where the weather conditions were more consistent. Many times a number of lots on a farm that has in the past produced outstanding results are just plain "Flat", but then you try a lot from the same farm that is exceptional even though it was grown within a stones throw of the less desired coffee.
In some instances political turmoil can create disarray among farm cooperatives resulting in the destabilization of committees or presiding authorities who set quality standards. Coffees from Sumatra for example, are some of the most inconsistent due to different standards of processing that vary from tribe to tribe. A good Sumatran is only found through extensive "cupping".
In the end it all comes down to cupping. At Volcanos we go through the extensive process of vigorously cupping dozens of lots from each region until the most outstanding cup reveals itself. Good coffees are easy to find any where, exceptional coffees are found at Volcanos!
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