Are Coffees Really That Different?

   Life in these pandemic days has allowed me to stay plugged into YouTube, read more blogs and take a few courses focused on e-commerce.

   One of these educational tangents caught me listening about the sourcing, importing and roasting of coffee beans. The instructor suggested seeking out local roasting companies to get familiar with the various types of beans coming from different locations in the world, stating clearly that you would notice and appreciate the improved quality of small batch, slowly roasted coffee beans.

   Maybe in other places of the world I snickered to myself, in a tropical location perhaps you might stumble on a local roastery, but I was sure nowhere in Ontario, Canada. These thoughts plainly magnified the shallow knowledge I had about fair-trade and how coffee products are brought to the market.

   My childhood introduction to the world of beans was limited to watching Folger commercials, with images of Juan Valdez and little Don Yuan riding donkeys in the luscious hills of Columbia. For decades afterwards I didn't feel the need to question the origins of coffee again, despite drinking limitless amounts of brew from then till now. 

   Truly, this is why I'm sharing the story of my eye opening discovery. After a lifetime of drinking morning coffee and downing a cup or two at every social event ever attended, the work of a local roasting company has convinced me to switch to premium roasted coffee from now on. (Does that make me a coffee snob, or is it just the start of becoming a coffee connoisseur?)

   Maybe my revelation seems so stark to me because I've mostly been a bargain shopper. A big tub o' cafe du jour, on sale, has always done the trick. As long as the contents appeared brown and crumbly resembling coffee, I was good with it.

   Most recently though, I started to notice a type of acid reflux developing immediately after drinking a mug of java. No doubt in large part a by-product of getting older, but I also deduced it might be because of the processing techniques at larger commercial operations and/or the grade of beans in value brand coffee? 

   I was coming to accept that coffee was just too astringent for my system and was trying to be satisfied with a light breakfast tea instead. I was sad nonetheless because I'd had such a long romance with caffeine and a cup of Joe. But armed with new insights into the world of coffee from listening to the training sessions, my fun surprise came on my next trip to the local grocery. Studying the coffee shelf with fresh observation for the labelling, I discovered Ontario, Canada did have a local roaster!

   So, despite my typical penny pinching ways and ambition for trying to give up on coffee, I focused instead on the message of the packaging: environmental sustainability, Rainforest Alliance and the pride of handcrafted tradition.

   I was smitten by patriotism and allowed myself the purchase of a pound of coffee as an experiment, and possibly last hope of enjoying the treat of caffeine again. Admittedly it was fun anticipating what this bean blend and roasting technique could offer. It was also pleasant to think of supporting other hardworking businesses in my relative community. 

   By the way, I've written all this while enjoying a beautiful cup of Muskoka Maple coffee from the Muskoka Roastery, Muskoka Ontario, Canada. I randomly chose their maple flavour variety, not realizing it as one of their signature products. I'm not sure if actual maple syrup has been added, but the ingredients indicated it is 100% coffee beans and natural flavor.

    I tossed a few tablespoons of grounds in my French press covered up with an all natural wool, Stein Haven- Memory Making Cozy cover. (Another sustainable product dedicated to eco-consciousness.)

   I hit the grounds with boiled water and waited anxiously for it to brew for a long 5 minutes... but what a complete delight to my senses! That first sip cemented the difference in coffee caliber. No disappointment, and no comparison to the value brand varieties I'd been consuming for years. And yes, I said good bye to the acid reflux!

   Who doesn't love the distinct weft of coffee fragrance opening a bag of fresh beans, when it smells as sweet and delicious as you can only dream it would be? Then the flavour lingers on your tongue for a full and wonderful experience. In these house bound days, what a better way to lift your spirits and delight yourself with a treat? You're worth it, and it's worth it. Life is short- enjoy your coffee. You'll find these brands on Amazon. (Disclosure: I will get a small commission, at no extra cost to you if you purchase through the links below.)

 

 

   This article is in tribute to people in business who make a difference in other people's lives, so I'm happy be a supporter of the Muskoka Roastery who have crafted this charming drink of Central and South American coffees in the style and heritage of their founder in 1862.

   And we recognize Stein Haven for their commitment to 'Keeping It Real', by using old fashioned traditions and the real wools of their cherished farm animals to compliment the coffee experience with a piping hot French press.