What is Coffee?
The coffee bean is the seed inside the fruit of the coffee tree, refered to as the 'coffee cherry'. Usually, there are two beans inside the cherry. When there is only one small, round bean, it is called a peaberry. Coffee grows in warm, humid climates at altitudes up to 6,000 feet above sea level. It is the second most traded commodity in the world after oil.
Robusta vs. Arabica:
The two species of coffee plants.
Robusta is found mostly in commercial, institutional and food service applications. The trees bear more coffee cherries than Arabica trees, are grown at lower altitudes and are easier to cultivate, as they are hardier and more resistant to diseases.
Arabica coffees are grown at higher altitudes (4,000 - 6,000 feet above sea level), require very careful cultivation and just the right climate conditions. Arabica trees produce about half the amount of coffee with half the caffeine of Robusta beans. The quality and flavor of Arabicas are far superior to Robusta coffees, and Arabicas command higher prices because of their quality, limited availability and difficulty to cultivate. Indigo Coffee Roasters offers only the highest quality Arabica coffees, which is what we feel 'Specialty Coffee’ should be.
How is Arabica Coffee Cultivated and Processed?
The ripe coffee cherries are usually picked from the trees by hand. The cherries do not ripen at the same time, so each tree must be picked up to 5 times per harvest. Each mature tree yields between 1 and 1-1/2 pounds of coffee a year.
The cherries are then processed in one of two methods: the Wet (or Washed) Method and the Dry (or Unwashed) Method.
In the Wet Method, the pulp of the cherries is removed mechanically. The beans are then allowed to ferment, in order to loosen and remove the remaining pulp. Next, the beans are thoroughly washed, drained and dried in the sun or in mechanical dryers. Hulling machines remove the remaining parchment and silver skin surrounding the bean. In the Dry Method, the cherries are spread out for up to 2 weeks to dry in the sun. Several times a day, the beans are turned by raking. Hulling machines then remove the dried pulp, parchment and silver skin surrounding the bean.
How is Coffee Graded?
Coffee is graded by size, color, uniformity and number of imperfections in a one-pound sample of green beans -- in other words, by quality. Even within each type of Arabica, there are different grades. There are no labeling regulations in the coffee industry, so Indigo works closely with all our suppliers to guarantee our product to be authentic as labeled. Indigo uses only the highest grades of Arabica coffees available.
What do the Coffee Names Mean?
Most specialty coffees are labeled by the geographic area in which they are grown. The word 'Varietal' refers to these unblended, single-origin coffees. Following the country (or region) name, you can find a more specific region name (eg: Costa Rican Tarrazu, Ethiopian Limu), the name of the port from which it is exported (eg: Brazilian Santos) or the grade of the coffee (eg: Kenya AA).
What are Varietals?
Varietals are single-origin coffees encompassing perennial favorites such as Colombian Supremo and lesser known but equally outstanding coffees from around the world. Some of our varietals are 'estate' coffees, that is, grown on a single farm. The 'estate' is often featured in the varietal name (eg: Costa Rican Tarrazu La Minita).
What are Blends?
Blends explore combinations of different and complimentary taste elements of several varietals and roasts. When blending, we first roast all components separately so that each can be developed to its peak. Indigo offers a number of blends which we have created in-house, but you might enjoy experimenting with combinations of your own.
What are Dark Roasts?
Indigo offers several dark roasts. From lightest to darkest, they are Viennese Roast, French Roast and Italian Roast. Any varietal can be roasted to any degree of roast. Dark roasted coffees are created by roasting the beans longer and at higher temperatures; this draws out the oils to the surface and allows for the development of the slightly carbonaceous bittersweet qualities that make these coffees so distinctly enjoyable. Dark Roasts are ideal for making espresso although they are also extremely popular brewed conventionally. What coffee to use in your espresso machine is a matter of personal taste. Try our Espresso Blend or experiment with different Dark Roasts yourself.
What are Flavored Coffees?
These coffees are made by adding flavorings to freshly roasted Central and South American varietals. They contain no sugar or alcohol and contain fewer than 5 calories per cup.