Presenting Coffee

Coffee is the second largest traded commodity in the world yet it continues to be a market lacking improvements and knowledge to those who cultivate it. Most farmers do not know anything about how the market is operated, do not know the value of coffee and do not have any idea the prices coffee is fetching.

On the other hand, till recent years, not much was taught about coffee to the customers as well. Till a bunch of coffee connoisseurs broke into the market and make coffee a premium product - appreciated just like wine. There became a specialty market for gourmet coffee and smaller micro roaster popping up and specialize in roasting coffee in small batches, to its best quality. If you have yet the chance to know the difference; I beg you to find a local micro roaster and learn the differences in each variety of coffee and regions where coffee comes from. Learn how different roasting affects the chemistry of coffee and how coffee is best cup fresh.

The more I learned about coffee, the more I realized there is more to it. From the land to the trees; the flowers to the fruit and the hands that picked it. Then there is the milling, the roasting, the cupping, the technical aspect of pulling a great shot. All in all, a lot of things go into the cup before it reaches into your hands.

Now, when I pull a shot of espresso, its like a Holy Grail to me.

(these photographs are taken from a farm from my recent visit to El Salvador)