Coffee Tasting With Friends
What do Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica, Haiti, Mexico, and Nicaragua all have in common? They are all countries where coffee beans are grown. Recently we had the privilege of sharing some coffee from each of these countries with some family and friends. We actually tried a couple more coffees too! It would be the first intentional coffee tasting party for us. Man did we have fun. We have already had another and have plans for more in the near future.
Before the party I asked the host if I could bring some different coffees and brew them a couple of different ways so we could try something new. You see I come by teaching naturally. I like to take opportunities to teach whenever I can. I am also a lifelong learner and I think that one of the best ways to continue to learn is to teach about what you are learning. My wife and I have been learning about the roasting, grinding, brewing and tasting of coffee. I wanted to share some of that knowledge and coffee with some family and friends. So I had a plan to share about grinding, brewing and tasting one specific roasters coffee.
Hemisphere Coffee Roasters provided us with coffee. Their motto is “coffee with a mission.” We’ve reviewed some of their other coffees before. They are involved with direct trade with the coffee farmers and this works out better than fair trade. They care about improving the lifestyles of the indigenous coffee farmers. They have also started a non-profit agency to assist the coffee growers in Latin America called Care Cup International. I encourage you to check out both sites.
Well Kim and I stopped in Mechanicsburg at the Hemisphere Coffee Roasters shop to meet Paul and Grace who started this ministry/business. We had a good time talking with them and getting to know them. We tried some coffee and they gave us some samples to give away and to brew and little cups to use. We appreciate their helpfulness and generosity! We hope to get back up there again on one of our trips.
None of the people at the picnic own or use a grinder or French Press. They usually buy coffee that is on sale in the grocery store. That has changed now. First I showed them how easy it is to grind whole beans. Then I made the same coffee in an auto-drip and French Press. We tasted the auto-drip first and then the Press. A couple of people weren’t sure if they liked the Press, but they did like the coffee in auto-drip.
We were drinking coffee in little cups so I kept making coffee to taste. I would pass around the bag of whole beans and ask them how they liked the aroma. A few people actually ate a bean of each coffee. Then I would let them smell the aroma after the beans were ground and again after the coffee was poured into their cup. I would ask them to try to describe the aroma.
After we sipped some coffee I would ask them to try to describe what they tasted. It was a lot of fun listening to their descriptive words. Things like; I’m not sure, fruitiness, tingly, smooth, heavy, and full were used at different times. We even tried some Mexican decaf and one person who doesn’t like decaf liked it and thought it would be good in the French Press.
Overall the Papua New Guinea and Menno Blend were favorites. They are smooth, flavorful, and naturally sweet with a good earthy aroma. The Haitian coffee was liked too. Two people liked the dark roast Nicaraguan Maragojype the best. They thought it was a deeper, bolder flavor. All but one person liked the Mexican decaf.
We had a great time talking and tasting coffee. We gave away sample bags of coffee that we received from HCR. I also ground beans of each coffee we tried and put them in baggies for each taster to take home and enjoy. It was a lot of fun our pleasure to introduce people to the good coffees of Hemisphere Coffee Roasters. We truly hope it sends some business their way and helps their “coffee with a mission” grow. We received the coffee for free and offer objective feedback.
Until next time remember to stop and enjoy the coffee and conversation!
Much GRACE and peace to you,
Bill and Kim
Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10
Category: Coffee Information, Coffee Reviews
About the Author (Author Profile)
Bill and Kim have been married almost 29 years. Bill developed his connection to coffee when he worked third shift in a grocery store while attending seminary. He admits that he didn't really know how to make coffee then, but he knew the coffee my co-workers made was really weak. So he started making the coffee in the electric perculator and kept adding more grounds each time. Making coffee became part of his job as my shift manager and the other leader would tell him to make coffee as soon as they saw him walk in. Kim started drinking coffee a few years earlier when she worked as a nurse on the second shift. Their enjoyment of drinking coffee and trying different brewing methods has developed since then, but they don't consider themselves experts or snobs. They're just regular people who enjoy drinking a good cup of coffee and sharing it with family and friends. They enjoy traveling and discovering new coffee shops and roasters together. Read more of their coffee and coffee shop reviews at: Take Courage.Subscribe
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wow…that would take up an entire day to cover it
like you did. my props on a fun time.
(put me in the doesn’t like Mexican decaf group)
Hey Howard,
It was a pretty fun time and a good learning experience. We are going to be doing something similar this weekend and I will do a few things differently. I’m glad I got some of the coffee drinkers to try the decaf! We are slowly brewing and reviewing another HCR decaf now. I actually like it better. Thanks for the encouragement and I hope you have a good week.
I have been thinking a lot about this and I am going to start making more of a production out of coffee when people come over for a dinner party. Usually I will just answer questions people ask and serve great coffee. But I think it would “sell” people more on the importance of it if I made it a whole “thing”.
Thanks for the inspiring story Mike, Bill and Kim!
I second that. This article has inspired me to do the same when I have friends and family over. So far anyone that I’ve showed a french press, grinder and whole beans, has taken the step to better coffee afterwards.
Hey Jason,
I wouldn’t call this a production, but it kind of grew out of having friends over and making coffee. The Chemex always gets a lot of questions. The French Press does too. We would get asked so many questions we just decided to help our friends learn how they could brew good coffee whether it was in their auto-drip or by getting a new type of brewer.
The fun part is when they get it. I mean how many good coffees are out there and how easy it is to begin. Earlier in the month a friend told me he has bought 3 different brands and kinds of ground coffee, none of which were the local grocery store brand. Now he and his wife are buying a grinder because they know they can grind beans. They saw how easy it was in their home. We asked if we could bring our grinder, F.P. and whole beans one time.
Me and Kim like to help people learn. By nature we are teachers. I would say you know a lot more about coffee than I do. Just be yourself and let it flow. Look at as helping somebody learn, not as selling. Be your self and you and your friends will have a lot of fun.
Thanks for the encouragement. You and Mike have helped me (us) learn more about coffee. Others have helped us learn too and we are just trying to pay it forward.
Good article. I am like Jason. I just had a family game day and we had a great time discussing how to make a great cup of coffee and how to roast beans. I could not believe how great a topic it was and how everyone was so “interested” in my hobby!
Thanks,
Louise
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I think most people realize they’re drinking bad coffee, but it takes someone like us to show them the way to good coffee.
Hey Louise,
I am glad the story was encouraging to you. Deep down I think people like to learn new things. I also think drinking good coffee with someone is a good way to build relationships. Coffee tastes good alone or with friends, it just seems to taste better with friends. We’ll be brewing coffee with friends this weekend at dinner, hopefully three different ways.
Bill,
I agree with you. I think that anytime you can find a common interest you can build a friendship or relationship. I am a “web developer” and most of my family and friends have no idea what I do and its not really a topic of general conversation…..so, its nice to have a hobby that I can share with them. Seems like most everyone enjoys a good cup of coffee!