After meeting with the wonderful people at Joe Bean Coffee Roasters, I learned very quickly that I don't know BEAN about coffee! I also learned that my normal cup of (generic name coffee) with cream and splenda was no match for a cup of BLACK (yeah you read that right) Joe Bean. I couldn't believe I was drinking coffee black... that's just how good this stuff is. Let me tell you a little about this family owned company:
Joe Bean Coffee is an artisan, micro-roaster that produces specialty coffee of exceptional quality. We roast in small batches using the profile roasting technique. Profile roasting is a unique method that manipulates time and temperature during the roasting process in order to produce a complex coffee with well-developed characteristics. The end result is that our coffee has exceptional, complex layers of flavor.
Some new info I injected into my head while I was there: Did you know the roast (light vs dark) has to do with the temperature the beans are roasted at? How about the art of cupping? What about different brewing methods are preferred for different roasts to bring out flavors? WHO KNEW! Not me obviously. Learn more at JoeBeanRoasters.com
I was lucky enough to enjoy a flight of coffee the last time I was there and learn about different brewing and cupping methods.
I was also able to take a closer look at the green coffee beans and learn about how they work with the growers to provide fair trade organic shade grown beans.
Now onto the giveaway, you are entering to win a 12oz bag of Joe Bean's Wintertime Blend. Here's what the roaster himself had to say about this blend:
We have been working hard to develop a wintertime blend, and are proud to announce that the blend has been finalized! Let me say, that I am particularity pleased with this blend. Our approach with it has been quite different from previous blends. Typically, flavors within a single origin or blend are carefully balanced so the coffee can stand up on its own, with the full range of flavors being readily available. This is the first coffee we have created that is explicitly designed for a pairing.For more from the roaster check out his blog here.
On its own, the coffee has a heavy, sweet, syrupy feel. Lots of molasses, nuts and chocolate. There are some beautiful soft fruit flavors, with a bright clementine or tangerine like acidity. The coffee finishes with strong spice notes of pepper and cinnamon.
However, when you pair the coffee with a dessert, especially one with an earthier sweetness like a pumpkin cake, the flavors become infinitely more complex. You experience a much deeper range of fruits and nuts, with emerging notes of vanilla. Not only that, but the dessert comes alive as well, with the spice and acidity of the coffee perking up the flavors. When trying them together, one can’t help but go back and forth between the two. The aftertaste you are left with is wonderful.
Our goal was to create the perfect complement to a dessert at the end of meal, best shared with family and friends, and I think we’ve come pretty close to creating that perfect flavor profile. I have to say, testing this blend was rather fun as well. Matching various brew methods with various desserts, it’s hard to complain too much. I look forward to releasing this coffee, and I hope it will be well received by everyone.
Rules/Way to enter: (leave a separate comment for each entry)
1. Leave a comment telling us something you love about coffee
2. Tweet about the giveaway make sure to include @steph_chows and a link to the giveaway
3. Facebook about the giveaway
Entries limited to US residents, sorry international peeps :(
Enter by Wednesday Feb 16th Midnight EST.
And don't worry if you don't win, you can order up your own right here!