For this edition of The 2nd Cappuccino, I’m going to discuss an almost-forgotten coffee species that’s getting a new chance, the role of supermarkets in providing good-quality coffee (although that might seem like an oxymoron), and the decorative – and rare – U.S. coffee stamps.
You’re no doubt aware of how climate change is affecting coffee growers all over the globe. Even a slight increase in temperature – just 1 degree Celsius – will be devastating to coffee growers, especially for the Arabica species that makes up most commercialized coffee.
A coffee species has appeared on the scene to help, Coffea Stenophylla. Originally from West Africa, it was once considered better tasting than Arabica, although the yield was so low it didn’t capture the interest of the coffee industry. It all but disappeared.
Now it’s back. And this is perhaps the most exciting coffee discovery in modern times.
The fascinating aspect of this species is that it has the superior tastes of Arabica but does well at hot, humid temperatures up to 7 degrees Celsius above ideal Arabica-growing temperatures. That could mean we will now have a good-tasting climate-resistant coffee option.
The future of coffee production? We’ll see.
It certainly is in its infancy, so it will take years to see the results.
For the moment, you might be asking “What does it taste like?” It’s not yet available, so we can’t taste it ourselves.
Watch this interesting video by James Hoffman as he delves into the history of this species and then travels to Kew Gardens to discover more. He also roasts and tastes it for us and compares it with other species.
Supermarket coffee = good coffee???
Supermarket coffee is one of my favorite topics. The reason is I love to talk about it is that people often don’t realize just how bad most supermarket coffee is.
After all, supermarkets are where many people buy their coffee.
Back when I was growing up in the 1970s, neighborhood stores were the only place to buy coffee.
Fast forward more years than I want to admit, and we find that people have expanded their coffee tastes. They’re more aware of and concerned with quality, variety, and fair prices for growers and others in the industry.
Those kinds of conscientious buyers have turned away from supermarket coffee and hunt out their coffee at small coffee shops or on the internet. They realize that most supermarket coffee is low-end coffee, at times extending up to mid-range.
How have supermarkets responded to this change? This article on Perfect Daily Grind tackles the subject of better-quality coffee in supermarkets.
Coffee stamps
And on a lighter note, the United States finally decided to celebrate coffee culture by publishing stamps.
It’s one of the few times that coffee has been so prominently featured on U.S. stamps, which is a bit odd considering the obsession most Americans have with coffee.
Although the stamps have the look of 1920s and 1930s advertising posters, they’re really a celebration of the current espresso coffee culture in the United States.
It’s a limited run, so if you like coffee stamps, you might want to get your order in. Take a peek at the cute espresso stamps.
Feel free to check out our additional free resources or courses and workshops on Latin American Coffee Academy.
Happy slurping!
