Coffee time

[Kevin Peacocke]

In my career I had the chance to visit 65 countries, some of them up to 20 times. In all of them it was the cuisine and ambiance that was the yardstick, and the one thing in common to all of them was coffee. Of course not all countries grow their own, but some have their special way of serving it, like Uzbekistan, a Samarkan silk road bazaar is as it was in centuries past. Colombian was good, especially sitting in a Juan Valdez in Medelin on a misty morning. Brazilian funny enough did not overly impress, good yes, but nothing really to put a finger on. Coffee taking in Egypt and Turkey suck you in as much as their sweet tea does. Ethiopia takes it to its own level, but it is not for the feint of heart and that extra dark roast is just too much for me. Then we move further down Africa to Kenya and Uganda, and an altogether milder take with the British influence and a bit lifhter roast. But my friends, you have not tasted the pinnacle until you have indulged in a cup from Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands, nutty, not too bitter, beautiful aroma and just enough oil to bring on the richness. It gets even more specific, just one particular area shines, being the foothills in the Vumba and the Burma Valley. This stuff is hard to find, even here in the bean form, but well worth the effort. And if you

do find beans, it is the old fashioned hand grinder that produces the best particle size distribution, not too many fines - just right!

 

[Trogon]

I love great coffee, you are a lucky man for your experiences, @Kevin Peacocke. You are obviously well traveled (way more than I). Nearly all of the offerings I've had are OK, not a big fan of the commercial offerings here in the US.
Best I had was more like expresso (Cuban coffee?) working at a sugar cane processing plant in Belle Glade, Florida a long time ago. Much appreciated as we worked well past midnight, and it was miserable working there. The highlight of my day. And Cuban sandwiches were good as well.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I love great coffee, you are a lucky man for your experiences, @Kevin Peacocke. You are obviously well traveled (way more than I). Nearly all of the offerings I've had are OK, not a big fan of the commercial offerings here in the US.
Best I had was more like expresso (Cuban coffee?) working at a sugar cane processing plant in Belle Glade, Florida a long time ago. Much appreciated as we worked well past midnight, and it was miserable working there. The highlight of my day. And Cuban sandwiches were good as well.

Hi Trogon, I spent a while in Havana, really enjoyed the old world feel and the cars. A highlight is sitting in the Hemmingway rooftop pub with a margarita looking across the bay to the old fort. Picked up a set of Cubita coffee cups at the airport, clients at our Harare office love sipping their brew from those.

 

[Velo Dog]

Best I’ve tried is Jamaica Blue Mountain.
Unfortunately, I’ve not had the pleasure of visiting Jamaica.
Their Blue Mountain beans are very hit-and-miss available, (when available at all) in small quantity, here in Anchorage Alaska of all odd places.
However, I’ve also enjoyed excellent local coffees, while visiting in Quito Ecuador, also in Mexico City and all 4 of the Hawaiian islands that I have visited.
Like other AH members here, I do indeed enjoy a hot cup or two of aromatic black coffee in the morning, no matter where I find myself waking up each day.

 

[Ridgewalker]

JMO, but coffee is very much like my red wine, or scotch habit, ie, my pallet has to be prepared. A boring biscuit before or with the coffee usually preps my taste buds. A sweeter biscuit before a less bitter coffee while a saltier one before a more bitter coffee.
I can find enjoyment in most black coffees especially with a good atmosphere!
Kevin, it sounds like you have been lucky enough to have some excellent atmospheres to enjoy your coffee in!

 

[WAB]

My career took me around the globe as well. I agree with your assessment of Brazilian coffee, surprisingly uninspiring. Argentina is a different story, perhaps the best I have had. For an overall culinary experience, coffee, food, wine; Tuscany is hard to beat. Perhaps the worst I have found was Ukraine. A six week stint there left me with no desire to return.

 

[mdwest]

I used to get wonderful green (fresh, unroasted) Ethiopian beans from a little roadside shack in Juba, South Sudan when I was making regular trips over there (went quarterly for about 4 years)...

Incredible butter and blue berry notes in every cup...

Man I miss that coffee...

 

[fourfive8]

Hard to pin down or describe various coffee experiences. But worst in memory are from scorched, day-old pots, about 2 AM in some truck stops or 24 hour convenience stores in fly-over America! Best, most memorable have been some local varieties prepared through a press or dripped in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

 

[Pheroze]

I have never had coffee from Zimbabwe. Now I have a new mission. I love a culinary adventure as much as a safari. Trying this coffee gives me an entirely different reason to go to Zim. Thank you for the education!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Travelled the world quite a bit myself. Was disappointed to learn how may places survive on instant coffee. Favorite coffee is Sumatran from Indonesia. Wasn't too impressed with the cat crap coffee, kopi luwak. Most of the time, I drink Columbian, just plain black.

In south Louisiana, coffee with chicory is common but I've never been a fan of that brew.

 

[jeanes]

+1 for Jamaican Blue Mountain. On our trips there my wife and I would stock up on beans from the local grocery store. Much more affordable but you had to be careful to get authentic Blue Mountain.

 

[mark-hunter]

I have seen 63 countries in the World, and I drink coffee daily. I am coffee drinker.

But, my measuring yardstick is beer, not coffee.
And by that measurement, London pubs excel!

 

[IvW]

@Kevin Peacocke can you get your hands on a fair amount(couple of bags?) Would love to get hold of some.

 

[Justbryan]

I agree with the assessment of Tuscany. Any where in Italy is hard to beat. It is not just the coffee but the technique and skill of the Italian baristas. I also love Turkish and middle eastern coffee.

I have been in over 50 countries but nowhere near as many as Kevin. But my favorite was a little coffee house just outside of El Yunque National Forest in Puerto Rico.

 

[WAB]

Hard to pin down or describe various coffee experiences. But worst in memory are from scorched, day-old pots, about 2 AM in some truck stops or 24 hour convenience stores in fly-over America! Best, most memorable have been some local varieties prepared through a press or dripped in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

LOL, sounds like refinery coffee! Working emergency issues at night the boys would just boil a pound of ground in a pot. It certainly kept us awake!

 

[Brent in Az]

Best I’ve tried is Jamaica Blue Mountain.
Unfortunately, I’ve not had the pleasure of visiting Jamaica.
Their Blue Mountain beans are very hit-and-miss available, (when available at all) in small quantity, here in Anchorage Alaska of all odd places.
However, I’ve also enjoyed excellent local coffees, while visiting in Quito Ecuador, also in Mexico City and all 4 of the Hawaiian islands that I have visited.
Like other AH members here, I do indeed enjoy a hot cup or two of aromatic black coffee in the morning, no matter where I find myself waking up each day.

I brought a bunch of Blue Mountain coffee back in my suitcase, when I visited Jamaica. It's a good brew.

 

[cls]

I love a great cup or two of dark black coffee in the morning especially while watching the sun rise where ever I may be. One of the best coffees I've had was in Costa Rica in the back room of some roadside curio shop, small batch, hand ground local peabean coffee beans done in a french press, it was absolutely amazing. There is also an outfit here in northern Alberta that makes a great smoke roasted coffee that is pretty good.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I have seen 63 countries in the World, and I drink coffee daily. I am coffee drinker.

But, my measuring yardstick is beer, not coffee.
And by that measurement, London pubs excel!

You certainly have that right Mark, there is nothing like a good London pub. My favourite is the Victoria, about 100 metres from the Lancaster Gate tube station, they serve Punjabi if I recall the name correctly - excellent! After that I love London Pride.

 

[Mort Hill]

I survive on coffee and cigars, and lots of both on safari. Nothing better than a coffee press on safari to whip out a fresh cup of joe with nothing more than ground up beans and boiling water. I love my coffee strong and black. Some folks say the caffeine keeps them up at night. I apparently have created that immunity as it rarely keeps me awake, even drinking until just before turning in. I do find the various African coffee beans to be fantastic. Great thread and great recommendations.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

@Kevin Peacocke can you get your hands on a fair amount(couple of bags?) Would love to get hold of some.

No problem IvW, it would be a pleasure. Send me your street address on the personal message spot and I'll post it to you. It will be really interesting to track that parcel and see how long it takes!