5 Best Coffee To Try

What gets you out of bed in the morning? If you’re anything like us, then it’s time for a cup of coffee. The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company stock over 70 different Types of Coffee, each as delicious as the last, but this week, we’re promoting five that’ll have you throwing off the duvet and putting on your slippers before the alarm has even gone off! Choose from Mocha Coffee, Turkish, Decaffeinated, Jamaican Blue Mountain or Colombian. Alternatively, try them all! But what does each one individually have to offer? Let’s explore.

Mocha Coffee

Originating from the birthplace of Coffee, Ethiopia, our Mocha Coffee brings to light all that is good with these remarkable brews. It showcases why, after hundreds of years of consumption, it remains one of the most popular drinks in the world.

According to legend, an ancient goat herder named Kaldi discovered Coffee in present-day Ethiopia after witnessing his animals grazing on the berries of an unknown plant. Intrigued, Kaldi decided to try the berries for himself, eventually experiencing a boost to his energy. He travelled soon after to the local monastery to present his findings.

The monks, however, were less than pleased, believing the berries to be the work of evil spirits, and threw them into a fire out of fear. But within minutes, the room was engulfed by an enticing aroma like no other.

The monks retrieved the berries from the fire, crushing them to extinguish the embers. That night, the monks placed the grains in an ewer and covered them with hot water. The following morning, the first cup of Coffee was consumed. Whether any truth exists to this tale, it eventually gave rise to Ethiopian Coffee, and in turn, our Mocha Coffee.

Why must you try this? Mocha Coffee honours all Coffee lovers everywhere. Ethiopia is where it all began, and it is precisely where you should begin today through this wonderfully bold and flavoursome brew.

Mocha Coffee is a Single Origin Bean, meaning quite literally that its origins are traceable to one location and one location only. For Connoisseurs, Single Origins are far superior to Coffee Blends. This particular Single Origin is medium-roasted to perfection, boasting smooth yet strong gamey notes.

Turkish Coffee

Contrary to popular belief, Turkish Coffee does not originate from Turkey! In reality, “Turkish Coffee” refers to the brewing method - a style favoured in Turkey - rather than the origin of the beans. Though it does grow in Turkey, our Turkish Coffee instead honours the age-old methods of brewing Coffee with the use of a Cezve.

A Cezve is a specially-designed small long-handled pot. When making Turkish Coffee authentically, one should have a Cezve to hand, as well as a spoonful of sugar and, of course, our very own Turkish Coffee! Additionally, one should consider having a demitasse cup, which is a small cup often used for Turkish Coffee.

Once you have these items, first measure the amount of cold water you will need, then place your Cezve over a gas flame until the water begins to heat. Next, add one tablespoon of our Turkish Coffee per demitasse cup (3 ounces) accompanied by the sugar, though not stirring at this stage as it may cause it to clump. One shouldn’t, in fact, stir until it starts to sink into the water and the water is warm enough to dissolve the sugar.

At this stage, stir several times until it begins to foam. One should only turn down the heat once a so-called bubble “ring” begins to form on the surface. The key is to let the Coffee build a thick froth, which typically occurs around 158 F or 70 C.

Keep it at a “foaming” stage for as long as possible without letting it come to a boil. Ultimately, the more foam, the better the brew! And once you’ve adhered to these steps, the Coffee is ready to drink!

Why must you try this Coffee? Similar to Mocha, Turkish Coffee originates from Ethiopia. It is light-medium-roasted and ground to a fine powder. Most importantly, however, this brew represents the artful traditions of Turkey’s fascinating culture and society. For those holiday-goers returning from Turkey and wishing to take their experiences home with them, this Coffee is an excellent place to start.

Decaffeinated Coffee

A Decaffeinated Coffee, also known as “Decaf ”, contains only a minimal amount of caffeine following the process of decaffeination. It's not is without caffeine, not even Decaf Coffee; however, following the decaffeination process, one can expect no more than 10 milligrams of caffeine in a cup of coffee.

A German scientist named Friedrich Ferdinand Runge discovered caffeine as a naturally occurring stimulant in the 1820’s. Since then, our knowledge of the substance has increased dramatically.

We now know that around 60 plants naturally contain caffeine, including nuts from the Kola tree (often used in the making of soft drinks), beans from the Theobroma cacao tree (a primary ingredient in chocolate), leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant (better known as the Tea plant) and, of course, berries from the Coffee plant. But how exactly do these berries, later beans, go from having a great deal of caffeine to only having very little caffeine?

There are four methods to decaffeinating Coffee, as well as Tea; the Methylene chloride method, the Ethyl Acetate method, the CO2 method and the Swiss water method. The former two methods have garnered much controversy over many years, and for this reason, The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company do not use these methods. We use only the latter two with all of our Decaffeinated Coffees, including this one.

Why must you try this Coffee? For those sensitive to excessive caffeine intake, or even for those looking simply to cut down, our Decaffeinated Coffee is the choice for you.  Using only the finest quality blend of Central American Coffees, ours is very tasty, safe and, of course, remarkably low in caffeine.

We use the most efficient method of decaffeination, the CO2 method. This form of decaffeination utilises pressurised liquid carbon dioxide to extract the small caffeine molecules while the larger flavour molecules remain intact. It removes between 96% and 98% of caffeine, making it by far the best of the best.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee

Seldom do they fare better than Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, a beverage with an unparalleled reputation of being perfect in nearly every way imaginable. This Coffee requires certification to be called “Jamaican Blue Mountain”, which means it having to adhere to numerous specifications.

First and foremost, official Jamaican Blue Mountain can only be grown within the Jamaican parishes of Portland, St Andrew, St Mary and St Thomas, with altitudes between three and five and a half thousand feet.

Excellent climatic conditions, altitudes and attentive farmers all contribute significantly to the outstanding quality of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. It is also a Single Origin, thus ensuring its immense popularity among Coffee drinkers around the world. However, to fully understand, one must first understand its origins.

Allegedly, Coffee came to the Caribbean through a decision made by the French King Louis XV, whereby a handful of saplings travelled to the French colony of Martinique in 1723. Owing to the success of this experiment, the British Governor of Jamaica, Sir Nicholas Lawes, brought the plants from Martinique some 1,200 miles to Jamaica in 1730.

The initial planting took place in the foothills of the St Andrews parish, with cultivation eventually spreading through much of the Blue Mountains.

In 1752, some 20 years after its introduction to the island, exports of Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee amounted to a mere 60,000 pounds. It wasn’t for another century until Jamaican Coffee trade increased dramatically, and by the early 20th Century, the world finally came to recognise its full potential.

Today, the establishment of the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica has seen an even greater increase in quality in Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. Its popularity continues to increase at a rapid rate, whereby now it is arguably the most sought-after Coffee globally.

Why must you try thise? If the term “the cream of the crop” ever had a truer meaning, it would describe Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee exclusively. The brew boasts a smooth, polished flavour with mild acidity and subtly bitter undertones. An aromatic infusion of sweet herbs, florals and nuts, this Coffee is a genuine delight to the senses.

Colombian Coffee

When one thinks of Coffee, thoughts often drift to Colombia - and for good reason, too. Colombia produces about 12% of the world’s Coffee, which generally takes place at altitudes between 1,000 and 2,000 metres. The conditions in which Colombian Coffee farmers grow the beans contribute to their well-known acidity when brewed; it is a trait loved by many, including many here at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company.

Despite its worldwide acclaim, no one knows for sure when it arrived in Colombia, though historians theorise it coincided with the arrival of European Jesuit priests during the 17th Century. Regardless, the first known shipments of Colombian Coffee did not travel outside of the country until 1835 when the United States imported 2,500 pounds of beans.

Over the course of a relatively short period, Colombian Coffee has risen through the ranks and is now one of the most popular in the world. Today, the Colombian Growers Federation (FNC), the largest rural non-profit organisation globally, defends the interests of the national industry, ensuring quality and consistency in a sizable proportion of Colombian across the landscape.

Why must you try this Coffee? When it comes to top-quality Arabica Coffee beans, one would be hard-pressed to find a better producer than Colombia. Brewed Arabica beans have characteristically heavy aromas with smoother tastes and less caffeine (1.5% caffeine content) than Robusta beans.

The differences in chemical make up do not stop at caffeine, however, as Arabica beans also contain 60% more lipids and almost twice the amount of natural sugars than Robusta beans do. Simply put, Arabica Beans are considered superior. Thus, our Colombian Coffee Bean is, by definition, a superior brew.

Buy Other Coffees Online

Should you wish to branch out and explore other Coffees in our extensive range, then we recommend starting in our “Types of coffee” section. There, one can discover Coffee Blends, Decaffeinated coffee, Espresso, Ethical coffee, Flavoured Coffee, Organic, Single Origin and even Chocolate Covered Coffee Beans!

Once you’ve decided on the type, it’s worth noting that all of ours are roasted using the latest state-of-the-art Neuhaus Neotec fluidised air-bed system, which primarily uses convection heat transfer to roast the beans.

Furthermore, coffee beans, as well as our Teas and Tisanes, are packed fresh to order here in our Pluckley-based factory, a quaint English village nestled within the enchanting vistas of the Kentish countryside.