Thomas Jefferson once dubbed coffee “the favourite drink of the civilized world.” Much has changed since 1824, but depending on which stat you choose, coffee remains at or near the top.
It is part of many morning routines, and although I don’t consider myself addicted to this brown elixir, it delivers just the right amount of jolt to help me overcome any morning lethargy, and become more productive – and creative.
That being said, not just any bag of coffee will do. There are a number of well-crafted products I enjoy, along with our Vince’s Own – provided by a local roaster, and packaged in-house.
Vittoria Coffee in Woodbridge provides our house blends, which are a mix of Central and South American beans, curated for their combination of coffee flavours. Top sellers are medium and dark roast, but some of the flavoured varieties, like Hazelnut Vanilla, also remain popular.
Vince’s Own Decaf is decently robust, and uses the Mountain Water Process – a natural way to ditch the caffeine without using chemical solvents. That is my go-to, late-day coffee, as the approximate five-hour half life of caffeine will otherwise keep me awake at night. Alternatively, I’ll sometimes go 50/50 with dark roast and decaf for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up.
Colombian Coffee
Of course, we’ve all seen the TV spots advertising Colombian coffee, and its reputation for delivering the perfect cup is not undeserved. The country itself provides the ideal soil, temperatures, and rainfall for growing this sensitive crop. Also worth noting are the abundant steep slopes, many covered by trees and banana plants to shade the beans from being scorched by the sun.
In Colombia, coffee beans are typically hand picked, as a machine can’t discern whether or not they are at the peak of ripeness.
You may also be familiar with the two main types of coffee beans: Robusta and Arabica. Colombia provides the ideal conditions for growing the latter, and is one of the few countries that produce 100% arabica beans. Why does that matter? Most coffee consumers prefer the more complex, less bitter, and generally more pleasing taste of arabica.
The Convenience of “K-Cups”
And for those of us who enjoy the convenience of single-serve coffee makers, Vince’s Own also offers “K-Cup” coffee pods. These are also made locally in small batches. There’s medium roast, flavoured and seasonal varieties, but I prefer the Colombian.
I’ve heard some coffee fans object to all the packaging these entail, but the good news is that Vince’s Own pods are fully recyclable. Peel the lid, dump the coffee grounds in your compost, and place the lid and cup into your recycling bin. This, of course, may vary by municipality.
Whether you own a Keurig, a simple drip coffeemaker, or a top-of-the-line espresso machine, the technology will fall flat without the benefit of a good bean. Browse our coffee aisle and see what piques your interest.
Beginning your day with a great cup of joe – and elevating the experience – is worth doing a little research. And a great way to get started is with a bag or two of Vince’s Own.
Enjoy!
— Neil
