People drink around 500 cups of coffee each year.
While it’s easy to focus on the consumer, it’s equally important to look at the coffee roasters and coffee shops. You want to see how they are making a change in the industry.
For example, coffee is becoming more specialized, which means it’s important for consumers to understand how it was made and how fresh the coffee beans are. When you drink Bolivian coffee you’ll understand why roasters and coffee shops appreciate Bolivian coffee beans. The best roasters understand how Bolivian coffee growers take their craft to the next level.
Here’s a guide to help you understand why Bolivian coffee is so highly regarded.
Bolivian Coffee From The Andes.
Bolivia is located in South America. It’s over 8 times the size of England, and although Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in South America, they are recognized for their coffee and natural beauty.
The conditions for growing coffee in Bolivia are almost perfect because of their fertile soil and consistent rainfall. When you visit a Bolivian coffee farm, you are treated to beautiful topography, brisk clean air, and passionate people who care about their farms.
If you ever visit Bolivia, consider taking a tour of a coffee farm and sample their unique coffee beans. Learn about their hands-on farming techniques and how they differ from modern industrial farms.
While you are in Bolivia, learn about their wonderful culture, and historic sites in the Andes mountains and salt flats. These breathtaking sites can be part of your adventure so you can get a taste of their culture and their coffee.
What Makes Bolivian Coffee Different?
There are many characteristics that make Bolivian coffee different from other coffees. They consist of intricate, bold, and robust flavors. You’ll taste hints of berries, sugar cane, red wine, and rich milk chocolate.
Some describe Bolivian coffee as creamy body with a crisp kick. Take a look at our coffee selections and try our Bolivia Organic which comes from the region of Caranavi.
Clean, Washed Coffee.
Bolivian coffee is washed. That means it’s clean coffee. It means that the cherries are cleaned from the bean so they don’t stick.
The pulp is also removed from the bean to make sure it’s a fully clean bean.
What’s the purpose of washing coffee beans and does it make coffee taste any different? The short answer is yes.
Sometimes washed coffee offers more acidity, but that just depends on the bean.
The Cupping Process.
When it comes to Bolivian coffee, the cupping flavors offer lemon, lemongrass, roasted almond, rose hips, and medium acidity. It regarded as a medium-light body.
Why Bolivian Coffee Is Different With ICT
Now you may think that you can get Bolivian coffee anywhere, and that may be true, but when it comes from ICT, you’ll notice that we know the specific origins, the names of the farms, and even the names of the master growers. Chances are we have visited the farms several times. We travel to remote regions of the world to discover how beans are grown and cared for.
In fact, not only do we care about coffee beans, we also have a deep concern about the wellbeing of coffee farms. Coffee farms are struggling and ICT is trying to shine a light on the difficulties farm endure while trying to produce good coffee. The world demands affordable coffee, but it is often difficult for farms to produce coffee affordably. Let’s all do our part to help farms and farmers survive and thrive. Help contribute to coffee farms in Bolivia whenever you can.
How the Coffee Industry Is Changing
One of the things to keep an eye on is fair trade. This means that workers need to be treated fairly and there needs to be fairly traded coffee.
With more awareness of fairtrade, it helps focus awareness on how beans are growing. It helps spread attention to those who are underpaid on the farms.
Bolivia is an example of country where fairtrade practices need more oversight. As the poorest country in South America, it’s important to spread attention about the difficulties farmers face there and the kinds of conditions that are present in that country.
We try to buy from farms that treat their workers fairly. we are proud to sell Bolivian coffee and want you and other coffee fans to recognize the amazing coffee they produce.
Bolivian Coffee: a Cup of Coffee You Won’t Forget
If you’re on the fence about Bolivian coffee, try a batch from ICT. Consider what your customers will say went they try it for the first time. You’ll realize that Bolivian coffee is a fresh and distinct coffee flavor that you won’t soon forget.
If you have questions about how to order Bolivian coffee or have general questions about coffee, you can contact us here.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the geography and climate of Bolivia contribute to the unique flavors of its coffee?
Bolivia’s unique geography and climate play a crucial role in creating the distinct flavors of its coffee. The country’s coffee-growing regions are primarily located in the Andes mountains, which provide ideal conditions for cultivating high-quality beans. The article mentions that Bolivia has “fertile soil and consistent rainfall,” which are essential factors for coffee production. The high altitude of the Andes contributes to a cooler climate, which typically results in slower-growing coffee plants. This slower growth allows more time for complex flavors to develop within the beans. Additionally, the article describes the environment of Bolivian coffee farms as having “beautiful topography” and “brisk clean air,” suggesting that the pure mountain atmosphere may also influence the coffee’s taste. These geographical and climatic factors combine to produce coffee with intricate, bold, and robust flavors, including notes of berries, sugar cane, red wine, and rich milk chocolate, as well as a creamy body with a crisp kick.
What specific steps are involved in the “washing” process for Bolivian coffee beans, and how does this affect the final taste?
The washing process for Bolivian coffee beans, as described in the article, is a crucial step that contributes to the coffee’s clean flavor profile. This process involves several specific steps to remove the coffee cherry’s outer layers from the bean. First, the cherries are cleaned from the bean to ensure they don’t stick. Then, the pulp is completely removed from the bean, resulting in what’s referred to as a “fully clean bean.” The purpose of washing coffee beans is to affect the final taste of the coffee, and the article notes that it can indeed make a difference in flavor. Typically, washed coffees tend to offer more acidity, although this can vary depending on the specific bean. In the case of Bolivian coffee, the washing process likely contributes to its described flavor profile, which includes notes of lemon, lemongrass, and medium acidity. This cleaning method helps to highlight the intrinsic flavors of the coffee bean itself, rather than allowing them to be influenced by the fruit’s flesh or mucilage. As a result, washed Bolivian coffee is known for its clean, crisp taste and medium-light body.
What are some recommended brewing methods to best experience the distinct flavors of Bolivian coffee?
To best experience the distinct flavors of Bolivian coffee, several brewing methods can be recommended:
- Pour-over: This method excels at highlighting the delicate nuances and bright acidity often found in high-altitude Bolivian coffees. It allows for precise control over water temperature and flow rate, which can help extract the coffee’s complex flavor notes without overwhelming them.
- French press: For those who appreciate a fuller body, the French press method can emphasize the rich, creamy texture often associated with Bolivian coffees. This immersion brewing technique allows oils and fine particles to remain in the cup, resulting in a more robust flavor profile.
- Aeropress: This versatile method can produce a concentrated brew that showcases both the coffee’s body and its intricate flavor profile. It’s particularly good at bringing out the fruit and chocolate notes often found in Bolivian beans.
- Espresso: For a more intense experience, espresso preparation can accentuate the bold aspects of Bolivian coffee. This method can highlight the coffee’s natural sweetness and create a rich, syrupy body.
- Cold brew: This slow extraction method can bring out the coffee’s sweeter notes and reduce acidity, offering a smooth and refreshing alternative. It’s particularly good for highlighting the chocolate and nut flavors often present in Bolivian coffees.
The choice of brewing method ultimately depends on personal preference and which aspects of the coffee’s flavor profile one wishes to emphasize. Factors such as grind size, water temperature, and brewing time can all be adjusted to fine-tune the flavor extraction.