The Tala Blog
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Decaf - How does it happen?
“When it receives the same care as other coffees, decaf coffee can be delicious! It also serves a noble purpose…”
Karimikui AA: Kirinyaga, Kenya
Kenya’s coffee story is as rich and complex as the flavors in your cup. Coffee likely grew wild in the region for centuries, but it wasn’t cultivated commercially until the 1890s, when Catholic and Protestant missionaries brought seeds from Reunion Island.
Decaf - How does it happen?
Decaf coffee commonly has a negative connotation. You hear sentiments such as “death before decaf” or “what’s the point without caffeine?” However, when it receives the same care as other coffees, decaf coffee can be delicious! Still, there are barriers that remain for someone interested in drinking decaf. Two main questions arise: “How is coffee decaffeinated?” and “Is it safe?”
La Bastilla: Jinotego, Nicaragua
La Bastilla, located in Jinotega, Nicaragua, is known for its deeply intentional and forward-thinking coffee production, and this coffee is a perfect example of their passion and focus.
Tesfaye Bekele: Guji, Ethiopia
We love this coffee for its flavors that take us back to those 2nd-grade lunchbox fruit cups, especially the peach ones in light syrup, paired with rich, complex Demerara sugar and ripe melon that lingers in the finish. This is undeniably delicious!
San Diego Mill: Tarrazu, Costa Rica
This coffee was noticeably sweet, effervescent, and creamy. "Cherry cola Italian soda" was the experience that immediately came to mind when I first tasted it.
Cold Brew vs Iced Coffee
If you’ve ever come to Tala looking to order an iced coffee, you were likely met with something along the lines of, “Unfortunately, we don’t carry iced coffee. Is cold brew okay?” At Tala, we empathize with the fact that having to change up your daily order can be jarring. But if you enjoy your coffee cold and black, we believe we're doing you a favor with our singular option.
Exploring the Coffee Bean Belt
Each region within the coffee bean belt offers unique growing conditions that shape the diverse flavors and characteristics of coffee. Factors such as soil composition, climate, altitude, and bean variety all contribute to the distinct profiles of coffees from these areas. This results in a rich tapestry of flavors, from bright and fruity to earthy and robust.
Cordillera de Fuego: Tarrazu, Costa Rica
Cordillera de Fuego is an anaerobic processed coffeed where precision meets innovation. Handpicked at peak ripeness with a brix degree (a measurement of sugar content) near 26, mature cherries undergo meticulous depulping and fermentation in an oxygen-free environment. This unique process enhances the coffee's flavor with a blend of lactic and malic acids, defining its intricate cup profile. Finally, the coffee is sun-dried to perfection.
Finca Cruz Loma: Pichincha, Ecuador
A new and exciting single origin is joining the roster for Tala Coffee Club members: Finca Cruz Loma. This lively, honey-processed coffee dances on your palate with flavors of sangria, apricot, and nougat, offering a unique and delightful tasting experience.
Tariku Kare: Sidama, Ethiopia
Introducing the exquisite coffee from Refisa Washing Station, located in Nensebo woreda, Oromia, Ethiopia. This is one of those coffees that will stick in your memories and that you'll tell stories about later when you think of some of the better coffee experiences you've had.
Finca Angamaza: Loja, Ecuador
Finca Angamaza—a coffee from producer Angel Capa Carrion in Ecuador that’s passionately both grown and processed at a very high elevation, truly making this coffee shine and sparkle with immense sweetness. It’s the kind of coffee that you will think back to later in the day, long after you have your last sip in the cup.
Choose the Perfect Coffee Gift
Are you searching for the ideal holiday gift for a coffee lover in your life but feeling overwhelmed by the extensive range of options? Fear not, for we have crafted a comprehensive guide to help you pick the perfect coffee beans to make your loved ones' winter extra special.
Improving Coffee At Home
We hear it all the time: why does it always taste better when you make it? To some extent, coffee professionals who have all of the training and equipment might always have an edge on your at-home brewing experience, but you can step up your game at home to enjoy things even more, and this is the perfect time of year to do it!
Coffee Cupping Explained
If you've ever wondered how we select the finest coffees from around the world for our latest offerings, you're in for a treat! Before we order a batch of coffee beans, we embark on a flavorful adventure known as cupping. This process is not only a ton of fun but it plays a crucial role in ensuring that your coffee experience is nothing short of exceptional.
Choose a Coffee for You
Whether it’s music, food, or podcasts, we all have preferences and things we do or don’t enjoy. The same is then true of our taste in coffee! So how do you know what kind of coffee you are going to enjoy? Here are some helpful pointers on how to select coffees you find delicious.
Pre-Grinding Coffee
No matter how you make your coffee, one of the most important elements in the brewing process is grinding your coffee beans. The best way to grind coffee depends on a number of elements, so in this post, we’re going to go over one aspect of coffee grinding—the when. That is, when is the best time to grind your coffee to maximize its flavor? The answer: right before you brew it.
Burr Grinders v. Blade Grinders
I remember when I first learned about the differences in coffee grinders. I definitely always thought that it was imperative to have top-of-the-line everything: scale, espresso machine, tamp… I didn’t know that grinders could make such a difference.
Fellow Opus Grinder
We just added the Fellow Opus Grinder to our gear lineup as the perfect high-quality versatile grinder for those brewing our coffee at home. If you’re looking for a grinder to step up your at-home brewing game, we’d highly recommend this option.
No-Nonsense Breakdown of Brewing Methods
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a beloved machine or method–in fact, finding a way to make coffee that you enjoy and a routine that works for you is the whole point! But if your set-up isn’t quite hitting the spot and you’re looking for a change, this is for you.
How to Read a Single Origin Coffee Label
Most people choose the coffee they are getting based off the tasting notes we use in our labels. This is a great way to choose what you think you’ll like, but that doesn’t mean you need to stop there! Reading and understanding the rest of the label isn’t a crazy puzzle that takes a lot of brain power. We’ll walk through the coffee lingo and abbreviations that may help you use the label to pick out your next bag of coffee. When it comes down to it, it’s very simple—we promise!