Jaques Coffee Plantation
Welcome to the Espresso Idiot's review of Jaques Coffee Plantation. Jaques (pronounced Jakes) is an Australian grown espresso coffee farmed in Mareeba, Tropical North Queensland. For a review of the Espresso produced by this outfit, check out the Espresso Idiot's review of the beans in the Espresso In section of this site. This part of the web site is about the operation and growing of coffee that takes place at Jaques. Jaques is located In Tropical North Queensland and you can obtain their products direct at the farm, or over the internet, or at Woolworths (in Cairns at least). We are not aware of any other outlets for coffee grown on this farm.
"Jaques provide the complete experience when you visit their farm. They have a presentation on video about coffee, a bean machine complete with audio recording about the history of the farm, and growing, harvesting, and processing undertaken at Jaques. Of course, after the tour you get as espresso at the onsite cafe, and it is most enjoyable. Well worth the effort if you are in this part of Australia"
Espresso Idiot, 24 October 2006.
Summary Information
Web Site: Jaques Coffee
Contact Details: Ph: +61-7-40933284
Review
Jaques Coffee Plantation has been a long time in the making as you quickly gather if you take the tour of the plantation on the bean machine and chat to the owners. There have been a few battles in getting this far, but thankfully it seems that Jaques is here to stay and will be growing, harvesting, and roasting coffee in Australia for many years to come. Set up in Mareeba in Far North Queensland, Jaques is a picturesque setting for a coffee plantation and they have made the most of their location. Bounding wallabies are likely to be spotted by the keen eyed punter en route to the farm, and the driveway is lined by some of the most impressive termite mounds I have ever seen. This is dry country, this is elevated country, but most importantly, this is coffee country.
Jaques plantation exclusively grows arabica beans, the preferred variety of coffee bean for roasting and blending to create first class espresso. As you arrive and park your car, you are first directed toward the 'cafe' that is on site, complete with espresso machine. In the cafe you can decide if you wish to simply purcahse coffee, have an espresso, try a chocolate covered coffee bean, or take a tour of the plantation. I reccomend the latter as an espresso is included in the price, and there are some good features with the tour that are worth the cost of the ticket.
First up you are directed to an audio visual show about the history of coffee, the history of the Jaques family farm, and a few other interesting insights into the world of coffee growing. Most of this is interesting, and if you are a new entrant to the world of espresso, the tour is well worth it. If you are at the upper end of the Espresso knowledge scale there wont be that much that you don't already know in the show, except for the portions that are about Jaques itself.
Next up there is a tour on the bean machine, a converted truck that has an audio tape that plays at various points as you are driven around the plantation. This tour is interesting, and you get a great look at the plants and to taste the beans. You are also taken through the entire process of growing, harvesting, and processing of the beans and each of the areas of the plantation in which these parts of the journey from plant to cup take place. Most interesting and well worth the cost of taking the tour.
After the trip on the bean machine, you are returned to the cafe area and it is time to get the sampling underway. A review of Jaques espresso can be found elsewhere on this site (in the Espresso In section), however it is a fine way to finish the tour. The cafe is well run, the espresso served is well put together, and this is an opportunity to get some Aussie grown coffee from the source to take with you and try blending when you get home. For the adventurous you could always try the microlight flights.