Byron Bay Coffee Company - Rainforest Alliance Espresso
Welcome to the Espresso Idiot's review of the Rainforest Alliance Espresso Blend from the Byron Bay Coffee Company. This Australian Coffee Company is producing an environmentally sensitive espresso that also matches the expectations of consumers in the taste department. This is a locally grown and produced espresso blend that is justifiably contributing to the growth in the reputation of Australian coffee overseas. From the retro label, complete with green tree frog certification that the product is rainforest safe, this product is touching all the right buttons, while not compromising quality at any time. The espresso reviewed by the Espresso Idiot was purchased in Orange, New South Wales while on a road trip, and sampled the next day. I feel that it is likely the product had aged too much, however it still performed well. The cost was AU$14.00 for a 250g bag. This places the espresso in the upper range of products in terms of cost.
"Complete with tree frog certificate to show that they really do care about the environment, this company is carving out a niche market for itself, and is making a good product at the same time. I just wish that I had been able to get beans, instead of pre-ground. Worth a look if you can find it" .
Espresso Idiot, 17 December 2006.
Summary Information
Overall Score: A stong performer, a must for those wishing to try local coffee grown and processed in Australia. 8 out of 10.
Packaging: Standard airtight plastic packaging complete with gas release valve. Nice eye catching design, in a retro style. Uninspired design, bland. Very little information about product on packaging. Good web site too. 7 out of 10.
Bean Type: 100% arabica. Only available in pre-ground form where I managed to discover it, in Orange New South Wales. 8 out of 10.
Crema: Thick, evenly placed on the shot, a rich deep brown. Mixes well with milk, and retains its taste in the foam. 8 out of 10.
Aroma: The aroma was good, strong, pungent, and evoked a sense of a medium to full bodied espresso, which was duly delivered. This would make a good morning coffee. 8 out of 10.
Taste: Although it is billed as being a full to medium bodied espresso, this is really medium bodied. As such I would suggest that it is suitable for any time of the day or night, and the rich earthy tones on the flavour establish this as reputable espresso blend. 8 out of 10.
Web Site: Byron Bay Coffee Company
Web Site: Rainforest Alliance
Contact Details: Ph: +64266871043 (phone and fax)
Review
Byron Bay Coffee Company's Rainforest Alliance Espresso is a premium range coffee in terms of price, and presentation. Clearly targetting the niche market of enivronmental and socially conscious coffees, Byron Bay are doing a great job, and this espresso shows why. From the label it evokes a time from days gone by with its retro look that evokes images of the 1940s and 1950s in its simplicity. Of course, it has also been updated with the tree frog certification to assure us all that it is being grown and produced in a manner that will ensure the survival of the rainforest. It was not without some degree of expectation that the Idiot got ready to review one of the first all Australian products he has had the chance to get his taste buds around so far. Yes folks, this is even grown in Australia.
The packaging of this espresso is at the upper level at this point in time. The coffee comes in the plastic packagaing that is now the standard for premium coffees, completely blacked out so that there is no damage from light, and also complete with gas release valve to ensure that the beans can degas while they settle after packaging. Good stuff, and a strong start. I will say a word about the design, while it is retro, I really like it. I thought that it set the tone well, and certainly is eye catching.
This espresso is pitched at the gourmet market. As such, I was surprised, although I shouldn't have been, to find the Byron Bay products being sold and served in Orange New South Wales. This is a sleepy little town that we stopped in on a road trip and were surprised to find a treasure of a coffee house. We didn;t have time for a coffee while there, but I did get some to take home. Unfortunately they didn't have any of the whole beans available, so this review is based on preground espresso.
This blend of beans produces a thick crema that completely, and uniformly covers the espresso shot. It is a deep rich brown colour when brewed at home. The crema maintains itself well for the duration of the consumption of the shot, and on close inspection one can see the oils in the crema and this enhances the rich flavour of the crema.
The aroma of this espresso blend was very pleasant, and powerful. I had the impression that the product I purcahsed may have been a bit 'aged' because the store was not used to selling this product to take home. I could tell because they didn't know much about the coffee- not even how to ring it up on the till. I will be looking forward to trying a fresher batch in the future, although the aroma had certainly not suffered at all. The aroma that was present was rich and indicated that there was a medium to possible full bodied espresso waiting to be sampled. There were earthy tones in the aroma that were most pleasant, well worth a sniff while brewing the shot, and even in the bag the ground espresso was aromatic. Strong performance in this category.
The espresso blend produces a clean crisp tasting shot, with a hint of aftertaste that rolls comfortably down the palate. There is an earthy tone to the taste, and it tends to impose itself on the palate towards the back and on the sides of the tongue. There is some bitterness, but it is not overpowering or unpleasant. This is a strong performer in the taste department and well worth a try in my opinion. This is an espresso that I believe anyone wanting an introduction to the state of the industry in Australia would do well to include on their list of espresso to sample, you wont regret it, and might learn a thing or two.