Jaques Coffee Plantation Espresso
Welcome to the Espresso Idiot's review of Jaques Coffee Plantation Espresso. Jaques (pronounced Jakes) is an Australian grown espresso coffe farmed in Mareeba, Tropical North Queensland. For a full review of the operation, check out the Espresso Idiot's review of the entire farm in the Espresso Grow section of this site. The Espresso reviewed by the idiot here is the 1kg Espresso Roast available both at the farm and over the internet. In Tropical North Queensland this roast is available at Woolworths (in Cairns at least) however we are unaware of any other outlets for this coffee. The espresso roast reviewed by the Espresso Idiot was purchased at the farm, and also from the supermarket to sample the difference for AU$20.00. This places it well near the bottom of the range in terms of cost, with many varities available further south costing nearly twice as much as that.
"This outfit provide the complete experience - coffee plantation, roasting, and finally brewing espresso on the premises. This is a wonderful trip, and the coffee produced in Mareeba near Cairns is some of the finest available from the Coffee Industry in Australia" .
Espresso Idiot, 10 October 2006.
Summary Information
Overall Score: A gourmet espresso blend, without the gourmet price tag. Good, and well worth a test if you are in this part of the world. 8 and 7 out of 10 (per batch sampled).
Packaging: Standard plastic coated foil packaging. Not able to be resealed at the time of purchase. Could be improved. 6 out of 10.
Bean Type: 100% arabica (semi dwarf compact variety). 8 out of 10.
Crema: Thick, but uneven on the shot. 7 out of 10.
Aroma: A full, strong armoa from the bean, during grinding,a nd from the shot. A good coffee smell to be enjoyed at any time of day or night. 8 out of 10.
Taste: Excellent full bodied coffee, full taste on the palate, sharp, bitter taste in second batch sampled. 7 out of 10.
Web Site: Jaques Coffee
Contact Details: Ph: +61-7-40933284
Review
Jaques Coffee Plantation Espresso blend is a top of the range coffee in terms of taste, but fortunately near the bottom end of range in terms of price. Many times has the Espresso Idiot seen reviewers comment on Austrlian Coffe as being outrageoulsy expensive, and to be fair there are some local coffees that do not deserve to be priced the way that they are, in terms of quality, but this is not one of them.
The packaging of the product is perhaps the weakest point of the coffee, possibly a reflection of the fact that it is produced in Far North Queensland by a family run outfit. The packaging is simple foil, and there is no resealable portion of the bag, so once you have opened the kilo you then have to store it in an airtight bag and place it in the freezer. This isn't such a hardship, and the staff at Jaques will give you instructions on how to do this. As a rule of thumb (depending on your coffee consumption) freezing 1/2 of the kilo in an air free container is a good idea as soon as you have opened the bag.
The Espresso blend of arabica beans produces a thick crema on the espresso shot. The crema is thick, caramel in colour and lasts for a considerable period of time on top of the shot. Also the crema is thick enough to ensure that it mixes well with any milk that is added to the shot to produce any of the range of espresso and milk mixes. The crema really adds to the appearance of the shot, and enhances the overall drinking experience.
Of particular note is the armoa produced by the espresso blend. It is full, permiates through the house on opening the bag of beans, and once the shot is made the area where the espresso machine is brewing is replete with a fine aroma of well roasted beans. This Espresso blend is ideal as a morning coffee in terms of the wonderful smell that it produces, which again adds to and enhances the actual drinking of the shot, on top of the already impressive crema.
The espresso blend produces a clean crisp tasting shot, replete with hints of chocolate, as well as an earthy depth that delights the palate. There is a hint of aftertaste that rolls comfortably down the palate and in the first batch that we tried, there was absolutely no bitter aftertaste. However, in the second batch we tried there was a bitter presence at the end of the shot that indicated a possible variation in roasting between the two batches. It wasn't overpowering, or even that unpleasant, however it did mean that the two batches could be distinguished. At least this shows that they do indeed roast each batch by hand, and some variation between batches is to be expected.
The Espresso Idiot's overall view of this antipodean espresso, grown, harvested and roasted is that it represents great value for money, and a good opporutnity to try something different that is also very easy on the palate. At AU$20.00 per kilo plus postage and packaging, this is a bargain and well worth the look. You can check out the web site and order online, alternatively if you are thinking of chceking out the great barrier reef from Cairns or Port Douglas, take some time to tour the tablelands and drop in on the plantation. It is a great opportunity to see the coffee plant, try the fresh beans, and take a tour of the farm, roasting area, harvesting machiens, and also check out the bean machine and coffee information film. A great day can be had at the farm, along with some great coffee available at the premises along with other interesting products to check try (the Espresso Idiot suggests the chocolate covered coffee beans - yum!).