BEHIND THE CRAFT
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Coffee Craft: Harvesting the Cherries

It takes approximately 3 or 4 years for new coffee trees to begin to bear fruit. The fruit, called the coffee cherry, turns a deep and bright red when ripe and ready to be harvested by the farmer.  In most countries, the coffee crop is picked by hand, a labour-intensive and arduous process. Picking is done in one of two ways:

Strip Picking - the entire crop is harvested at one time, either by machine or by hand.  In either case, all the cherries are stripped off the branch in one go.

Selective Picking - only the ripest cherries are picked individually by hand. Pickers rotate amongst the trees every 8 - 10 days, picking the cherries only at their peak ripeness. Because this kind of harvest is labour intensive and therefore more costly, it is used to harvest the finer Arabica beans.

FGCO12117

Nepal Mount Everest Roasted Coffee Beans 250g

Net Weight: 250g

The only coffee to be grown in the foothills of the Nepalese Himalayas, this smooth and delicate bean has overtones of chocolate, vanilla and a hint of hazelnut to finish.

The East India Company - Lifestyle

Coffee

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£35.00

Coffee from Mount Everest?

Not the usual word association, but the truth is that in the foothills of the Ganesh Himal mountain ranges, there hides a coffee gem. Growing at 2500 ft above sea level is our Nepal Mount Everest Coffee.

Produced from the Caturra coffee bush of the region, a variety of arabica, with smaller, denser and fast maturing beans that is actually native to Central and South America, it was first brought to the Himalayan region from nearby Myanmar by forward-thinking farmer Hara Girit in 1938, becoming commercially viable decades later, creating hectares of shady jungle from previous near-desert, with a resulting rich fauna and flora.


The soils of the mountain foothills are fertile and the meltwater flowing down from the mountains rich in valuable trace elements such as iron, providing the coffee plants with all that is needed to flourish.

The cherries themselves are shade grown, wet processed [with the Himalayan mountain water] and then sun-dried ahead of roasting.

Whilst still a bit of secret, there has been a steady growth in Nepalese coffee consumption and whilst still globally small, coffee enthusiasts consider it to be some of the world’s finest.

With The East India Company being the original planters of tea in the region, the other rather better known known local beverage, we are in full agreement.
The grounds have a soft, sweet aroma with a slight nuttiness with a hint of creamy milk chocolate wrapping it. Once brewed, the sweetness is more pronounced, like soft brown sugar.

The flavour is delicate; a gentle and slightly fruity sweetness swiftly balanced by a pleasing and well restrained acidity.

Overall it's light and refreshing.
As a sweeter, lighter coffee, this is a versatile coffee in its successful pairings, as the coffee doesn't dominate lighter foods.

Works well with a light breakfast, for example a sweet crepe.

For a small treat, the light chocolate notes of coffee are well rewarded by a square of good quality Belgian Milk Chocolate.
The following guidance assumes the use of a cafetiere – we can provide other grinds if you prefer.

Freshly ground Nepal Mount Everest coffee to a course grind.

Use 2 tablespoons of ground coffee per 220ml [an average mug or large cup size].

Filtered water is best, poured on the coffee just under the boiling point.

Brew for 3 to 5 minutes.
If you would like you coffee beans to be freshly ground by our team, please add your requirement at the checkout.

Grind level options are:

1: Extra Fine - for Turkish
3: Fine - for Espresso Machine
5: Medium - for Drip
7: Medium-Course - for Home Coffee Maker
9: Course - for Cafetiere
Origin: Nepal

Bean: 100% Arabica

Body: 3/5

Acidity: 3/5

Roast: Medium
We are happy to grind your beans for you of course - your ground coffee will remain at its best for a few weeks once opened. If you plan to use over an extended period, we recommend buying whole beans and to then grind only the exact amount required for each drinking occasion. Using a 'burr' grinder avoids heating up the beans as regular blade grinders do.

Store your beans or your ground coffee in an airtight container, in a cool [not refrigerated], dark place, away from other flavours. This will best preserve your coffee’s freshness and flavours.

Stories

The Story of the French Press

A little like the tea bag, what came to be known as the French Press was probably invented by accident.

Legend has it that an unnamed Frenchmen was preparing a pot of coffee on an open fire in the 1850s, when he realised he forgotten to add the coffee first. Adding it later meant the coffee grounds sat on the surface and wouldn’t brew properly. So, with a metal stick, he pushed a small piece of metal screen to the bottom, carrying with it the coffee grounds. Expecting the worst, the coffee was the best he had ever had. A new way of brewing coffee was invented.
Maybe that’s what happened.

What is true is the first patent issued for a coffee making device that closely resembles the modern French Press was by Attilio Callimani in 1929, an Italian from Milan, by which time Italian’s referred to it as a Cafetiere.

Nowadays, cafetieres are generally made with Borosilicate glass, which is very strong, together with stainless steel. It’s a cost effective and easy way of making an outstanding cup of coffee.

Our spirit delivers no ordinary products

  • FAQ

    What is the difference between Robusta beans and Arabica beans?
    Robusta and Arabica are simply the 2 main species of the coffee plant. Arabica is thought to be indigenous to Arabia and grows best at higher altitudes with shade and rainfall required, thus tending to be a little more expensive than the easier to grow Robusta. Arabica now accounts for the majority of coffee consumed, because the flavour is smooth and has a natural sweetness, with chocolate and berry undertones, whereas robusta can be quite bitter with a slightly burnt after taste - but is higher in caffeine and produces a better crema in an espresso.

    What sort of grind should I buy – I know there are different grades. Or should I buy beans?
    If you are an occasional coffee drinker then you probably don’t have a coffee bean grinder, in which case, the grind to buy depends on how you intend to brew your coffee. A French Press or Cafetiere requires a course grind and a longer brew, whilst making in the Turkish style means extra fine is required for this distinctive very strong brew. Do make sure you keep your ground coffee in a cool, dark place, well wrapped up. A coffee grinder can be good investment that allows you to buy beans which stay fresher for longer.

  • Delivery & Returns

    UK Standard Delivery: £3.95
    UK Next Day Delivery (mainland UK only): £9.95 (Order before 12pm)
    International Delivery is available, please see our delivery page for details. For more information and Terms & Conditions, please see our Delivery page.

  • Reviews

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