DSOC Podcast 1: Azahar Coffee And Their Fresh From The Farm Beans

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Most of the coffee that we drink in the is grown in one country (that’s probably really far away), shipped most likely by boat to the United States, then roasted by the coffee company before we buy it. It’s a system that works, but one coffee roaster has a different way of doing things.

The name of the coffee company is Azahar Coffee and they call their system value added at the source (VAS). They’re based out of Colombia where they directly interact with the farmers, not just buying the coffee directly from them, but also cupping with them so the farmers can see what’s good about their coffee, but what also needs to be improved. Then Azahar Coffee brings the coffee to their roasting plant, which is also in Colombia. After it’s roasted, it’s flown to the United States for us to sip from the comfort of our own home. It’s similar to the farm fresh or farm to plate movements that are gathering steam.

At least, that’s the simple version of VAS and what Azahar Coffee is doing, I’ll let Tyler Youngblood of Azahar Coffee explain it a little better in this week’s Daily Shot Of Coffee Podcast.

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Huge thanks to Tyler and Azahar Coffee for working with me to make this first podcast come to life.

Azahar Coffee Reviews

The Drink: Finca El Guamo (name of the farm), “Los Agucates”
Type: Single Origin Whole Bean
Overall Rating: 3.5 Out Of 5 Coffee Mugs

First up from Azahar Coffee comes from a farmer named Maria Cecilia Trujillo in the Hulia province. In this video, you can meet her daughter and learn more about their farm.

Brewed in my French Press, I picked up on a aroma full of mouth watering scents. There was a sweetness that reminded me of a sugar candy like gummi worms, honey, wine and a little bit of chocolate in the background.

The taste was full of life. It started with a wine like flavor, that was followed by the sweetness of honey and I swear I could taste a strawberry dipped in chocolate in the background. I didn’t know that a Colombian coffee could taste like this. As it cooled down, I liked it more and more.

An 8.8 ounce bag is $15.50, so it’s not cheap, however I don’t mind paying more for quality and when I know more of the money is going back directly to the farmer.

Overall, this was a fun coffee to drink. It earned an above average 3.5 on the Daily Shot Of Coffee. It’s a great coffee to get you going in the morning.

The Drink: Finca El Sinaí, El Morro (lot name)
Type: Single Origin Whole Bean
Overall Rating: 4 Out Of 5 Coffee Mugs

Yair Vélez grew these beans on his farm Finca El Sinai in the Quindío province. In this video you can travel to the source and see where the beans comes from and how they’re processed.

This coffee also had a sweet aroma. I smelled freshly made caramel, fruitness of red grapes and a hint of spice in the background.

The taste had the fruity flavor of an Ethiopian coffee, mixed with the nutty/spicy flavor that I traditionally expect from a Colombian coffee. On one side there was a wine like flavor and hints of a strawberry syrup that lingered on my tongue. On the other side there was a spicy flavor like paprika (only a little darker) and the woody flavor of something grilled on cedar plans.

An 8.8 ounce bag of this coffee is $14.25.

Overall, this one scored slightly higher, earned 4.0 on the Daily Shot Of Coffee scale. I really enjoyed the mix of flavors that it left on my tongue.

The Drink: Finca Italia
Type: Single Origin Whole Bean
Overall Rating: 4 Out Of 5 Coffee Mugs

These beans were grown by a farmer named Gabriel Rey in the Colombian province of Nariño. Check out the Finca Italia video where Gabriel talking about his coffee beans and farm.

This coffee had an aroma of chocolate, a scent that reminded me of a bouquet of flowers and a sweet fruitiness (that I just couldn’t put my finger on to identify).

The taste department was led by strong, but smooth coffee flavor. I picked up a mellow wine like flavor, a bit of all spice flavor, chocolate and more chocolate in the after taste.

An 8.8 ounce bag of this coffee is $16.50.

Overall, this coffee earned an above average rating of 3.75. I enjoyed the delicious balance of flavors that kept me wanting more.

I enjoyed sipping on the offerings from Azahar Coffee, but what really makes them stand out is their VAS system and the ability to know where my morning cup of coffee comes from.

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DSOC Podcast 1: Azahar Coffee And Their Fresh From The Farm Beans is a post from: Daily Shot Of Coffee Blog