The first arabica plant was grown the 1700's and it soon became the country's main source of revenue, even more so than cocoa, sugar and tobacco. The land was even given to farmers for free, as the benefits of the coffee industry and exports would be greater in the long-run.
It started exporting to nearby countries and made its way to England in the 1800's, which was the biggest importer of Costa Rican coffee at that time.
The revenue that came in also contributed o the building of the railroad on the Atlantic coast and to the construction of the National Theatre in San José.
Given its popularity, the exports only started to grow, and now Costa Rica has the means to export to any country interested in the commodity.
There are 70.000 farmers that contribute to the thousands of kg exported, and some of them work in cooperatives under the Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance umbrellas.
Many of the coffees cherries are hand-picked, which ensures that only quality beans make their way to our daily coffee-cup. The pulp is then removed, and the cherry sun-dried.
The soil, climate and elevations in Costa Rica all contribute to a low acidity and sweet coffee bean, that is also very versatile when it comes to the brewing method.
From our experience, its natural sweetness makes makes for a great black coffee. Of course, you are always more than welcome to sweeten it up, but in the case of our Costa Rican, you can have it as a guiltfree treat and we're sure you'll love it! :)
]]>
If you'd like to start roasting your coffee at home, check out this blog for a few tips and tricks. If you are torn between roasted beans or ground coffee, you should take into consideration a few factors such as: if you are in a rush in the morning and prefer something quick and convenient, or if you'd rather have as much flavour in your coffee cup as possible.
Ground coffee still tastes amazing and packs the same properties, however it can lose its flavour much quicker than coffee beans. However, if ground coffee is your first choice, you can alternatively buy it in smaller packs such as sample or 227g bags to keep it as fresh as possible for longer.
If you are now thinking to switch to roasted beans, bear in mind how you'd like to brew your coffee and buy an adequate burr or mill grinder as it is very important to obtain an even grind that helps the extraction when brewing the coffee.
In order to make the most of your cup of coffee, we'd be happy to provide a few examples of the coffees we'd use for each brewing type:
Cafetiere: Yemen Haraaz Red AA++
Filter/pour over: Ethiopian Illubabor Forest Anaerobic Grade 1
Moka pot: Guji Grade 1 (with a hint of cinnamon)
Aeropress: Rwanda Lake Kivu
Espresso Machine: Colombia Supremo Noble
Turkish: Old Brown Java
As a summary, both ground coffee and coffee beans are fantastic options and because we know there is no one-size-fits-all we sell all of our coffees in all grinds, as roasted beans or as green beans.
]]>The beans would be roasted over fire, ground and boiled. Needless to say, it soon became one of the most popular drinks, and we certainly understand why.
Turkish people are well-known for their merchant skills. They used to export silk, furs, spices and many agricultural products, and the European market was already responsive when they introduced coffee beans. France, Austria and England were amongst the first to enjoy the brew, and soon many Europeans countries adopted the drink into their culture.
Chances are you had a coffee like this before, and if not we highly recommend you try it. You will need an 'ibrik', which is what Turks use, or alternatively you can simply use a saucepan.
List of ingredients (for one cup, please multiply quantities as needed):
-2 tablespoons of finely ground Coffeelink coffee
-220 ml of water (you can use more or less depending on the strength you'd like)
-sugar (optional)
-milk (optional)
-cardamom (optional)
Start by adding your ibrik on the stovetop. Pour the water in and mix with the two tablespoons of of ground coffee. We recommend boiling it on medium heat. After only 5-7 minutes, it will start bubbling, please remove and set aside for 1 minute.
You can now pour it into your cup gently to avoid the grounds making their way into your cup and then sweeten it up to your liking.
All of our coffees can be ground for Turkish coffee, so feel free to browse through our range and find your favourite one :).
]]>All of us coffee-lovers know of Colombian coffee and probably had it at least once, and that's for a good reason since it accounts for 12% of the world's coffee supply. Another reason for its popularity is its caramely, chocolatey and smooth taste that goes well in hot drinks as a single-origin or to be added in a blend.
The position of Colombia on the map and having a mixture of climates, along with mountains and hills, create a unique environment for the coffee beans to grow. The wet climate is one of the reasons the Colombian beans have a distinct taste and acidity.
Coffee is a very important socio-economical factor in Colombia. Growing coffee and exporting represent a very important part in the country's economy and offers job security to many farmers. On the social part, drinking coffee is engraved in Colombian's culture. They often like to meet up with their loved and spend hours together, drinking and savouring coffee without being in a rush, almost like a ritual of happiness; they are said to be among the happiest countries in the world, after all.
This month you can save 25% on our Colombia Supremo Noble and use this as an opportunity to catch up and relax while enjoying the fabulous flavour this great coffee has to offer.
]]>
At first, only spices were used to create the brew that could be consumed either hot or cold. At the beginning of the 1900's a British owned Indian association adopted the recipe and added black tea in the mix, making the drink rather expensive for consumers. They created a marketing strategy and implemented tea breaks at work to warm the public to the newly-developed brew. In order to keep the costs down, more spices would be added to the blend and it would be suggested to have it served with milk and sugar. This is what made it a hit!
With the technology advancing throughout the years companies started using various mechanisms to bring costs down, and chai tea production was not an exception. Many street vendors adopted the beverage into their menu and it is now one of the most popular drinks in India, and throughout the world.
The warming flavour makes for a great addition to coffees as well. Many coffee shops have either syrups or powders that are added to the coffees and it has become a staple among customers all over the world.
Check out our spiced chai tea and syrups if you'd like to try them out and we are sure you won't be dissapointed!
]]>
About 20% of the British public has consumed decaf coffee, especially post-pandemic. During lockdown our buying behaviors have changed, and that includes what we eat and drink too as we are more conscious of the impact on our overall health. The demand has grown high in the UK about, as it doubled the amount of decaf imported from 2018 to 2022.
2023 is now considered a year of growth for decaf coffee producers, however it may be impacted by the recession we have all felt lately. With all that in mind, there was a 6% decrease in decaf coffee purchases from supermarkets while shoppers moved on the online market. The aspect behind this purchase behavior is customers are still priotising quality over quantity and being mindful what they eat and drink, and that includes coffee too.
We have a passion for good coffee, and our promise to you is to continuously be the link between you and ethically-sourced, freshly-roasted coffee.
As mentioned, we make sure our beans are of the highest quality, both caf and decaf. All of our decafs are decaffeinated using the Swiss Water decaf.
We have now created a blend to satisfy both needs for our coffeeholics: half caf and half decaf. If you want to check it out, please look for the All Day Blend.
]]>Alfonso Bialetti had an aluminium workshop where he would produce household products and it was situated in Crusinallo, Piedmont. One day he was watching his wife do the laundry and noticed the system used to wash the clothes in the basket. The water was brought to a boil and pushed through a tube, and visualising this was how he thought of a similar system to implement for brewing coffee. His inspiration for the name came from the Mocha region in Yemen, which was one of the biggest importers of coffee in Europe around that time.
The way the moka pot is constructed it has three chambers: the first one (lower one) is filled with water, the second one has a little basked where the coffee grounds are added. The third one is where all the coffee created by the pressure goes. The stove heats up the lower chamber which is pushed up by the pressure and meets with the coffee grounds and finally arrive in the upper chamber as condensed, brewed coffee ready to serve.
Due to the crema it sometimes produces, many people think of the moka pot brew as an espresso. However, the extraction time and temperature do create a difference between them in consistency and taste.
Bearing that in mind, Alfonso wanted to crated a device that brews coffee very similar to the one served in coffee shops, that you can make at home. He worked on the moka pot around a wave of Futurism that took Italy by storm. It was the moment Italians would love to see old ordinary traditions in the light of technology advancement. They really liked to embrace the idea of evolving, so the moka pot ticked all the right boxes.
At first, not many were sold and then came World War II. Aluminium was harder to source, therefore the shop had to close and opened again in 1946 when Alfonso's son took over and focused mainly on the moka pots. The design that is found on Bialetti products to this day is a caricature of Alfonso Bialetti, that was adapted along with the opening of the shop.
We can all agree it was a blooming successful concept, and to this day more than 300 million Bialetti Moka Expresses have been sold.
]]>
After finding the right design that would be suitable for a shorter brewing time, he started presenting his product to the world. The first impressions were did not do its justice, however as more people tried it, it became a quicker alternative to the pour over or the moka pot for example.
In 2008 the first AeroPress brewing competition took place and had 3 competitors. 10 years later, 3,157 competitors participated. This just shows how versatile and innovative this brewing method is (there was even a movie created based on it).
The great thing about it is that you can play with the coffee quantity, water and grind and customize it to your liking. There are also no restrictions on what roast to use. We recommend using hotter water the lighter the roast. Perhaps the following guidance will help:
-Light roast: 100 degrees Celsius
-Medium roast: 90-95 degrees Celsius
-Dark roast: 85 degrees Celsius
When brewing it, start by adding the filter, then the ground coffee and pour 150-200 ml of hot water (add less or more based on strength preference). Make sure the water is poured evenly on the coffee grounds to ensure a maximum taste. Then, let is settle for 2 minutes. You can then proceed with stirring it gently, putting the plunger back on the coffee and slowly pressing the air into the chamber.
The colour of the coffee is a good indicator if the coffee was brewed on the stronger side, so feel free to add some more water until it reaches the optimum taste.
Another amazing thing about it is that you can take it on the go with you, as it is very space efficient.
If you don't know weather you'd like to use finer or coarser coffee, feel free to choose the coffee that you like from our website in the aeropress grind and we will take care of the rest for you!
]]>
The method was first invented in the 19th century in France. Back then the most consumed drinks were beer and wine, being a safer alternative to water, and it is safe to say that filter coffee soon replaced the two. Ground coffee would be placed in a two-chambered pot and then hot water poured over it, which then allowed them to brew and create the first dripping method.
Amalie Auguste Melitta Bentz, a German woman was the first to come up with a cleaner brewing method by inventing the paper filters. After a few tried, she realized the cone-shape provides the best results, which is the shape that we use to this day.
As opposed to an espresso for example that has a quicker extraction using the machine's high pressure, the filter takes longer to brew the coffee, but results in a longer, refined cup of coffee. The taste differs and if you are looking to enjoy your cup while benefiting from the taste, the filter brew is most definitely for you. The espresso on the other hand gives you a kick of caffeine, however if drank black, it also comes with the bitterness from the crema. With that being said, if you drink your coffee white, both methods should do the trick for you.
If you are ever in doubt, feel free to click this link for a recommendation for filter and a recommendation for espresso beans. If you buy it already ground, please feel free to choose the preferred option from the drop-down menu. Also, feel free to get in touch as we are always happy to help you find your next favourite coffee.
]]>
Unfortunately, El Salvador is not a wealthy country, and of the biggest pillars of its economy is the coffee industry, therefore the effort they put into producing quality, delicious coffee beans is directly proportional.
The farm where we source our green coffee beans is called Chantuc.
As part of our corporate social responsibility we do the following:
We work with Partners of Change Ethiopia. It is a charity that puts their effort and passion into helping the disadvantaged families in Ethiopia. They are working towards equal rights, fighting hunger and poverty and offering them access to clean water. We are proud to be able to help them every year and support their cause.
We buy our green coffee beans through direct trade. We think it is important to have an established relationship with the farmers as it is in the benefit of both parties when it comes to long-term relationships. This way we make sure we pay more and we have always received quality in return that we then share with our customers.
We have coffees that are Cafe Femenino certified. This certification started as a mission to offer women farmers equal opportunities and help them grow their business. We are proud to have some coffees that hold this certification.
We are Rainforest Alliance Certified. This certification helps buyers deliver more value to farmers and help them grow in a sustainable manner, which subsequently has a positive impact on the communities and landscapes.
We added 120 solar panels on our roastery a few years ago in order to reduce our carbon footprint.
We switched to biodegradable cups and have them available in all of our shops, alongside recyclable bags.
We will not stop here, as we have a few more goals to work towards, while we will continue working on these and contributing to making a small change in the world.
We would like to thank to all of our customers who have supported us, as they helped us achieve our goals, which we are very grateful for!
]]>
The thing is, methods of adding flavour to coffees have been around for thousands of years. It was customary for people in the Middle East to add pepper, cardamom, dried fruit and many other spices to their coffees to give it that extra kick. It is still a tradition in Arabic countries and Turkey to add cardamom in their traditionally brewed coffee.
Italians also like to flavour their coffee with cocoa powder and an occasional shot of liquor. Due to the high number if Italian immigrants in America, the coffee-flavouring tradition was adopted there as well, however they stepped-up the game and created the syrups we all know and love. Th flavours created were based on the demand at the time at the beginning of the 1900's, such as lemon, anisette and the very popular grenadine. It was actually a best-seller until the beginning of 1990.
Other coffee chains have continued the trend and added their own input. Gloria Jean's Coffee mixed the freshly roasted beans with the syrup for example and it became very popular among their customers.
The trend continued to grow and more flavours were created that would go nicely in coffee. The words spread back to Europe, and this is how Monin became a household name creating the staple syrups for coffee: vanilla, caramel and hazelnut.
We created our own Christmassy coffees that have warm, subtle notes: Christmas Blend, Winter Spice and Festive Decaf. They are certainly worth a try if you have not had them yet.
Alternatively, if you have a sweet tooth, we have many Monin syrups to choose from and our mocha bundles that come with festive recipes.
]]>Earl Grey tea has as a base black tea, which originated in China thousands of years ago when they started boiling leaves in order to create hot drinks. It is said that variations of it have been around since then.
However, the most well-known story says that Charles Grey, 2nd Earl Grey and former prime minister of Britain was gifted a black tea with bergamot oil, which is the main ingredient that gives the tea the citrussy distinctive notes. He liked it so much that he asked British tea merchants to recreate the blend.
Bergamot oil comes from bergamot trees that are solely found in Calabria, Italy. It has unique notes of bitter orange and very sweet lime. Using this oil, the Earl Grey gains its floral and citrussy taste and scent.
Bergamot oil is used in many perfumes and essential oils, and its smell is believed to reduce anxiety levels.
We have our own version, the Duchess Earl Grey which is one of our most popular teas. W recommend that you try it if you haven't yet as it will surely not disappoint.
]]>Every country has a different culture when it comes to drinking coffee. In Italy a coffee means an espresso for example, while in the UK it is customary to drink longer coffees and majority of them contain milk or milk alternatives.
In Morocco people like to enjoy the coffee in the coffeeshop while chatting with their friends rather than having it in a take-away cup and on-the-go, while this is normal to happen in Western countries.
We have now introduced a new blend in our range called Nos-Nos, which is a variation of Nous-Nous, because we will add 40% robusta and 60% arabica beans.
They have been carefully selected to create a blend perfect for a morning caffeine rush, that comes from the robusta beans that have a higher level of caffeine.
Now that you know where we got the inspiration from, maybe you'll try to use our Nos-Nos in a Nous-Nous and enjoy this Moroccan delight!
It is mostly prepared using an espresso, however any brewing method would be ok to use in order to prepare the beverage.
]]>
Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, a German chemist first discovered in 1802 that the coffee beans' caffeine can be reduced drastically if he soaks them in benzene. After the discovery, there were no further studies about this, and it wasn't until 1905 that decaffeinated coffee became a thing.
Ludwig Roselius became famous for bringing decaf coffee on the market. When his father died, he thought it was because of coffee. He considered it to be evil and went on a mission to find a method to decaffeinate the coffee beans.
A shipment of coffee all soaked in seawater arrived in Germany, and he realized that the caffeine content was reduced, however the taste of the coffee was also altered.
Now that he had the information, he adapted the process by steaming the coffee beans and soaking them in benzene. The experiment was a success, so then he patented the process soon after.
Ever since, many brands adapted their coffees to be able to serve decaf as well, making coffee-drinking an all-day sort of habit.
We have a range of decafs from various origins, and a seasonal festive blend so that all of our customers can enjoy a cup of festive coffee.
]]>
It starts by adding coal in a brazier, lighting it up and roasting the green coffee beans on top. Later on, the roasted coffee is hand-grinded and boiled in a pot.
After the coffee is brewed, it needs to be cooled down before it can be served to the rituals' participants.
The grounds are brewed three times in total, and the cups are filled up to the top each time. It is believed to bring bad luck if you have less than 3 coffees.
The ritual is meant to bring blessings and prosperity for guests, or is viewed as a social activity. It is also popular to use incense during the ceremony and have a snack on the table, such as popcorn.
For us, it's more than a celebration. When you escape an ambush with a shot fired two meters away from you, every sip of coffee becomes a ritual of gratitude. And that is the story of Coffeelink's director, Azzouz.
If you haven not tried Ambush yet, it has a creamy, fruity taste and an intense aroma of milk chocolate, lavender, berries and lemon. It became a customer-favourite ever since adding it to the website.
Perhaps the story behind the ceremonies can inspire us all to enjoy every sip of coffee and create a ritual of our own.
]]>
Now, the more common type of of mocha that many have heard of or tried is the mocha coffee (or caffe), that is very similar to a latte. It is made with espresso, frothed milk and cocoa powder/syrup. Actually, a mocha can be made just with the powder and the espresso, but the first one is more popular as many of us have a sweet tooth and like to go for the one that is more dessert-like in taste.
The first mocha coffee was created the United States in the 18th century and it was inspired by Bicerin, a drink very popular in Turin, Italy.
It was made by mixing espresso, chocolate and milk or cream. It would look deconstructed until stirred for all the ingredients to be mixed together.
It is a drink that can be enjoyed by anyone as it can be customized. You can add solid chocolate and melt it before mixing with the shot of espresso, you can add add dark chocolate for a less sweeter taste. You can add the original mocha beans with cocoa powder/chocolate syrup and experience the most original version of the hot drink.
You can found Yemen Mocha Haraazi on our website, and the cocoa powder/chocolate syrup needed to make the perfect drink at home.
]]>The most used spices in the pumpkin spice pie mix are nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and mace, and they are originally from Indonesia. During the Dutch colonization, many of these spices have been brought to the Netherlands, where they were mixed and used in various recipes, mainly desserts.
The unique taste made the spices so popular, that years later the words spread and they were found used in cookbooks from England and North America. Each country had their own adaptation, but the taste was similar.
As the spices were sold separately mainly, in 1934 in America the mix of 'pumpkin pie spice' was invented to make the job of baking a pie much easier. Therefore, this is how the mix of spices was mainly associated with pumpkins and pumpkin-related recipes.
In 2003 it was used by Starbucks to create the staple 'Pumpkin Spice Latte', and the rest is history.
It is an easy to make drink, and this is why we created the perfect blend of beans and paired it with the syrup and frother. This way all of our customers get a chance at being their own barista and create the perfect drink for themselves and loved ones!
]]>We choose our coffees based on the environment they grow in, and the altitude. If the altitude is high, there isn't much need of human interference, which guarantees a more natural cup as well.
With the forest coffees, we know we are aiming for old-school coffee farming processes that treat the coffee cherries well. Our forest coffees come from Ethiopia, which is believed to be the origin place of arabica coffee genetics. With that being said, these are sought-after coffee beans that make for the perfect cup of coffee that can be enjoyed by everyone. The forest coffees we have complex tasting profiles and vary as well. We have coffees with chocolate and berry taste and some that are a mix of fruit and spice.
We have added the beans in our espresso blends as well, as the Ethiopian coffees make for a great long brewed coffee such as filter, cafetiere and dripper and this way they can be enjoyed by all of our customers by using any brewing method.
]]>Kenyan coffee is not as easily found, because its production has decreased over the years due to the climate change. It is now mostly sourced by roasters directly from smaller farms. With that being said, the hard work of the farmers and various processes that come into play, you are guaranteed to enjoy a quality cup when you choose to buy Kenyan coffee.
The bulk of production is on small to medium sized farms, fully washed on site and sun dried on trestles in the sun. Coffee is graded according to size and sold in lots a the weekly auction. There are two harvests each year, the main crop is picked between October and December and the secondary crop (fly crop) picked between June and August.
The coffee is grown on volcanic soil, which makes it really fertile and suitable for the best coffee cherries to be sourced. That also means it grows naturally.
Its growth is aided by the high altitude. The low temperatures make for a slowly but surely developing of the cherries that bring out the acidity, and the blackcurrant and fruity tastes.
]]>
When you choose to make your fresh coffee at home after you have found your preferred brewing method, you join millions of people in making coffee a ritual. While it is economical in the long-run it also gives you the flexibility to prepare it for your liking.
Now in this case you either buy the roasted beans and grind it yourself or buy the coffee already ground however there is another option that tends to be popular and even more economical: roasting green beans at home.
After experimenting various origins or blends you know what flavours you like and what to expect when you prepare your coffee. With green beans, you can choose the roast you like too, be it lighter, medium or dark and play with the varieties until you found the right match for you.
If you decide to start roasting your coffee at home, you can do it in the oven, in a skillet or even a popcorn machine. It is important that you have windows open and you turn on the extractor to allow the smoke to exit the room successfully. Extreme caution should be maintained while roasting for the first few times.
The beans have to be stirred for an even roast and roasted for 10-20 minutes depending on the beans and roast that you like.
There are three stages in the roasting process: the drying, yellowing and browning. Throughout these three, the beans dry, lose the water and start gaining their tasting notes and acidity. After the browning stage you will hear the first crack, and you should leave it a few more minutes for a light, light-medium or medium roast. For a dark roast you will need to hear the second crack.
The roasted beans need to be removed from the oven/pan/popcorn machine or roaster and left to cool down. When they are cooled down and reached room temperature place them in a sealed container.
For optimum quality and minimum risk, leave the beans for 3 days before using them. Different coffee origins come with different properties, so maybe it is worth doing a little research about the coffee of choice and the appropriate time to keep it stored and fresh. You can always get in touch for more information or maybe even visit us at the roastery.
One of the most important things when roasting is to do it in smaller batches to avoid uneven roasts or overloading your roasting equipment, but most importantly to have fun!
We sell all of our coffees as green beans. If you ever need help choosing the perfect one for you, feel free to get in touch and we will be happy to help! :)
]]>
Tea is the other favourite brew that we sell on our website, and it is hard to say no to a perfectly brewed cuppa, especially now that the cold season is starting.
We chose our Egyptian Mint tea as we know how popular it is among our customers and thought we'd talk about its history.
Mint is cultivated all around the world nowadays, however it was originally native to parts of Europe and the Middle East. All its properties were also widely used for medical purposes such as indigestion, toothaches and colds, and every country found more and more ways of making mint a big part of a healthy lifestyle.
It is associated rather often with Morocco, as mint tea seems to have become a tradition there. There are many stories about the tea making its way into the country. One of them says that it may have been introduced to locals in the 12th century by Phoenicians, and ever since then it became an important part of their lives. Moroccans drink the tea many times a days and it is a very important important part in social gatherings too.
Our tea is called Egyptian Mint because the leaf is dating back to the pharaohs. Regardless of its place of origin and where it became more popular and well-known, it is a hearty caffeine-free delicious tea. It's refreshing, cooling and it has flavourful notes that leave no bitter aftertaste. Perfect for cleansing the palate and energising the body after a meal.
]]>
Then you have coffee brewed in a French press, aeropress, filter moka pot or with an espresso machine, unless you like a traditionally made Turkish coffee. All of these methods bring out different flavours and even textures out of coffee.
Now moving on to the actual coffee, since this is the product that we choose for our preferred brew and brewing method. There are various blends and even flavoured coffees that people love, however connoisseurs argue that single origin coffees are the ones to go for.
When choosing a single origin coffee you choose a preferred country with its own farming methods for coffee that bring a unique taste to your coffee cup. The flavour profile, acidity, body and aroma are unique to that region, and once you find a personal favourite it is easy to create your favourite hot drink at home.
When you choose a blend you get a mixture of of origins and it may have a more balanced taste. It is not a one-size-fits-all, but it is easier to drink if you don't like a bold taste or aftertaste in particular. However, blends mix various beans with various profiles and they tend to be smooth and great for all brewing methods, due to the diversity of the beans. They are very popular in coffeeshops as their versatile nature can create a signature taste for a brand
Of course, there is no right or wrong when choosing coffee because we all have different preferences. In case you are ever in doubt, think of these characteristics and feel free to scroll through our website, as we have many single origins, and a few blends to try from :).
]]>Coffee production hasn't always been native to Rwanda. It started in the early 1900s and it was brought in the country by the Germans and then Belgium made coffee production compulsory.
Rwanda recognized the financial benefits of exporting coffee and continued to do so in the following years. This industry became of major importance to the country's economy and the biggest major export product.
Their economy saw a stable growth throughout the years, which allowed them to invest in the manufacturing process, which only led to higher quality coffee beans and a delicious commodity for all of us.
]]>
This beverage is called Yuenyeung in Hong Kong, Kopi Cham in Singapore and Squeeze in Ethiopia. People either brew the tea and add a shot of espresso and milk, or they brew the black tea stronger, mix it with coffee and condensed milk. Each country came up with their own way of preparing the beverage to enjoy it either hot or cold.
Luckily for you, we have a variety of single origins for coffee and we sell English Breakfast Tea too. If you want to brew them like any of the countries mentioned earlier, you can go for one of our Indonesian coffees or one of our many Ethiopian.
In order to prepare the beverage cold you could boil 3 grams of English Breakfast Tea in 5 ounces of water, so in result you end up with about 4 oz. Sweeten it with the sweetener of choice and add cinnamon/ginger/star anise or any condiments that you like for the extra kick of flavour, however be aware that the tea will be flavorsome as it is brewed at a higher ratio than normal. When you are ready you can pour it over a handful of ice cubes and add a shot of espresso (or coffee prepared in any brewing method, but we recommend that you make it stronger so it doesn't dilute too much), then add milk of choice (or even condensed if you'd like trying the Hong Kong style).
In order to prepare the hot drink you can choose the same recipe but add frothed milk and alternatively sprinkle cinnamon/chocolate powder on top for that extra flavour. This drink sounds like the right kick of caffeine we all need in the morning, as it it contains more caffeine than a regular coffee/tea that we normally have.
If you are looking for the products you need in order to try this out, you can find frothers, tea, coffee and tea strainers on our website. If you don't want English Breakfast, this mix would work really well with Duchess Earl Grey Tea as it has those bergamot and citrussy notes that would surely blend in nicely with a strong shot of coffee.
If you like your beverages sweet, check out our coffee syrups and pour a shot in instead of sweetening your tea (P.S. we also have sugar free syrups for a less guilty treat).
]]>It is one of the most sought-after coffees in the world. It has floral, light taste with a lack of bitterness which makes it unique. A common technique for the farmers is to grow the coffee trees before planting them, which makes the process much longer and thus, the quantity of coffee produced by Jamaica is not as high as other countries who offer us this great commodity. The growers focus on the maximum quality over quantity, and have to adjust to the high demand of this luxurious coffee.
The Blue Mountains are generally located between Kingston to the south and Port Antonio to the north. Rising to 2,256 metres (7,402 ft), they are some of the highest mountains in the Caribbean. The climate of the region is cool and misty with high rainfall. The soil is rich, with excellent drainage. This combination of climate and soil is considered ideal for coffee.
Grown on the gentle slopes of the Blue Mountains of Jamaica, it accounts for only 0.1% of coffee produced by Jamaica, and this is what makes it special and causes the price to be higher than many others.
If you have not tried it yet, it is most definitely worth a shot. If you want to assimilate a taste before purchasing, the fun fact is that the Jamaican Blue Mountain beans are the flavour base of Tia Maria.
]]>The name of the coffee comes from its place of origin, which is the Zege Peninsula, located in the South of Lake Tana. The place has a history of cultivating forest coffee, which throughout the years was kept, but because of various events, from political to change of climate, they are only growing it now on the peninsula. The locals feel that the coffee protects the forest while the forest protects the coffee, and this is one of the reasons they see coffee as being sacred.
Did we mention that this delight is exclusively available to Coffeelink in the UK? If you'd like to be part of this story while also helping a charity that aims to help women and children in Ethiopia, this is most definitely the coffee for you :). Fruits and spice are the main tasting notes, which makes it an excellent choice for when you are craving an afternoon treat.
We recommend this coffee to be brewed for cafetiere or filter, as this way you will be able to enjoy the taste better than you would using other brewing methods.
]]>V60-Easy to learn method that allows for maximum taste. The shape of the dripper creates a water flow that helps the ground coffee mix with the water a bit better. It captures the oils, which creates a cup of coffee that is easier to drink and for all tastes, as opposed to the cafetiere for example.
Bodum Travel Press- Essentially a cafetiere-on-the-go. Great for people who like making their own coffee just how they like it instead of stopping to grab a cup on the way to work. As explained above, it creates a cup opposite to the V60's. The oils stay in the coffee, and some granules make their way into the cup and that give it an extra kick of caffeine. This is certainly a gift for people who love that rush of energy and a stronger taste.
Aeropress Coffee Maker-It creates a clean taste, quite similar to a V60. However, it is different in many ways. The reason why people choose it is because it allows you to create a customized cup of coffee. Based on how much coffee you use versus water ratio, it can even create an espresso-like cup. The only con is it crates one cup only, which is more time-consuming when making several cups.
Moka Pot-This method is very popular and many people resemble the coffee to an espresso. The way to prepare it is by dismantling it and then add coffee in the basket inside then add water in the lower chamber. Then put them back together and on the hob. The pressure will make the coffee boil and move into the upper chamber. It creates a strong, thick coffee.
Bodum Pour Over-Very aesthetically pleasing and one of our best sellers. It is a rather quick brewing method for people who are in a rush in the morning. This requires coffee of a filter grind, however mixes the taste of French press and V60 as some of the particles do make their way into the cup, but certainly not like it would in a cafetiere. Another advantage is the permanent filter that is cost-effective in the long-run.
If your friend already has a favourite brewing method, then you can always choose our premium gift set or the decaf one, based on preference.
]]>Java is a term that has been used to refer to coffee in general, even though it is meant to be used for coffee beans coming from the Island of Java. It also has a historic importance as the coffee exported from Java quickly became a worldwide commodity.
Hailing from the remote island of Java, lying between Sumatra and Bali in Indonesia, comes Old Brown Java coffee. A fascinating story, with it’s unique ageing process, which was discovered in the 16th century, back when the Dutch introduced the first coffee seeds to the area. As the spice ships carried their cargo back to Europe, the raw beans would be stored away in the hold to act as ballast. After several months at sea, the result was a robust, full-bodied bean, tempered by the wood and the brine to produce an exceptional earthiness of flavour with a hint of sweetness.
With these in mind, it is safe to say a cup of Old Brown Java in the morning might be the perfect kick of caffeine to get your day started the right way. It is suitable for any brewing method that you prefer to use. Who knows? It might just be your next favourite coffee!
]]>