PODcast #42 : Espresso Pods News

Welcome to The PODcast, PodMerchant's newsletter of espresso pod tips, news, education, and deals. Back issues of The PODcast are available online. This newsletter is published in HTML with images and styled text. If you are reading the "text only" version, you are missing much of the content.

Espresso Elucidations

The Delicate Cup

In this second of a three part series, I want to talk about the qualities of what I call "The Delicate Cup." As I get a lot of requests for strong espresso, in Part I, I started out the series with the Strong Cup. Interestingly, a larger portion of sales are for 100% Arabica coffees. Compared to Robusta, the Arabica bean, besides having 44 vs. 22 chromosomes, is less acidic & astringent, has less caffeine, and fewer objectionable solubles that can lead to bitterness (see PODcast Issue #12). Arabicas are rightfully more expensive as well because they can only be grown at higher altitudes (Robusta is a coastal crop whereas Arabica is grown in mountains).

100% Arabica coffees may be blended with other Arabicas, or presented as single-origin coffees — say, Colombian. The Arabica bean, unblended with Robusta, yields a more fragrant and aromatic coffee. As such, it is delicate — the flavors are subtle and mellow. 100% Arabica espresso's characteristics may require learned appreciation. The consumer may not at first be tuned into the subtle aromas and flavors that it has to offer. I would venture to say that such coffees are easier to mess up in brewing than would be blends. Since the desirable traits are delicate, they can be fairly easily lessened or destroyed by non-optimum brewing. So, do it right! PODcast Issue #36 and Issue #39 discuss proper extraction.

What about the roast? Well, a dark roast will tend to damage or mask the subtlety of the bean and replace it with roast generated flavors. So if you are looking for what a 100% Arabica coffee really has to offer, you will want to explore the lighter roasted coffees, which tend to be those from the northern part of Italy. For reference, here is our PodMerchant Map of Roasters.

If you prefer your espresso under milk, then 100% Arabica coffees may not be your best bet. These are coffees best enjoyed straight, although most of them can still provide enough flavor for a cappuccino.

My recommendations for "The Delicate Cup." espresso pods? I think the quintessentially delicate espresso would be the Danesi Gold. Other recommended 100% Arabicas would be the Lucaffe Mr. Exclusive, Lucaffe Messico, and Lucaffe Colombia. Traveling further south we get to the Neapolitan roasts: PodMerchant 100% Arabica, Caffe Borbone Gold, and Izzo 100% Arabica.

Interested in the Delicate Cup? Right this way to our listing of Delicate Cup espresso pods.

Next month, "The Balanced Cup".

PodMerchant News

New products! Our sea shipment from Italy arrived recently and we have two new products on our shelves.

First, we have a hearty blend, Lucaffe's Mamma Lucia. Mamma Lucia is one of the "strong cup" coffees that we discussed in PODcast Issue 41. It's a great morning coffee. If you like PodMerchant Stout or Izzo Vivi, then you should try Mamma Lucia.

Lucaffe Giamaica Blue Mountain: We finally broke down and imported a small amount of this ultra-exclusive and very expensive coffee. Jamaica Blue Mountain is considered one of the few single origin-coffees with a balanced flavor profile. The price of JMB can climb out of sight if weather or growing conditions during a given season are off. Here's what Lucaffe, the roaster, has to say about Giamaica Blue Mountain:

"This is the most prestigious coffee in the world. Before being roasted, its beans are a green-blue color, shipped in small wooden drums. It is produced at a height of 2000 m. on the island of Jamaica. Its body, aroma, scent, and acidity are all perfectly balanced and the long-lasting flavor that develops on the palate is something to experience."

PodMerchant has just posted our Page on FaceBook. Check us out. If you have a FaceBook account, we'd appreciate you becoming a "fan" of PodMerchant.

PodMerchant Featured Product

New at PodMerchant — Lucaffe's fabulous futuristic glassware. A 2 ounce Demitasse Cup and saucer, an 8 ounce Cappuccino Cup / coffee mug, and a 10 ounce Latte Cup / tall coffee mug.

PodMerchant Coupons

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• Only one coupon per subscriber per issue.
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• For more information, please see our PODcast Coupon FAQ.

For 10% off your next order — Enter code: XXXXXXX (note, that is "P-C-Zero") and please press the "Redeem Coupon" button or the coupon will not be entered.

That's all for this issue of the PODcast.


Kevin Garrett, The PodMerchant.