Are you a coffee lover?
If so, when you sample a new coffee you’ve not yet tried before, is there a tasting ritual you deploy, much like that of wine lovers: swishing the glass, and examining the colour and texture? I do. Though I have my usual list of Nespresso capsules I drink on a regular basis, from time to time, I’m given an opportunity to experience new and exciting releases. And when I am drinking a type of coffee for the first time, I like to close my eyes, smell the aromas, and as I’m consuming my first sip, I like to imagine being transported to the hidden origins of these special creations.
In early May, Nespresso launched Explorations 1, their first limited edition of two extremely rare and fine coffees from Kenya and Laos. Due to its popularity, I’m happy to share that the coffee experts at Nespresso has discovered and curated two additional ‘hidden gems’, offering coffee lovers yet another chance to experience some of the world’s finest coffees with the release of Explorations 2.
The Explorations 2 coffees, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe and Colombia Aguadas are said to have perfect flavour profiles and aromas. And both of these coffees are Pure Origins, meaning that the coffee has been sources from a single farm or a group of farms in a very precise region.
Though both coffees have their similarities in terms of uniqueness and stature, however, their hidden stories are very different and that’s why they’ve been purposely paired together.
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe was once well known to be a coffee treasure, however, after changes in trade routes and how coffee was sold in communal lots, the unique bergamot citrus and jasmine blossom that this coffee carried became diluted and difficult to find. The Nespresso coffee experts searched through endless lots in order to bring back the true aromas of Yirgacheffe. This coffee has a light roast with hints of citrus and floral and when enjoyed black can bring out an enhanced coffee profile, though I like it with a splash of warm milk in mine!
As I consumed my first sip, I imagined being set back in the heritage of Ethiopia, joining the experts of Nespresso on a journey of hunting for the finest and nearly extinct tasting notes.
Columbia Aguadas offers a contrasting hidden story. Rather than a once sought after coffee like its duo dynamic Yirgacheffe, Aguadas was discovered by the Nespresso experts during a routine coffee cupping session (you can refer to my past post about coffee cupping for more info). The experts worked alongside cooperative coffee farmers to investigate what led to the unexpected coffee and uncovered that it was due to a longer fermentation period caused by colder nights that occurred high up in the Aguadas mountains.
During this first sip, I imagined being transported to the tops of the Aguadas mountains in Colombia, searching for the perfect green coffee.
It is so incredible to learn about the tales that surround each coffee Nespresso releases. The discovery and green cupping process continues to fascinate me.
The Explorations Series is only available in small batches twice a year. If you’ve not had the chance to try this, I recommend bringing home a duo pack (20 capsules for $40) while limited quantities last.
