The Coffee of Oaxaca
"I love coffee, I love tea / I love the java jive and it loves me / Coffee and tea and the java and me / A cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, a cup, boy…" - The Ink Spots, 1940
The Coffee Culture of Oaxaca
“Oaxaca coffee is squarely not a “modern” coffee profile— its signal isn’t loud or head-turning, but rather clear and quiet — subtly elegant. It doesn’t scream at you with experimental processing methods like anaerobic fermentation, the well-branded honey process, or even the natural process in a region where natural is not the tradition. Nor does it showcase sensational modern flavors through the now widely-planted hybrid and/or highly-selected varieties across the world. …
Oaxaca coffees are the opposite of these nouveau profiles in the best possible way. Soft-spokenly old school, they are quiet while complex enough to make you want more: a coffee pro’s coffee.…”
https://redfoxcoffeemerchants.com/truly-classic-oaxaca-coffees/
Coffee is one of my few remaining vices. A morning vice (in a North Beach café once in a while). If I have coffee after noon, I’ll be sleepless that night. But it sure perks up my mornings.
My coffee world was reborn in Oaxaca. Oaxacan coffee is incredelible!
Reminds me of my discovery, maybe 10 years ago, of single malt scotch. A whole new ballgame.
I got this kilo of very dark beans in, I believe, Xalapa (or Coatepec), where Chilón went to get coffee for his two boys. It’s robust, earthy — two qualities I like in food, wine, places — and people.
For years, I’ve been getting Malabar Gold green espresso beans (from The Coffee Project <orders@coffeeproject.com>), and roasting them in a funky old roaster. I have a couple of months of roasted Oaxaca beans here and when they’re gone, I’ll see if I can get green beans from Oaxaca, or get more roasted beans (and keep in airtight jars).
Above: around Orizaba. You tap on your glass and the waiter comes by with hot milk to make a what the French call cafe au lait.
You date yourself with “Java Jive” Lloyd…but I’ve always liked that song. Another fun song related to drink and the “single malt scotch you discovered”…”Scotch and Soda” by The Kingston Trio 😉🥃
Oh now onto Oaxaca coffee….another culinary treat from the home of such marvelous and tasty food! 😋☕️