Saturday 28 December 2013

Tesco Finest Australian Skybury






This is a rare coffee as only 2,500 sacks are made each year. But rare doesn't equal good tasting or interesting. Australia is not a country suited to coffee growing - it doesn't have the high altitude or the rainfall that the best coffee enjoys. Great coffee tends to grow in hot, shady rainforests at heights above 2,000 feet. As Australia is not a good coffee growing region, it doesn't produce good coffee - the Skybury farm in Far North Queensland produces Australia's best, which - along with its rarity - gives it something of a reputation.

As this is an expensive coffee I followed the instructions on the packet. Unfortunately this made a coffee not just weaker than to my taste, but very watery - I doubt anyone would have appreciated it. Oddly, while the instructions are precise on how much coffee to add (one rounded desert spoon per person) it was less clear on how much water to add (no information at all). Does this one person drink a cup or a mug? Big mug or small mug? I assumed a small mug, and that was clearly wrong. That was a waste of coffee as it wasn't enjoyable - watery and powdery. I used my normal measurements this morning and made a good strong cup. This is an average quality coffee. It has mild chocolate, some lime and violets, caramel, and a powdery instant coffee bitterness in the finish. There's roast notes at the base, and some flowery vanilla and clove at the top. Work hard at the flavours and they'll come - but the main impression is of a standard coffee with a little too much powdery bitterness. There's nothing of interest here, and certainly nothing to justify the expense. It's drinkable, but then so are many other coffees at a fraction of the cost.


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Tesco tea and coffee

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