Equal Exchange Colombian Organic Coffee Review
Colombia as a country is known for Hugo Chavez, Medellin drug cartels, and thankfully its legal export of coffee. Some of the best coffee in the world is grown here, and I’m forever thankful for some of their wonderful blends. A cup of Colombian coffee should be an eye opening experience, with robust flavors that will tantalize your taste buds more than any other. Equal Exchange Coffee has always been high quality, as they produce a number of blends, and all of their brews are “fair trade.” Instead of offering low bids like behemoth companies do, they actually make sure farmers responsible for harvesting the beans, are compensated properly for their hard work. You can drink with your conscience, and help someone who’s desperately in need of economic assistance. Fair Trade doesn’t mean sacrificing quality, in fact most blends under these conditions are among the best.
Equal Exchange coffees are sold online, and throughout numerous churches and other philanthropic organizations across the United States. They are immensely popular due to their fair trade status, and I’ve yet to be disappointed by one of their blends. The Colombian Organic is free of pesticides associated with other blends, and costs a whopping $20 for a 12 ounce bag. You could say that this is comparable to drug prices, as this kind of expense should guarantee a “morning high” from this cup of coffee. Unfortunately its the weakest cup of Colombian I’ve ever had, and cheap store brands deliver a stronger boost.
The lack of potency is disappointing enough, and you could drink cup after cup, and barely notice any cure for your late night tossing and turning. It just doesn’t provide the bounce necessary to get your mind ready after waking up, and the taste is rather disgusting. Its watery, and while there are some hints of chocolate and a bit of sweetness, its bland when consumed in its original state. I did add sugar to it, but this didn’t make any difference, and the aftertaste stays with you for hours. There’s a lot of acidity, and if it was properly balanced it might be alright, but the heartburn this brew caused will guarantee it never being purchased again.
It is a shame that this Equal Exchange blend failed to live up to its high expectations. I can’t find any reason to recommend the Colombian Organic, because its overpriced and lacks the refinement of even a generic brand. Be sure to avoid this one, because even when the coffee machine is set for robust strength, it won’t make any difference. Its just a weak cup of Java, that shouldn’t be sold, especially at such a high cost. Hopefully the folks at Equal Exchange will realize this, because while no company is perfect, this is one brew that could sour a potential consumer over just one cup.
I don’t want to leave you with a “bad taste in your mouth” lol, so I will tell you where to get the absolute BEST organic Colombian coffee – Nectar of Life. Nectar of Life only roasts certified organic coffees, and they’ve been doing so since 2003. They pride themselves on providing truly “gourmet” organic Fair Trade coffees. They offer many single origin coffees as well as complex blends. Their special “Chocolate Roast” for their Colombian coffee is one of the best out there. Give them a try and you won’t be disappointed!