Where to Find the Best Organic Coffee Beans - Are Galapagos Organic Coffee Beans Good?

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The Unique Coffee Environment

Coffee beans are truly particular about their growing environment. First, they must live at high altitudes (elevation), require a warm and humid climate, need abundant sunshine while being accompanied by shade, preferably have fertile soil and abundant water sources, enjoy coolness but not too cold, like warmth but not too hot... Places that meet these conditions are mostly located in the tropical regions between 25° south latitude and 25° north latitude centered around the Earth's equator, which is what we often call the Coffee Belt.

Famous Coffee Origins and Introduction to Galapagos Coffee

We are familiar with famous coffee-producing countries like Ethiopia and Kenya in Africa; Brazil and Colombia in South America; Panama and Guatemala in Central America; Indonesia and Yemen in the Asia-Pacific region... These are relatively well-known coffee-producing countries, and many of our favorite specialty coffees come from these countries. This time, I'd like to introduce you to one you might not hear about often—Galapagos coffee. Does it sound unfamiliar? Let me put it another way—Ecuador, does that sound more familiar?

Ecuador and Galapagos Coffee Characteristics

Ecuador is a country located in South America, with coffee beans divided into two varieties: Galapagos and Gigante, both characterized by large grains and heavy weight. Galapagos is the Spanish pronunciation, translated in Chinese as Colon Island. In terms of country, it belongs to Ecuador, but the coffee produced there is rarely labeled with Ecuador's name. Although Galapagos belongs to Ecuador, it is located in the Pacific Ocean, more than 1100 kilometers away from the mainland, covering an area of over 7500 square kilometers. It is an archipelago composed of 13 small islands and 19 reefs formed by the solidification of lava from underwater volcanic eruptions, extending from the South American continent into the Pacific Ocean for 1000 kilometers.

Unique Growing Conditions of Galapagos Coffee

Coffee on the Galapagos Islands has its own unique characteristics. It was brought to the islands around 1870, and now 150 years later, the coffee varieties are still the original coffee species planted at that time—the ancient Bourbon variety, never having undergone any artificial hybrid cultivation. Moreover, the coffee on the islands is mostly planted in mountainous areas around 500 meters above sea level. Friends who have read our coffee bean series should know that the higher the altitude, the better the coffee quality—generally, it needs to reach 1700 to 2100 meters above sea level to be called high-quality coffee beans. Isn't 500 meters far from this standard?

Special Microclimate and Coffee Quality

This is what makes Galapagos coffee unique. Because the islands' location is extremely special, situated at the intersection of the Peruvian cold current in the south and the equatorial warm current in the north, the local area has formed a small ecological environment affected by these cold and warm ocean currents. The climate at 500 meters here is already equivalent to the climate at 900-1800 meters inland. This terrain is very suitable for growing high-acidity Strictly Hard Bean (SHB) coffee, which is also key to superior coffee quality.

Market Position and Development

Galapagos coffee is of excellent quality and mainly exported to Nordic countries like the Scandinavian Peninsula, which is why we know little about it in our country. As coffee is consumed by people worldwide, the global coffee industry has also moved toward mass production models. Small-scale cultivation models like Galapagos actually limit its development. Without expanding scale, it might eventually be forced to abandon due to lack of profitability. Coffee plantation owners here also realized this problem and gradually expanded their estate areas in the early 1990s to make better use of their unique advantageous conditions.

Organic Certification and Flavor Profile

Today, the Galapagos Islands are designated as a national park by Ecuador and listed as "Natural Heritage of Humanity" by UNESCO. Being far from the mainland, it largely avoids the impact of human activities on nature. To maintain the local natural ecosystem as much as possible, Ecuador has legally prohibited the use of various artificial fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides. Therefore, Galapagos coffee beans are all organic coffee beans, completely free of any chemical agents during cultivation. They are recognized as natural, green organic coffee beans. This naturally grown coffee has a mild and rich taste, sweet with acidity, with light floral and fruity notes along with caramel aroma.

Tasting Notes and Recommendations

In fact, most island coffees are well-liked, but their low production and high prices keep them distant from the general public. Recently, this Galapagos appeared on our students' coffee tasting list. After medium roasting, it demonstrates excellent balance, gentle acidity, and refreshing floral notes, like jasmine and early autumn osmanthus, truly having some Blue Mountain style! If you like Blue Mountain style and also consider cost-effectiveness, then try Galapagos organic coffee beans.

FrontStreet Coffee: A roastery in Guangzhou with a small shop but diverse bean varieties, where you can find various famous and lesser-known beans, while also providing online shop services. https://shop104210103.taobao.com

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473