Cafédirect, a UK beverage company, has launched its Smooth, Lively, and Intense Roast Coffees in redesigned packaging.

These coffees are expertly crafted by Cafédirect’s own Q-graders (coffee experts) to showcase the rich flavor of the beans and highlight specific notes. Q grading guarantees consistency in coffee evaluation, much like sommeliers do for wines.

“The exciting aspect of crafting these blends is our ability to select coffees that complement one another. Blending different varieties and regional beans not only allows Cafédirect to tailor the coffee to a particular taste profile but also provides you with a consistent cup of coffee,” explained Georgios Kokkalis, Q Grader and Production Manager at Cafédirect UK.

Cafédirect presented three coffee blends at the Allspice Institute, a renowned culinary and cooking school:

Cafédirect Smooth Roast (strength 3)

This smooth, 100% Arabica coffee is a crowd-pleaser, blending Central and South American coffee beans. It offers a milk chocolate aroma with natural peanut, brown sugar, and gingerbread flavors. This was the first Cafédirect coffee to receive the Fairtrade label.

Cafédirect Lively Roast (strength 4)

Achieving a perfect harmony between the body of Arabica and the strength of Robusta beans, Cafédirect Lively Roast skillfully combines Latin American and African beans. It presents a caramel popcorn aroma with hints of tamarind and dried orange flavors, ideal for those who appreciate a full-bodied brew with a creamy mouthfeel.

Cafédirect Intense Roast (strength 5)

Cafédirect Intense Roast is a superior blend of African and Latin American beans, balancing rich coffee flavors with a smooth toffee finish and a mint chocolate aroma. Strong and full-bodied, this Arabica and Robusta blend delivers natural licorice and tobacco flavors. Kokkalis recommended enjoying this blend with sugar and milk.

Kokkalis led a coffee tasting session for the three blends at the packaging launch. The Intense Roast emerged as a personal favorite for its aroma and flavor. As an infrequent coffee drinker, a lower-strength coffee was initially anticipated to be more appealing. Lighter roasts, with their lower strength ratings, tend to have less intense flavors.

Cafédirect further showcased the diverse flavor profiles of their three blended and ground coffees through a range of coffee-infused dishes. The company partnered with chefs from the Allspice Institute to recreate both savory and sweet recipes, including:

• Kopi udang (coffee prawns)
• Chicken lollipop with coffee sauce
• Coffee smoked tandoori chicken
• Coffee religieuse (dessert)
• Coffee Damier cake (a dessert with a checkerboard pattern when sliced)
• Silent screamer (a drink), a twist on traditional coffee tarik with coconut milk and cinnamon.

The selection also included coffee-flavored chendol ice cream and coffee-flavored hoon kueh, a Peranakan steamed green bean flour dessert often mixed with corn and served in a banana leaf.

Cafédirect’s coffee beans are responsibly sourced to ensure optimal quality and a superb taste profile, delivered freshly ground to consumers. From bean to cup, Cafédirect’s core principle is “100% Fairtrade”.

The company’s coffee is premium-priced to support sustainable growing practices and a better quality of life for their growers. “It was about establishing a direct relationship with coffee growers from the outset,” stated Olivia Minter, Export Manager at Cafédirect UK.

She shared that Cafédirect has directly distributed over 50% of its profits to 280,000 growers across 39 partner organizations in 12 countries. In 2017 alone, they contributed £500,000 to the Fairtrade Foundation. In addition to the Fairtrade Premium, Cafédirect pays 36% above the Fairtrade minimum for Organic Premiums and 46% above for Quality Premiums.

“Cafédirect incorporates environmental and social initiatives into our overall business strategy. Our social goals for 2020 encompass projects that will impact 1.5 million farmers, with 50% being women and 40% youth. This approach supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to enhance food security, climate resilience, and poverty reduction. We aim to achieve a 100% increase in farmer incomes and 70% farmer confidence in combating climate change,” she added.

Through their collaboration with charity partner Producers Direct, Cafédirect has positively impacted 600,000 farmers and their families since 2009. Producers Direct empowers producers to navigate market challenges through farmer-led training, knowledge sharing, access to finance, and data-driven decision-making. Today, these smallholder farmers have experienced a 50% income increase, and 90% have seen improvements in crop quality and yields.

Recipe for Coffee Damier Cake, created by the Allspice Institute for Cafédirect:

Preparation time: 60 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Serves: 6 to 12

INGREDIENTS part 1:

Chocolate Genoa Sponge

• 600g marzipan (50% finely ground almonds)
• 420g eggs
• 50g plain flour
• 50g corn starch
• 70g cocoa powder
• 160g egg white
• 180g melted butter

METHOD:

1. Combine marzipan and whole eggs.
2. Gently incorporate flour and starch.
3. Fold in melted butter, followed by cocoa powder mixed with egg white. Set aside.

INGREDIENTS part 2:

Coffee Genoa Sponge

• 600g marzipan (50% finely ground almonds)
• 420g eggs
• 70g plain flour
• 70g corn starch
• 180g melted butter
• 30g Cafédirect Intense Roast Coffee

METHOD:

1. Combine marzipan and whole eggs.
2. Gently incorporate flour and starch.
3. Fold in melted butter, followed by Cafédirect Intense Roast Coffee.
4. Pipe alternating strips of chocolate and coffee Genoa sponge batter in layers into a 20cm x 30cm biscuit frame.
5. Bake at 180°C for 10-12 minutes.

INGREDIENTS part 3:

Chocolate Ganache

• 800g 35% cream
• 100g glucose syrup
• 1kg dark chocolate
• 200ml softened butter

METHOD:

1. Heat cream and glucose to a boil, then remove from heat.
2. Gently incorporate chocolate and softened butter.
3. Cool to room temperature before evenly spreading a layer onto the cake using a spatula.

Availability:

In Singapore, Cafédirect coffee is available at Cold Storage, Fairprice Finest, Fairprice Xtra, Jasons, Market Place, and Redmart for S$8.70 per 227g pack.