Tanzania Gaia Estate Coffee
CUPPING NOTES FROM OUR HEAD ROASTER
In the cup, expect a dark chocolate and walnut sweetness followed up by a concord grape, fruit-forward finish that brings a unique and satisfying balance of flavor.
ORIGIN
Farm: Gaia Estate
Region: Oldeani Village, Karatu District
Process: Washed
Variety: SL-28, Ruiru-11, Bourbon, Batian, Kent
Elevation: 1650-1800masl
Certifications: Rainforest Alliance Certified
WHAT DOES "RAINFOREST ALLIANCE CERTIFIED" MEAN?
A Rainforest Alliance Certified product means it was produced using methods that support the three pillars of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental. Independent, third-party auditors—critical to the integrity of any certification program—evaluate farmers against requirements in all three areas before awarding or renewing certification.
PROCESS
This Tanzania Gaia Estate Coffee is a washed process coffee that uses the addition of citric acid during fermentation. Cherry is picked, sorted and depulped daily, and the the parchment is submerged in water with the addition of tartaric acid to help direct the fermentation process, which is halted when the pH reaches 4.0. The coffee ferments for 36-54 hours depending on the relative climate.
After fermentation is complete the coffee is washed clean, graded by density in a water channel, dried in the shade for 2 days, and then dried for another 10 days in alternating shade and direct sun. The result is a delicious microlot of coffee with dark chocolate and walnut sweetness and a concord grape, fruit-forward finish that brings a unique and satisfying balance to the cup.
FARM
Gaia Farm is a 620-hectare family-owned estate located in the Karatu district of Tanzania. Gaia is one of two farms managed by Neel and Kavita Vohora -- both siblings and multi-generation coffee growers as well as agricultural entrepreneurs in an extremely unique part of East Africa. Both farms are cultivated along the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater which is the largest unbroken caldera in the world and features a breathtakingly scenic landscape of escarpments and fertile open range that has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.
The Vohora family has been in the coffee business for over 60 years, and they are committed to sustainable farming practices that preserve the natural beauty of their land. Their farms are Rainforest Alliance certified, and they employ over 50 full-time workers to maintain the farm and produce high-quality coffee.
THE PRESS COFFEE STORY
More Than An Online Store
The Press Coffee story begins in 2008 with Steve Kraus and wife Tram Mai who had a passion for great coffee. Not finding the quality they were looking for, they decided to start a specialty coffee shop of their own. Opening just months before the recession of 2008 Steve and his wife were tested from the very start. Fortunately, their passion and commitment for making great coffee won the loyalty of their customers and kept them afloat. They were able to survive what was a difficult time for many much stronger and Press Coffee was born.
Over 14 years and 9 valley locations later, Press Coffee has become an Arizona staple among specialty coffee enthusiasts while earning national recognition for their coffees. Although Press has evolved over the years, they have stayed true their beginnings: sourcing the best possible product, using only the best equipment, but most importantly finding team members that share the Press passion for amazing coffee. Remaining quality driven and community focused Press Coffee not only supports Arizona charities but the coffee farmers around the world supplying our passion.
WHY CHOOSE PRESS COFFEE?
We share our passion for specialty coffee by providing the highest quality coffee, service and knowledge with our customers and community every day. We roast our coffee Monday - Friday to ensure the freshest cup, whether you're in one of our cafes or your brewing coffee by PRESS at home.
COFFEE + ORDERING FAQ
What is specialty coffee?
Specialty coffee is a category of coffee that is formally rated and scored at least 80 out of 100. Coffee is scored using a scaled that has been created by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) to establish specific desirable attributes within coffee. You’ll often hear the term “specialty coffee shop” which refers to a cafe that serves exclusively coffee that scores over 80pts.
How do I brew my coffee?
Every way to brew coffee can be a great way! We use a Chemex in our cafes, but there are more methods available than we could begin to mention on this FAQ. The keys to great coffee for any method are grinding fresh, using great water, and maintaining an ideal ratio of coffee to water.
Is your coffee fair trade?
With every coffee we purchase, we are committed to positively impacting the communities we work with on the social, economic, and environmental level. This includes supporting sustainable growing practices, paying fair prices, and sourcing through direct relationships. With every coffee we source, we are committed to improving the lives of smallholders farmers, combating climate change, and the preservation of heirloom coffee varieties.
Is your coffee organic?
We always aim to buy the best coffees available and establish long-term farming relationships. Often times these coffees are certified organic, although they are always coming from farms that have good farming practices. If a coffee is certified organic you will see that noted on the coffee’s page.
What is the roast level of your coffee?
We roast each coffee differently from each other to bring out the best qualities of each lot. Our coffees are a medium to light roast, which promotes more flavor from the beans.
What's the shelf life of coffee?
Coffee is an agricultural product at its core and, although coffee never spoils, its quality does diminish over time. We recommend using coffee within 60 days of its roast date, although we’ve had excellent cups of coffee upwards of 90 days.
What's the best way to store my coffee?
We typically recommend storing coffee in sealed Press coffee bags, in a cool, dark place like a cabinet. For larger quantities of coffee like our 5lb bags, you may choose to use an air-tight container to reduce oxidation and promote a longer shelf life.
When will my order ship?
All of our coffees are roasted to order. We roast, package, and ship coffees Monday - Friday. We typically roast on the 1st business day after and order is placed, package and ship on the 2nd. Ex. If you order on Tuesday, your coffee will be roasted Wednesday and shipped Thursday.
What is your return policy?
Because our coffee is a consumable product with a limited shelf life, we are unfortunately unable to accept returns or exchanges for online orders and subscriptions except under certain conditions such as:
- You received an incorrect item from what was ordered
- Your item was damaged in transit
If you received an incorrect item or your item was damaged in transit, please contact us by emailing info@presscoffee.com with the following information:
Your Full Name, Your Order ID, An attached photo(s) of the item(s) received
Press Coffee customer support is available Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:00pm AZ MST. We kindly ask that you do not call our retail locations for assistance with an online order as online order fulfillment and customer support is managed by a separate team. Thank you.
Help? I have a problem with my order.
Please contact us. Our friendly customer support team is available to assist Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm AZ MST.
BROWSE AVAILABLE COFFEE
With every coffee we source, we are committed to improving the lives of smallholder farmers, combating climate change, and supporting the preservation of heirloom coffee varieties.
With every coffee we source, we are committed to improving the lives of smallholder farmers, combating climate change, and supporting the preservation of heirloom coffee varieties.
THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS BAD PRESS
We share our passion for specialty coffee by providing the highest quality coffee, service and knowledge with our customers and community every day. We roast our coffee Monday - Friday to ensure the freshest cup, whether you're in one of our cafes or your brewing coffee by PRESS at home.
WE COULD TALK COFFEE ALL DAY
Have a question about our coffee or placing an order online? Press Coffee customer support just an email away.
Customer Support Available Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm AZ MST