San Rafael, California-based coffee roaster Equator Coffees & Teas has five cafes in the Bay Area and a national reputation for exceptional coffees. With the philosophy that, “every cup of coffee yearns to tell a story,” Equator finds the right mixture of region, climate, altitude, soil, and production method to bring out a wide range of flavors.
Started in 1995, this sustainability-focused company was named the 2016 Small Business of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Over the years, Equator has built strong relationships with coffee producers, providing incentives and micro-loans to help farmers innovate. The result is a rotating selection of some of the best beans from Latin America and Africa.
Here are five coffees from Equator’s stellar line-up.
Panama Elida – Green Tip – Gesha Natural
I have now tasted the holy grail of coffees: the elusive gesha! This beautiful, delicate gem lives up to its $90/lb. hype. The flavor has complex layers. It’s sweet and vibrant with notes of strawberry, passion fruit, jasmine, and rose. Grown in the Alto Quiel, Boquete, region of Panama, the carefully cultivated beans smell like fresh strawberry jam in the bag.
I brewed the sample with a Chemex (weighing, measuring, and timing the process). While it was brewing, the coffee smelled like melting chocolate and then strawberries again in the cup. Magical! Equator’s gesha coffees are only available on rare occasions. Keep an eye out and pounce.
