Java PlanetOrganic, Water Process Decaf Peru, Smooth Full Flavored Organic Coffee Beans, Low Acid, Whole Bean Coffee 1LB BagUSDA Organic

One of my favorite coffee regions is Latin America. This tastes great, smooth, perfect medium roast, low acidity, aroma is elightening. This was a good organic, toxin and mold free find. Pricy if your used to buying regular coffee from the grocery store, but this is worth it!

I didn't buy this because it's bird friendly, organic, low acid etc.....Those are just bonuses.I had this coffee at a friend's house and it was just delicious.I'm somewhat of a coffee snob so I don't mind spending extra on good stuff.This is one of my favorites. If you considering this then the answer is, YES it is worth every penny.

Today I received my first order of Java Planet Costa Rican dark roast, 3 weeks after it was roasted. I have been drinking Volcanica Sumatra Mandheling Reserve dark roast and love that but wanted to try another coffee that is very strong on environmental protection and fair trade. This Java Planet comes from LA Hacienda Astrud, where 90% of the land remains as a huge rain forest and the coffee trees are shaded as well by banana trees. Now ... the taste and getting there. Inseparable from a lovely odor when I opened the bag and poured all but my 8 oz cupful into an airtight vacuum container so that it will store well. Then ground with my conical burr grinder for my DeLonghi Alicia electric moka pot -- which I love and which is so much more consistent than my Bialetti classic. Added spring water (cold, but that is so controversial either hot or cold) and patted gently the ground coffee with a finger, not pressing but evening it out. Then screwed the pot top on and turned on its electricity. Three minutes later, my Costa Rico coffee was ready. Poured it in a 12 Oz glass and added with Zulay frother ($8) half and half froth to top the glass. Is it diluting the coffee too much to use a tablespoon of half and half instead of milk? I dont think so. This coffee is not at all overwhelmed. The taste comes through completely,just mellowed a little bit. I describe all this because maybe out there is some newcomer like me to quality coffee who will wonder just what I did to get such a perfect cup of coffee.The taste.... the chocolate note comes first, not as strong as Sumatra(or with Sumatra "pay attention" bold note) but inviting with a caramel touch following chocolate as the coffee slides over the roof of my mouth. And then another taste I can't describe but it is pleasant and unassuming. At the same time it is lovely as it lingers. After that comes the swallow, which invites the next sip. There is not the slightest bitterness, which sometimes can happen when a dark roast is ground too fine.Did I mention that this Costa Rican dark roast is low acid and low caffeine so there is unlikely to be any avid indigestion or coffee jitters? Since this coffee invites me to have more, that is also a plus. And it is sometimes misunderstood that dark roasts are less likely to create acid indigestion or caffeine jitters even though the taste is "strong." I can also feel good about the wildlife on 90% of the rainforest reserve that brought these coffee beans from farmers treated fairly. I am impressed by the environmental and fair trade conscientiousness of LA Hacienda Astrud, which created the preserve by donating its own land and has been recognized by UNESCO and Smithsonian.Three cheers for Java Planet for carrying a Costa Rico coffee that has it all! Clearly I will order again, probably going to the Java Planet website to do so.

Update: I made this using twice as much as I previously used. It tasted pretty good.I am so disappointed. This coffee was just delivered today and I eagerly made a cup. Weak, no aroma or flavor. I figured maybe I didn’t use enough coffee so I made another cup using quite a bit more. Same thing. I can’t believe I wasted $23 on this. Medium dark roast with a balanced body and big flavor. I don’t think so.

First time trying this brand--Organic Sumatra Dark Roast whole bean. A few months ago I stopped buying the Sumatra organic and Sumatra non-organic varieties from another roaster when, although initially very good, it became increasingly bitter, both varieties, and they had a problem with their one way valves in the bag (not sure if that was the real problem). So I hadn't ordered from them for a few months and was using Illy Intenso. I decided to try this Sumatra. At the same time I ordered one more bag from the previous seller, hoping they fixed their problems, but the Sumatra dark roast from that company was even worse than before--extremely bitter. I just threw that bag away not even bothering with them. But the Java Planet Organic Sumatra is excellent , and even though it's sold through a third-party shipped by Amazon, it was about four days fresher roast date than the bitter one I ordered direct from the other roaster. (I inadvertently gave a little hint in my last sentence as to who that is)). I will order this again, after I use up the three cans of Illy Intenso Dark Roast which I had been drinking, and bought as insurance when trying the Sumatra again.

Great tasting coffee, and healthy. Organic and shade grown means no pesticides or other toxins; low acid, free of heavy metals and mold. (90% of commercial coffees contain mold.) Self- sustaining environment that protects and supports wildlife. Hand picked beans selected at optimum ripeness. Workers are paid a fair wage that improves their quality of living for their families and their villages. Single origin insures quality beans. Definitely worth the price to get a superior coffee, and to know you are supporting the local people who hand pick the beans; It is a win-win.