Buying coffee can be a minefield. With so many brands, roasts and varieties on the supermarket shelves, it can be mesmerising. One that stands out for all the right reasons is Blue Turaco coffee. So what is it that gives this bold brand an unusual edge?
What is Blue Turaco coffee?
Blue Turaco is one of the few farmer-owned Ugandan coffee brands currently available in the UK. The brain-child of Wycliffe Sande, the 100% Ugandan robusta coffee aims not only to make an impact on our taste buds, but also on the communities from which he sources some of the beans.
As a child, Sande picked coffee to pay for his school fees. He learned first-hand just how much work goes into coffee growing, and just how little money the farmers ultimately make. In adulthood, Sande moved to the UK, was struck by how little Ugandan Robusta coffee was available, and made up his mind to change that.
Not only did he want to bring the coffee he enjoys to the UK market, but Sande also wanted to use the opportunity to fairly pay the farmers he intended to work alongside, and to help reduce childhood hunger in the village schools of the coffee-growing communities like the one he grew up in.
Blue Turaco: Helping to spread the wealth
Growing some of the coffee on his own plantation, and sourcing the rest directly from other farmers nearby, Sande ensures he pays them fairly for the produce and works with them to create quality beans.
Blue Turaco also donates 20p – the cost of two school meals – from every pack of coffee sold to Ugandan village schools to help try to eliminate child hunger, something which Sande experienced in his youth.
Blue Turaco: Is the coffee any good?
Available as whole beans
or ground coffee, Blue Turaco has you covered, whether you have a bean-to-cup machine or just a cafetiere. The beans are small, which means they grind smoothly, and any machine can handle them with ease.
The aroma of the coffee is bold and intense, setting you up for the equally intense flavours you’ll find in each cup. Robusta coffee has a higher caffeine content than Arabica coffee, which adds to the intensity, so be prepared for that extra kick if you’re affected by caffeine.
Once the coffee has been brewed, there are some lovely notes of dried fruits and cocoa, with nice depth. There is a little acidity, but it never strays into bitterness. As the coffee cools slightly, a little more sweetness comes through, but not enough to upset the well-balanced flavours. Each mouthful ends with a little hint of warm buttery toast to round out the flavour.
Blue Turaco coffee: The verdict
During our tasting, we found that both the beans and the ground coffee were consistently high quality, producing a great cup every time. The flavours are bold enough to make a good latte without being lost, but not so in-your-face as to put off those who like a milder coffee.
Blue Turaco coffee is a reliable all-rounder that will satisfy most coffee drinkers. It has flavour and heart that come through readily, and sitting at a fairly middling price point, you’ll get a good amount of flavour for your money. It has a social and ethical conscience, too, making your cup of coffee worth even more.
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