Thank you McDonald’s for arranging this special tour of Gavina.
I love a good story. Almost as much as I love a good cup of coffee.
Once upon a time there was a man who had a coffee farm in Cuba. He emigrated to the U.S. with his family and settled in Southern California. Luckily, he was able to do what he loved… take his experience and establish a successful coffee roasting business in Los Angeles. From generation to generation, the business remained in the family, growing and prospering and producing such high quality coffee that one day, McDonald’s came knocking.
Okay, maybe it wasn’t a knock on the door, but with a few introductions between business owners, Gaviña Coffee Roasters became one of 4 national suppliers of coffee to McDonalds. All with just a handshake. Because that’s how you do business between honorable people. And wow… have you had a cup of McD’s coffee lately? That’s some good stuff!
Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to tour the Gaviña factory. I’ve never been to a coffee roaster before and I certainly had no idea of the intricacies involved in making sure the coffee we drink is the finest it can be. This was a great learning experience for one who drinks coffee every day. It all starts with the tree.
It takes beans from an entire coffee tree to produce one bag of coffee that you purchase in a store. The beans, similar to wine grapes, have different properties depending on where they are grown. Weather, the soil and other factors all come into play. McDonalds has pretty high standards, and in fact, requires their suppliers to meet the highest level of roasting standards in the business. It starts with the finest Arabica beans that can be sourced.
All coffee beans are not picked at once. The trees are gone over 2 or 3 times so the coffee growers can make sure each bean is picked at the exact right time. Coffee beans are one of the last crops that is still picked by hand. It is a labor of love for the coffee growers.
Once the beans are picked, they are packed in sacks and exported to countries around the world. There is something pretty cool about seeing a warehouse full of coffee beans.
Once the coffee arrives here, the real fun begins. A percentage of every single bag of coffee is inspected for defects. Any shipment that isn’t up to standards is discarded. But Gaviña doesn’t waste anything. Beans that aren’t used in their products are earmarked for other purposes. Once the beans are approved, it’s time for the experts to give them a taste test.
Have you heard of cupping? It’s this amazing process where only some of the beans are roasted and then brewed individually by professional coffee tasters. I know… sounds like a job right up my alley. The process of cupping is pretty incredible… and very ritualistic. If you have ever seen a Chinese or Japanese tea ceremony, it’s very similar.
With a selection of coffee grounds in front of us, boiling water is added and the coffee is mixed with a spoon until a foam forms on top of the cup. That foam is then scooped off carefully and what is underneath is what you will sip. Or slurp. Or do that thing that makes a lot of noise. Yep.. you don’t actually drink when you are cupping. You take your spoon, fill it with coffee… and slurp! Loud! It’s the way that you really get all the flavor to surround your taste buds. But wait… DON’T SWALLOW! Like a fine wine tasting, you actually spit out the coffee. Just let your taste buds savor the flavors. There is a LOT to taste in coffee… most flavors we have no idea about because we tend to add so much sugar and flavored creamer to our cups. An expert knows what to look for. For me… I just enjoyed learning how many different varieties of coffee beans there were. It’s definitely a science.
The Gaviña tour was an amazing experience… and I have a whole new appreciation for coffee. I want to thank the Gaviña family for their hospitality. It truly is a family business… and one that I’m proud to support.
GOOD NEWS! McDonalds is FINALLY bringing their coffee into our homes. In 2015, in partnership with Kraft Foods, you will be able to brew McDonald’s brand coffee at home!
I’ve been drinking McD’s coffee since way back (OK, yes; I was drinking coffee when I worked there in high school-heavily creamed & sugared, but coffee….). I have greatly improved my coffee-drinking ways with less cream and no sugar; and am still loving McD’s coffee.
I can’t wait til it’s brewing in my own kitchen too!