Johnson Brothers Coffee

Green coffee beans are usually shipped in 132lb bags, (60 Kilograms) and world-wide production statistics are compiled on the number of bags.

World production for 2012 includes 88,818 bags of Arabica and 62,440 of Robusta.

To give you perspective on worldwide coffee production and the rarity of some highly prized regional coffees like Hawaiian Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain that make up a tiny fraction of all coffees, here are statistics for 2012 compiled by the US Department of Agriculture.

Brazil leads the world in total production again in 2012 with 40,200 bags of Arabica and 15,700 of Robusta for a total of 55,900 bags or 7,378,800 lb.

Vietnam is second for total production with 850 bags of Arabica and 24,150 of Robusta for a total of 25,000 bags or 3,300,000 lb.

 

The United States, mostly Hawaii, (100/0) and Mexico (4,500/200) make up North American production of 4,600 bags of Arabica and 200 bags of Robusta.

Central America produces 14,605 bags of Arabica and 10 bags of Robusta from: Costa Rica (1,600/0), El Salvador (1,475/0), Guatemala (3,840/10), Honduras (5,800/0), Nicaragua (1,800/0) and Panama (90/0).

 

South American countries including Bolivia (4/150), Brazil (40,200/15,700), Colombia (7,500/0), Ecuador (415/190), Paraguay (25/0), Peru (4,800/0) and Venezuela (880/0) combined to produce 53,970 bags of Arabica and 15,890 bags of Robusta.

Caribbean countries produce 920 bags of Arabica from: Cuba (125), Dominican Republic (475), Haiti (300) and Jamaica (20).

 

Middle East coffee comes from Yemen at 150 bags of Arabica.

Papua New Guinea, 1,100 bags of Arabica and 50 bags of Robusta, represents Oceania’s total production.

South Asia contributes 1,650 bags of Arabica and 3,685 bags of Robusta from: India (1,640/3,660) and Sri Lanka (10/25).

 

Southeast Asia contributes 2,580 bags of Arabica and 35,025 bags of Robusta from: Indonesia (1,700/8,000), Laos (0/575), Malaysia (0/1,000), Philippines (30/400), Thailand (0/900) and Vietnam (850/24,150).

 

Sub-Saharan Africa contributes 9,243 bags of Arabica and 7,580 bags of Robusta from: Angola (0/30), Burundi (225/0), Cameroon (100/700), Central African Republic (0/15), Kinshasa (200/165), Cote d'Ivoire (0/1,800), Ethiopia (6,500/0), Ghana (0/90), Guinea (0/425), Kenya (850/0), Liberia (0/5), Madagascar (25/500), Malawi (25/0), Nigeria (0/30), Rwanda (250/0), Sierra Leone (0/70), Tanzania (500/300), Togo (0/650), Uganda (650/2,800), Zambia 10/0) and Zimbabwe (8/0).

 

Inspired by the recent SCAA show in Houston, TX, we’ve been on the hunt for the best drip coffee and espresso products on the market. Our search has turned up a few gems, many of which we’ll be introducing you to in the next couple of months. One of the most recent additions to wholelattelove.com is Johnson Brothers Coffee Roasters, a Madison, WI-based company that’s turning some very influential heads.

There was a time when you had to look abroad, namely to Italy, to get quality coffee and espresso. But, with American roasters coming on strong and committing themselves to perfecting the art of creating world-class products, some of the best drip coffee and espresso can be found right here, within our borders. Johnson Brothers Coffee (JBC) Roasters is one such company, re-invigorating the US market with its premium sustainable coffee.

Coffee with a Conscience
Founded in the early 90s by Michael Johnson, JBC Roasters is a family-owned and operated business devoted to producing coffee with a conscience. Throwing their weight behind the fair-trade movement, Johnson Brothers has formed strong ties with the very farmers who cultivate their coffees. JBC ensures that fair compensation is paid to these farmers, who in-turn reinvest those funds into crop improvement initiatives and social programs. Johnson Brothers coffee and espresso are certified by TransFair USA, the only third-party certified of fair-trade products in the nation. If you’ve committed yourself to making a difference in the lives of hardworking farmers and protecting the environment, this is one roaster that shares those values. Why not wake up with a cup of coffee that’s bettering the lives of entire communities?

Cup of Excellence
Johnson Brothers is also the first roaster in Madison, WI to purchase Cup of Excellence award winning coffee. Cup of Excellence (COE) is a program managed by the Alliance for Coffee Excellence, Inc—a non-profit group focused on advancing “the appreciation for exemplary coffee.” The Cup of Excellence designation can only be earned through a rigorous annual competition judged by a respected group of international cuppers tasked with selecting the best coffee produced in a particular country. These rare coffees have to be “perfectly ripe, carefully picked with well developed body, pleasing aroma and a lively sweetness,” according to an official statement from the Alliance for Coffee Excellence.

The fact the Johnson Brothers partakes in this prestigious program sets the company apart from most roasters from the get-go. As a direct result of its commitment to quality, Johnson Brothers has earned consistently high marks from the world famous Kenneth Davids Coffee Review. All of its rated whole bean coffee and espressos have earned 90 points or above, a rare feat for any roaster.

Drip Coffee
We currently have three premium Johnson Brothers drip coffees as well as one sampler available. Renowned coffee producing countries including Kenya, Ethiopia and El Salvador are all represented. If you enjoy a slightly tart coffee with sweet and fruity flavors, consider Kenya Peaberry Kirinyaga Kii Drip Coffee—which earned 94 points from the Kenneth Davids Coffee Review. This single-origin coffee is comprised of peaberry beans, which is widely regarded as a superior coffee. These rare peaberries are smaller than regular beans; simply put, they have more concentrated flavor and aromas. (For a complete breakdown of peaberry coffee, give this article a read.)

For a more complex cup, try the Fair Trade/Organic Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Drip Coffee, featuring Kobe Co-Op beans, purchased from small farms at fair, sustainable prices. Sweet and delicate flavors and aromas, with notes of molasses, tobacco, clover, plum and nuts make this a great choice for coffee enthusiasts. This organic drip coffee was awarded 92 points by the Kenneth Davids Coffee Review.

Last, but not least, is the Johnson Brothers Direct Trade The Bank Whole Bean Drip Coffee. Earning 90 points from the Coffee Review, these light-medium roasted Pacamara beans from El Salvador present flavors and aromas of cocoa, lemon and night flowers. This single-origin coffee brews slightly syrupy drinks with a lingering aftertaste.

For the complete experience, pick up the Johnson Brothers Dip Coffee Sampler, which contains a 12-ounce bag of each of the three coffees.

Espresso Coffee
There are five Johnson Brothers whole bean espressos to choose from, each with its own distinct personality. The Bank and Kenya Peaberry Kirinyaga Kii coffees make reappearances as whole bean espressos. They have been given darker roasts as espressos but retain much of their flavors and aroma characteristics.

Available exclusively as espressos are Johnson Brothers Global Lift and Twisted Espresso Blend. The extravagantly aromatic Twisted Espresso Blend has dark chocolate, walnut, plum and citrus notes. While it is perfectly enjoyable as a straight espresso, this blend really shines as a base for lattes and cappuccinos, as the bold flavors can more than hold their own in milk. Twisted Espresso earned a well-deserved 91 out of 100 points from Kenneth Davids Coffee Review. If you enjoy floral notes, you’d be well served by the Fair-Trade Global Lift Espresso. This rich chocolate espresso features flowery notes for remarkable drinks.

Drip Coffee
We currently have three premium Johnson Brothers drip coffees as well as one sampler available. Renowned coffee producing countries including Kenya, Ethiopia and El Salvador are all represented. If you enjoy a slightly tart coffee with sweet and fruity flavors, consider Kenya Peaberry Kirinyaga Kii Drip Coffee—which earned 94 points from the Kenneth Davids Coffee Review. This single-origin coffee is comprised of peaberry beans, which is widely regarded as a superior coffee. These rare peaberries are smaller than regular beans; simply put, they have more concentrated flavor and aromas. (For a complete breakdown of peaberry coffee, give this article a read.)

For a more complex cup, try the Fair Trade/Organic Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Drip Coffee, featuring Kobe Co-Op beans, purchased from small farms at fair, sustainable prices. Sweet and delicate flavors and aromas, with notes of molasses, tobacco, clover, plum and nuts make this a great choice for coffee enthusiasts. This organic drip coffee was awarded 92 points by the Kenneth Davids Coffee Review.

Last, but not least, is the Johnson Brothers Direct Trade The Bank Whole Bean Drip Coffee. Earning 90 points from the Coffee Review, these light-medium roasted Pacamara beans from El Salvador present flavors and aromas of cocoa, lemon and night flowers. This single-origin coffee brews slightly syrupy drinks with a lingering aftertaste.

For the complete experience, pick up the Johnson Brothers Dip Coffee Sampler, which contains a 12-ounce bag of each of the three coffees.

Espresso Coffee
There are five Johnson Brothers whole bean espressos to choose from, each with its own distinct personality. The Bank and Kenya Peaberry Kirinyaga Kii coffees make reappearances as whole bean espressos. They have been given darker roasts as espressos but retain much of their flavors and aroma characteristics.

Available exclusively as espressos are Johnson Brothers Global Lift and Twisted Espresso Blend. The extravagantly aromatic Twisted Espresso Blend has dark chocolate, walnut, plum and citrus notes. While it is perfectly enjoyable as a straight espresso, this blend really shines as a base for lattes and cappuccinos, as the bold flavors can more than hold their own in milk. Twisted Espresso earned a well-deser