Two Chimps Coffee
I love coffee. I drank so much of it that a few years ago I had a health issue which resulted in the medics advising that I cut down my consumption of caffeine. Since then, I have adhered to three (slightly tarnished) golden rules. First, I normally now drink decaffeinated. Second, I usually do not drink coffee after 1pm – there is tea, after all – and third, when I do drink caffeine, I make sure it is a good quality, flavoursome coffee.
As a result of rule three, I have been exploring the world of what is known as specialty coffees, particularly as purveyed by independent roasteries that have sprung up over the last few years. One such is Two Chimps Coffee[1], who are based in Oakham in Rutland. They tick all the boxes you would expect, climate positive, offering ethically sourced coffees, hand roasted to order in small batches to ensure that their coffee is at its freshest when it leaves their premises.
Two Chimps offer coffees in a variety of formats including beans and ground for use in cafetieres – my weapon of choice – and in sizes ranging from a sampler at 50g to 1kg. I have found that 250 grams is sufficient for several brews, enough to explore the subtleties and flavour profiles. Coffees are available on subscription or as one-off purchases, their on-line ordering system is impressive – order before 12pm and they deliver, subject to the vagaries of the Royal Mail, the next day, and the cost of postage is absorbed within the overall price. No doubt to the horror of their accountants and lawyers, Two Chimps make a point of eschewing small print, a brave move in these litigious times.
One point to note is that because they source their beans from small farms, co-operatives, and estates, the raw original product is in relatively short supply. This means that Two Chimps’ main lines will change at least once in a year, until a new supply of beans is available, and their limited editions more frequently. Whilst it means that a particular favourite may be unavailable for a while, the upside is that it gives an opportunity to explore other coffees in their range.
There is no doubting Two Chimps’ passion for coffee, which comes across loud and clear, but it is also imbued with a sense of fun, no more so than in the names that they give to each roast. Some are a bit of a mouthful while others are just plain quirky, but it does mean that it is not immediately apparent what the country of origin is or type of roast or flavour profile, requiring a bit of research deeper within the bowels of their website. It is an endearing quality but must put off some just quickly searching for a Nicaraguan dark roast.
I have sampled five of their coffees. Chuffed as Chips, a medium roast Arabica coffee from Brazil, had a deliciously smooth, chocolaty body with more than a little hint of fruit, while Dad’s the Word, a limited edition, was a light and fruity, cherry-heavy brew using Geisha beans, said to be the world’s finest, sourced from an estate in Laos. My favourite was Pull up a chair, which filled the kitchen with a wonderful aroma and in the cup produced a full-bodied, marvellous rush of chocolate and toffee with a hint of orange to give it edge.
Just to prove that decaffeinated does not equate to bland, How Many Llamas did you say were in the phone box? (me neither) was a delicate blend of light, sweetness and a touch of gingerbread, using Ethiopian beans roasted in a light and fruity style and decaffeinated using the sparkling water method to good effect. Sadly, Good Morning World, a limited edition,was not my cup of coffee, the roast of Peruvian beans a little too sweet for my taste.
In the world of specialty coffees, Two Chimps are ones to watch.
