A couple of weekends ago, I was struck by a severe coffee craving. As I was in the mood for something different, I popped into Mall of Africa where Nespresso was hosting a pop-up coffee experience to celebrate the launch of their new Master Origin range. This range boasts five coffees from the world’s finest coffee craft hotspots, namely: Indonesia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Ethiopia and India. The aim of the Master Origin collection was simple – to allow us, the consumer, to discover outstanding examples of coffee craftsmanship from across the world.
Upon further investigation, it turns out Nespresso works hand-in-hand with local craftsmen in each country through the Nespresso AAA Sustainable QualityTM Program to refine their crafts, try new techniques and push the boundaries of coffee processing. It is through these unique processes that Nespresso has created five distinct coffee creations to pay homage to the lands from which they originate.
The Mall of Africa activation was a really fun experience as I got to sample each of the five new coffees, instantly transporting me to those distant and wonderful lands. It may sound cliché, but you can really taste the care that goes into every cup of Nespresso coffee; they are so well-considered in their flavour balances and aromas. The packaging is also really beautiful and adds a nice aesthetic appeal to the overall experience.
Of all the coffees I tried, I found the rich, woody and intense Indonesia to be the most enjoyable. I found the process they utilise, called ‘wet-hulling’, totally fascinating. Crafting this coffee is quite literally a race against rain. Indonesian farmers wet-hull their coffee because of the humid climate. After removing the fruity outer flesh, the Sumatran coffee beans are left to ferment overnight, and are then hand-washed and sun-dried for a day. Then they remove the parchment because exposed beans dry faster. The heat and bouts of sunshine dry the beans quickly. The method is unique to them and produces the classic Indonesian coffee taste – velvety thick, wildly aromatic, with notes of cured tobacco.
As a part of their launch campaign, Nespresso called upon local foodie J’Something to create five coffee recipes to complement each Master Origin. These included a Colombian Sangria, a Warm Indian Latte, a Coffee Gin and Tonic, a Citrus and Egg Coffee and, my personal favourite, the J Martini. This recipe has NO ALCOHOL, and was perfect to round off a long day.
I’ve shared the recipe for the J Martini below so you can try it out for yourself! Let me know what you think, Look forward to all your feedback.
HAPPY ‘NESPRESSO MASTER ORIGIN BREWING’ LOVELIES
LOVE Marriam
The J Martini
Author Credit: J’Something
What you Need
1 capsule Nespresso Master Origin Indonesia, brewed as a ristretto
1 capsule Nespresso Master Origin Indonesia, brewed as a lungo
10 ml Nutella
3-4 ice cubes
Chocolate balls, to garnish Large toothpicks
What to Do
1. Add the ristretto shot to the Nutella and mix together.
2. Add the lungo coffee to a shaker with the ice cubes and shake until chilled.
3. Add 2-3 ice cubes to a glass and pour the coffee mixture over the ice cubes.
4. Top up with the chilled coffee from the shaker.
5. Serve with a chocolate ball (or two) on a toothpick to garnish.
