Coffee Review: Starbucks Coffee's Cafe Estima

Background: Currently, Starbucks' Cafe Estima is the coffee giant's only Fair Trade Certified coffee. Indeed, the 'Estima' aspect of the name is a derivative of the word 'esteem,' indicative of the respect the blend shows to coffee farmers. A common misconception among consumers, however, is that 'fair trade' and 'Fair Trade Certified' are synonymous. It can and often does happen when coffee prices are high that more money is paid to farmers who are not under a 'Fair Trade Certified' agreement. Being 'Fair Trade Certified' merely guarantees a minimum price to farmers regardless of how the coffee prices fluctuate. For an academic discussion on the pros and cons of 'Fair Trade' coffee, read Daniel Jaffee's book entitled Brewing Justice and Jeremy Weber's paper entitled "Fair Trade Coffee enthusiasts should confront reality." (Can you tell which position each work takes?) Aside from the fair trade aspect of Cafe Estima, the blend is unique among Starbucks' coffees in that it is a blend of Latin American, Asian/Pacific, and African coffees whereas most Starbucks blends contain only Latin American and Asian beans. Essentially, Cafe Estima is a coffee from all around the world, a true slice of the available origins. For this reason, it is a good blend for anyone interested in coffee to start off with.

Tasting: Aroma*****; intensely smoky but somewhat camouflaged by subtle winy and florally scents. The combination somewhat stings the nose. Acidity***; powerful amount of acidity for such a geographically spread-out blend but an average amount overall. Just some mild biting along the sides and tip of the tongue. Body***; very balanced body. There is a faint lingering in the middle of the tongue but the coffee mostly washes down smoothly and rapidly. Flavor***; somewhat lacking. There does exist a clear, dull, roasty earthiness and very faint hint of winyness.