Red Star is making its own unique contribution to the specialty coffee market. The Premium Roasted Organic Espresso Beans are 100%Arabica beans, hand blended and slow roasted to order and are delivered with a conscience.

Red Star products are certified organic and fair trade. The roaster’s most versatile blend – the Certified Organic Fair Trade Espresso – is good for an espresso or a latte, macchiato or brewed coffee. The aroma on opening the bag made it hard to tear myself away and the beans munched on their own were deliciously nutty. As a shot, the coffee had a rich caramel colour crema with a nice body. The aroma was rich and the flavour was earthy with a slight sweetness and fruity tones—the finish clean and slightly lingering. I also brewed a pot as a regular drip and found all the same flavours and aromas. A great coffee, however you wish to drink it.

Average price: $17 per 250g of whole beans