When it comes to coffee, people often rave about single origin varieties in the same way with single malt whiskey, the blended ones just won't do but that doesn't mean there isn't a market for it.
So when I chance across a premium Mandheling coffee from Chek Hup, I thought maybe it's time I venture into the coffee wilderness and try a new variety single origin. For me, I am a through and through Colombian fan. I love the deep acidity and rich aromas. Now Chek Hup has been around for half a century, and they are famous for their white instant coffees. So when they got into the premium coffee business, I was wondering how it was going to fare. Malaysia is not famous for coffee. It taps the growers in the nearby regions for much of its beans.
Mandheling coffee hails from Sumatra, and is of the Arabica variety...meaning this is premium stuff when handled well. Now this is the first Mandheling I am tasting so it goes to show that it pretty much sums up what people were expecting from the coffee, low acidity, not very fragrant and has hints of mocha as an aftertaste. It feels like when you have a pet cat walk all over you while you sleep. You notice it is there but it doesn't quite leave an impression strong enough to wake you up.
I could not believe it at first. It's too light for my taste buds so I took out a pod (they come as 6 in a box) emptied it into a French Press and gave it a good 7 minutes of soaking. During this time, I noticed that the beans were course grind, and would require maybe a little more time to soak but it doesn't much make a difference as it tasted the same. The bean is also lightly roasted and I wondered if a darker roast would bring more fragrance to the cup...that unfortunately can only be answered by Roasters at Chek Hup.
I must say that Chek Hup has done a damn good job in packaging. Included in the box are six sugar stirrers, so you don't have to bring your own sugar if you ever took it on trips. The coffee isn't cheap, at about US$3 for a box with 6 coffee pods and sugar stirrers, so this is as premium as it gets. Good as a gift pack or a souvenir but discerning coffee drinkers would be so kind to take note that the lighter taste of this coffee is not an anomaly. It is processed that way. Arabica coffee beans have much lower caffeine than the Robusta or Liberica variety when processed in a similar manner. So you are not going to get a wake up call when you down a cuppa.
If you are looking for a light coffee, this would suit you just fine. It might not have the full body flavor of your typical Starbucks but that doesn't mean it sucks. It's not for everyone at least not for me.
Coffee is my drug of choice for an early wake up call. It has to be full bodied and has solid acidity. Taking a whiff must remind you that you are alive. That said, I am a difficult person to please.
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