Reunion Island Coffee is a Canadian company that is founded on admirable principles. It's not just about high-quality coffee - they really are committed to sustainability, from supporting co-op farmers and fair trade to promoting responsible farm management. They support the Rainforest Alliance, and use Bullfrog Power in their Canadian roasting operations (Bullfrog sells power exclusively from wind and low-impact water power generators who meet or exceed the federal government’s EcoLogo standard for renewable electricity). With fair trade and organic certified coffees, Reunion Island is bringing us amazing brews with zero guilt factor.
I recently had the opportunity to try out a bag of Reunion Island Coffee, and let me tell you, it was a tricky decision on which variety to choose. They have everything from the more standard to the exotic - I tried to count the available varieties and came up with ninety-six (!!!), plus twenty-six kinds of pods! Um, wow. Check out the crazy long list here!
Although tempted by the flavoured varieties (Maple Cream, French Caramel, and the limited edition Toasted Marshmallow (yum!!) were calling my name), I went with the Siesta Decaf. It's a nice, bright, medium-light roast that is a perfect contrast to the dark and bold roast that is my regular brew. I'm a serious coffee lover - I grind fresh beans and make a cappuccino every morning with my beloved espresso machine, so I feel qualified to say that the Siesta Decaf is a lovely bean. It doesn't have the 'flat' flavour that is often found in a lighter roast; instead it has a robust flavour, just lighter. It is decaffeinated with the Swiss Water process (in British Columbia!), which uses no chemicals to remove the caffeine and also ensures the flavour stays at its fullest (some other decaffeinating methods which use chemicals also alter the flavour of the bean).
The quality of the coffee is a major selling point, but what tips the balance with Reunion Island Coffee for me is their commitment to better lives and a better world. I was thrilled to work with such an impressive Canadian company, and pleased that I can honestly recommend their product.Reunion Island provided me a bag of coffee and a travel mug (which is awesome, by the way) to review. I was not paid for this article and it contains my honest opinions. You can find Reunion Island Coffee at specialty retailers, hotels and cafes in Canada and the US.
