A “Third Wave of Coffee” at The Reef

By Jody Steele

Looking back to another era when coffee came in a can from the grocery store or even powdered in an instant, the “first wave of coffee” was pretty similar from cup to cup. A “second wave” began in the 1960’s when countries began to compete for the best flavors and popularity. A variety of coffee beverages emerged and we all became quite particular about our own personal “cup of Joe”. The Culinary Team is pleased to announce that Ocean Reef is now part of the “third wave” of specialty coffee, distinct coffee beans, and crafted beverages.

Coffee Panels
Ocean Reef Club Leadership along with Food and Beverage participated in a number of blind tastings to choose a new coffee with high quality beans from farms, not countries and where flavor is consistently pure and exceptional. Due to the fact that now coffee has become an artisanal food, similar to wine, the team commitment was to find the best in the third wave industry coffee trade.

The Choice: La Colombe
The overwhelming choice was La Colombe, founded as a business created “to make the world better through coffee”. The owners first started with building relationships with growers and directly dealing with those farmers to grow and process the best coffee. The company impressed the team with an outstanding product, along with an impressive tracing of the coffee bean. La Colombe roasts coffee beans on Monday, ships them to Miami by Wednesday, and they arrive to The Reef on Thursday— accomplished in less than a week. Fresh, for sure!

Equipment
The meticulous calibration of all coffee machines, nitro cold brew coffee on tap, an espresso maker that works on Bluetooth to grind beans per cup, and a cappuccino machine with a built in wand thermometer all contribute to the finesse of La Colombe’s coffee product. The equipment is top notch and serviced by specific local technicians trained at La Colombe centers.

Availability
Members can catch this “third wave” at any of the Reef restaurants, at Town Hall for your morning coffee, or at Reef Treats where an array of unique coffee drinks await your discerning palate. As a special event for Equity Welcome Back Week, stop at the Espresso & Coffee Bar at the Business Center from 8-10 a.m. You will not miss the La Colombe vintage Citroen truck all the way from Philadelphia waiting to serve you.