What would you say is more important when preparing truly delicious food: skill or ingredient quality?

While it is true that some of the finest chefs in the world could use their unique and impeccable skillset to create dishes pleasing to the palette even with subpar ingredients, most folks in the food industry agree: quality ingredients are the most vital component of any great recipe.

In other words, if you start with mediocre ingredients, you’ll likely end up with a less than stellar final product.

This is also, undeniably, true when crafting the perfect cup of coffee!

Whether you’re honing your brewing craft to create a consistently delicious cup of smooth, rich, and bold black coffee or seeking to make the best flavor infused, whip topped, decadently sweet coffee turned dessert, your efforts will fall flat, making you question technique and time, if you begin with anything but the best.

So, when it comes to building and preparing an incredible coffee recipe, that means we’ve got to start with the best coffee bean…well, technically coffee beans, but in order to make the recipes we’re sharing with you today, first, we need to introduce you to a very special Coffee Bean!

Africa is (secretly) home to some of the best coffee on the planet. Of course, this is where our Lifeboost Africa Coffee selections are grown.

More specifically, Lifeboost Africa is grown in Uganda. And, this region is home to two critically endangered subspecies of giraffes, the Kordofan and Nubian.

Not long ago, with the help of our Lifeboost family of customers, we were able to adopt, and protect, one of these critically endangered giraffes who we appropriately named Coffee Bean.

Coffee Bean represents the rare and magnificent coffee we source from Uganda as well as our mission here at Lifeboost: to not only bring you the best coffee on the planet, but to support our farmers and the environment as well, including the amazing creatures that dwell where our coffee is grown.

So, before we share some incredibly delicious coffee recipes with you, using high quality Lifeboost Africa Coffee as the main ingredient, obviously, we want to show you exactly where this coffee comes from and what makes it the best!

Lifeboost Africa Coffee Origins

In the Sipi Falls region of Uganda…

…nearly 2000 meters above sea level on Mt. Elgon,

…in hard volcanic soil,

…in a place where locals believe God rests,

…some of the best coffee on the planet is grown.

Most people living in Uganda do not live, or even travel, to this region. Yet, it is here, near the Kenyan border, that Moses Wamutanga, a seasoned, wise coffee farmer spent his days working.

Why? Because Moses knew this region provided the vital components needed to produce truly fine coffee.

He knew the high altitudes would produce a more nutrient dense coffee cherry.

He knew at these elevations, rainwaters would flow down the mountain reducing the likelihood of any mold growing on his plants.

Wamutanga knew sustainably farming coffee at these elevations would produce a low-acid cherry, a rare feature for this commodity that would allow those savoring these special beans to experience a rich, praline type of sweetness, concentrated like dried fruit, with a chocolate-like creamy mouthfeel.

But, despite these premium characteristics, he knew something was lacking.

You see, years ago, Moses did the work of many, all on his own, managing, harvesting, washing, and processing this high quality coffee.

Then, in 2018, he partnered with other top farmers in the region to make the planet’s best coffee even better.

And together, these coffee farmers standardized their farming and picking practices as they learned how to better sort and process their coffee at the Kyombe washing station in the foothills of Mt. Elgon.

Since Moses and farmers like him grow their coffee on small plantations, sometimes only half the size of a football field, their efforts since banding together have not only allowed their fine coffee to reach more people, but they can now make a fair wage as well.

And, the coffee?

Now that Moses has a team working alongside him and a facility to best process his impeccable coffee cherries, these improved methods have resulted in a clean, smooth cup, with a finish like that of a fine wine, a taste you’d have to experience to truly appreciate!

Lifeboost Africa Coffee Impact

Now that we’ve covered the coffee beans, let’s learn a little more about Coffee Bean.

Our adopted, critically endangered giraffe, Coffee Bean, essentially represents part of what we stand for here at Lifeboost, because our mission isn’t only to bring you the healthiest, finest quality, best tasting coffee on the planet, we also want to support our farmers and the environment in the process!

Coffee Bean lives in the region of Uganda where Lifeboost Africa is processed.

As a critically endangered species, adopting this special and magnificent animal serves to protect him and educate others regarding the problems facing wildlife within the region.

And, while this giraffe may not be included in this number, the wildlife living in the area where our coffee is grown, high on Mt. Elgon, help to enhance its overall taste, nutrition, and quality.

The natural predators in the region keep harmful pests from destroying the coffee plants, and native wildlife also keep them fertilized, negating the use of any chemicals in the growing process.

The plant life in the area provides a natural canopy of shade which allows the coffee to slowly grow to maturity.

These sustainable farming practices not only encourage biodiversity, but they also protect the ecosystems where our coffee is grown.

Then, in our efforts to support our coffee farmers, we looked for any pressing needs in the areas where they live.

And, what’s so special about Lifeboost Africa Coffee is the way it has opened the door for an entire movement, an initiative to bring you delicious, low-acid, healthy coffee and give back to the people and wildlife in Uganda and beyond!

Because of this initiative, a portion of the proceeds from each Lifeboost Africa purchase helps us sponsor 12 different charities!

Lifeboost Africa…

• Keeps girls in school through a project supporting rural Ugandan girls with reusable menstrual pads helping them to overcome low self esteem and low attendance due to poor menstrual management.

• Supports The Rainforest Trust which actively works to preserve some of the world’s most critical habitats.

• Plants new coffee shrubs for our coffee farmers which increases the amount of income they can earn.

• Builds schools for children in Uganda.

• Helped to adopt Coffee Bean, the giraffe, and fight the endangerment of his species.

• Supports the renewal and transformation of Uganda’s first animal shelter, housing 120 dogs and cats.

• Provides lunches for the children (approximately 1200) at Entebbe Primary school in Wakiso district Uganda.

• Provides clean water for the children in Uganda.

• Supports survivors of child trafficking and combats domestic child trafficking in the area (210 survivors and 440 vulnerable children to date).

• Provides self-sustaining microloans for women in rural east Africa to help them start their own businesses.

• Supports first responders and front line workers with coffee donations.

• Provides coffee, through donations, to food shelters.

These efforts play a small part in helping the folks living in our coffee growing regions to thrive.

And, these efforts help to keep the regions and habitats where our coffee is grown healthy, vibrant, and plentiful, positively contributing to the nutrition, purity, taste, and quality of the coffee you enjoy.

So then, let’s close out our time here today with some ways to do just that…enjoy Lifeboost Africa!

Lifeboost Africa Dark

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Lifeboost Africa Coffee Recipes

There are many ways to enjoy coffee: hot, iced, black, with cream and/or sugar. And, then there are some ways to really dive into ingredient additions that truly transform your mug.

As we mentioned briefly above, Lifeboost Africa Coffee is rich, decadent, and possesses a smooth, clean finish, much like a fine wine.

The acidity of Lifeboost Africa is phenomenally low, pH tested to be up to 27.7% less acidic than common store bought coffees. And, this quality allows you to savor flavors sometimes hidden by coffee’s acidic nature, here a rich sweetness reminiscent of dried fruit accompanied by a chocolate-like creamy mouthfeel.

With these smooth, nuanced flavors, Lifeboost Africa Coffee makes a perfect base for most any coffee recipe. (Remember those quality ingredient necessities we mentioned at the beginning of this article?)

But, while we’ll certainly include a more basic recipe within the mix below, we wanted to introduce you to some flavors specific to the region where Lifeboost Africa is grown, allowing you to experience what Ugandans know to highlight the wine-like sweetness coffee grown in the volcanic soils of Mt. Elgon.

1- Spicy (Cinnamon & Cardamom)

Cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and black pepper are common spices grown and used in Uganda.

Each of these pairs well with coffee, with black pepper creating a unique flavor when added to milk foam and espresso.

But here, we’d like to highlight cinnamon and cardamom, adding these to a warm brew to activate the spices for best benefit and an incredible flavor experience.

Ingredients

• 6 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Africa Dark Roast
• ¼ cup cashew milk
• 2 tablespoons half & half (you can omit and stick to only cashew milk if desired)
• 1 teaspoon raw honey
• ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and cardamom mixed, for topping

Instructions

• Start by preparing the spices. Here, you can use ground cardamom or crack open 2 cardamom pods and grind them into a powder. Combine this with approximately ¼ teaspoon of ground ceylon cinnamon, and set aside. This should yield roughly ½ teaspoon total between the two spices, ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of cardamom.
• Brew coffee into your favorite mug, stir in honey, and set aside.
• Add cashew milk and half and half to an electric frother and froth on the heated setting, or warm the mixture in a small saucepan over low heat and blend in a blender until frothy.
• Pour the frothed mixture over the coffee in your mug, top with cinnamon and cardamom, and enjoy!

2- Creamy (Vanilla)

Vanilla is another export of Uganda, with this country's Bourbon vanilla being described as sweet and creamy with hints of dried fruit and subtle creamy chocolate, echoing some of the flavor notes of coffee grown high on Mt. Elgon.

If you can find real Bourbon vanilla, which comes from the Bourbon islands, this makes a fabulously creamy addition to Lifeboost Africa Light or Medium Roast.

Here we’re going to make this brew over ice, but feel free to try it hot as well.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Africa Light Roast
• 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla bean syrup (see recipe below)
• Whipped cream, optional for topping
• Ice

Instructions

• Add ice to a tall glass. Pour cold brewed coffee over ice.
• Add vanilla bean syrup and heavy whipping cream to the coffee, and stir to combine.
• Top with whipped cream, if desired, and enjoy!

Bourbon Vanilla Bean Syrup

• 2 cups filtered water
• 2 cups organic cane sugar
• 3 Bourbon vanilla beans (remember, Bourbon indicates variety, not the use of alcohol)

Cut the vanilla beans in half, length wise, and scrape the seeds out of the beans using the back of a paring knife. Add the vanilla bean seeds, sugar, and water to a saucepan. Heat over medium heat until boiling, whisking periodically.

Once the sugar is dissolved and the mixture reaches boiling, turn the temperature down to a simmer, stirring continually until the syrup is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon.

Once thickened, remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool. Pour the cooled syrup into a glass jar with an airtight lid and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

3- Classic (Caramel)

Not into spices? Don’t feel like adding vanilla to your iced brew?

That’s okay! Lifeboost Africa can be used as a base for almost any delicious coffee creation.

So, for our last recipe, we went with a fan favorite flavor: caramel. This easy caramel latte sweet treat can be made iced or hot. We’ll show you how to do both, and frankly, it’s downright decadent!

Ingredients

• 6 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Africa Medium Roast
• 4 ounces milk of your choice
• 1 tablespoon caramel sauce, plus extra for topping
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon organic cane sugar
• Whipped cream, optional for topping

Instructions

• Add milk, caramel sauce, sugar, and heavy cream to a small saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring continually, until mixture is thoroughly combined and heated.
• Once heated, whisk mixture until frothy, or simply add heated mixture to a blender and blend until smooth.
• Brew coffee and pour into your favorite mug. Top with heated, frothed caramel milk mixture.
• Top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel, if desired, and enjoy!

To make iced:

• Follow step 1 above with the needed ingredients, but do not whisk. Once warmed through and thoroughly combined, allow the mixture to chill, then pour in a blender and blend until smooth and frothy.

• Brew and chill or cold brew Lifeboost Africa Medium Roast coffee. Add cold coffee to a tall glass with ice. Then pour in the blended caramel milk mixture.

• Top with whipped cream and an extra drizzle of caramel, if desired, and enjoy!

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Lifeboost Africa Dark.