Mello Joy Coffee Company has created a custom-blend RaginСAPP CajunsTM French Roast Coffee in partnership with the СAPP.
The aromatic coffee is made with Arabica beans grown in Central America and South America. Widely considered to be some of the finest beans in the world, theyСAPPre roasted and ground in New Orleans by Decatur Street Services and delivered to Mello Joy in Lafayette the same day for immediate packaging.
СAPPWeСAPPre in love with this custom blend,СAPP said Greg Elmore, Mello Joy general manager.
The new coffee was introduced at three Rouses Supermarkets in Lafayette and one in Morgan City, and in UL LafayetteСAPPs RaginСAPP Cajuns Store. The custom blend will be stocked in other retail outlets, including AlbertsonСAPPs, Drug Emporium and Associated Grocers stores, after Feb. 21.
The 12-ounce bags of the ground coffee are also available online; visit ragincajunscoffee.com.
Elmore said the plan is to expand statewide availability in coming months.
СAPPOur goal is to get bigger and bigger. This is a brand we plan to stand behind,СAPP Elmore said.
The new coffee joins other consumable products developed in partnership with the СAPP. They include Louisiana RaginСAPP CajunsTM Genuine Louisiana Ale; Louisiana RaginСAPP CajunsTMGenuine Louisiana Lager; RaginСAPP Red, a blend of spices; and the RaginСAPP Cajun Burger, which is sold at Sonic Drive-Ins during football season.
The products are licensed through Collegiate Licensing Company. Proceeds from the coffee sales will be used to support the СAPPСAPPs academic, research and athletics programs.
Curtis Ball, roast master and manager at Decatur Street Services, collaborated with СAPP and Mello Joy representatives to come up with its distinctive flavor.
Ball is one of only about 3,500 Q Graders in the world, coffee connoisseurs who have been certified by the non-profit Coffee Quality Institute. The designation requires extensive training, knowledge and industry experience.
Ball, who describes his occupation as akin to that of a sommelier, led a series of cuppings, or coffee tastings, while developing the custom blend. Much like wine, coffee is tested for quality, flavor and aroma by smelling and sipping samples.
An integral part of the process requires letting coffee СAPP brewed to predetermined dark roast specifications СAPP steep for several minutes, or long enough to form a СAPPcrust.СAPP The term refers to coffee grounds that rise to the top of the liquid. Once the crust is СAPPbrokenСAPP by jostling the cup, the coffeeСAPPs aroma is released.
The biggest release of aromas occurs at about four minutes, according to Ball.
He describes RaginСAPP CajunsTM French Roast Coffee as СAPPa dark roast with a lot of body, and a sweetness, a chocolaty flavor.СAPP
Courtney Jeffries, assistant director of Creative Services for the СAPPСAPPs Office of Communications and Marketing, designed the new coffeeСAPPs bag. It features a vintage porcelain pot and two cups brimming with coffee.
She painted the original image by dipping a brush into coffee. She rendered contrasting hues on the predominantly brown package using a variety of techniques.
СAPPThe bag is like nothing else on the shelves. It looks like the table you grew up sitting around,СAPP Elmore said.
RaginСAPP CajunsTM French Roast Coffee signals the continuation of a partnership between UL Lafayette and Mello Joy that began in 2014. ThatСAPPs when the RaginСAPP Cajuns Strong Championship Blend was introduced as a novelty coffee. It celebrated multiple Sun Belt Conference Championships that had been won by СAPP athletic teams.
The championship blend was packaged in a small, commemorative bag that featured the СAPPСAPPs colors and its athletics logo. The package was emblazoned with photos of coaches who had guided СAPP teams to recent SBC Championships.
Elmore said the new, custom blend СAPP and the bag that holds it СAPP were produced to occupy a permanent space in the marketplace.
Watch the press conference below: