Ken Shi doesn’t quite remember when I entered the coffee industry, but he remembers well his first coffee experience. It was a single-origin pour-over that his grandfather had brought back from Brazil and was kind enough to share. He was about ten years old at the time, and that taste has stayed with him ever since.
Ken has since gone on to gain a wealth of experience within the world of coffee and has many stories to share, however he is particularly proud of recently earning the ICQ Q Arabica Grader certification. Currently, only 16 people in New Zealand have achieved this qualification. Further to this, the list is long enough to list them for you:
- CQI Q Arabic Grader
- New Zealand Barista & Latte Art Championship Sensory
- New Zealand Barista & Latte Art Championship Head Judge
- NZ Registered EAS
- NZ 2017 Coffee Cup Taster Champion
- NZSCA Board member
- FGS BLIA Board member
Most days you will find Ken at Aoraki Coffee Hampton Downs in his capacity as Director roasting on a Coffee Tech Ghibli R15 commercial coffee roaster. Ken believes that everyone has different understandings and preferences, and we need to respect individuality. As such he is inspired to use his true passion for coffee, his skill, and excellent key ingredients to create a blend suited to the taste of the discerning customers of Aoraki Coffee.
Christmas 2024 sees Ken creating a Special Blend for On The Grind subscribers. This blend features four origins: Colombia, Peru, Guatemala, and Kenya. Ken is particularly satisfied with JB’s Kenya Tanu Natural, Cofinet’s Peru San Ignacio Washed, and Opal’s Jorge Enrique Natural.
All four single-origin beans are batch roasted, generally kept at a medium roast level. This approach brings out the best flavour in each singles and makes them suitable for various brewing methods.
You can expect a cherry blossom aroma, with a smooth and medium-bodied profile featuring notes of stone fruit, sugarcane, and cashews. The finish is long and vibrant, making it especially remarkable for super tasters.
The intention behind designing this blend was to make it suitable for any coffee brewing method. So, feel free to unleash your creativity and enjoy this coffee in different ways!
Tell us about how you enjoyed Kens Special Christmas Blend by reaching out on Facebook or Instagram, and of course head to Aoraki to learn more about their coffee, training, and machine servicing.