There’s something about finding a ritual – a routine even – as you get older. I find having morning rituals feels good. I like waking up and having a small routine to live by. And no matter what you’re going to be doing as the day progresses, you know that you’re starting your morning the exact same way, every day.
I know what you’re thinking, the exact same morning every day Kelly?! Yes! Because my every single day starts with one thing, guaranteed.
A cup of coffee.
My slow-burning addiction into the world of coffee began when I was 18 and set off to university. Somehow, up until I was 18, I’d never needed a cup of coffee to survive the day. Maybe it’s youth that helped me hop out of bed everyday…
Those times have changed.
It all started on a cold winter’s day when I was at university. Our dormitory was freezing cold and my roommate at the time, Kate, was making coffee. I thought, I have got to get my hands on this. So she made me a cup. Accompanied with a little sugar and a hazelnut flavoured coffee creamer.
Hook, line and sinker.
I was in.
From that day forward, I’d start my days with coffees. But the best part of all is the evolution of how I would experience coffee. I started off with plenty of added sugars and flavours before going for more of an “expert” coffee drinker. One day, I stopped using sugar. Then eventually we ran out of milk and I stopped adding milk.
Today? My first cup of coffee of the day has to be black. I do definitely enjoy a good sugary drink every now and then, but drinking coffee without anything added is my favourite. A good cup shouldn’t always need it. (But in the afternoon, it’s usually an added dash of oat milk for me!)
Drinking coffee black everyday though certainly doesn’t have to taste the same. Even if your routine doesn’t change, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore different coffee. I like to get adventurous with my morning tastebuds! To mix up my flavours, blends and where my coffee originates from. So needless to say, I’ve been loving exploring ThreeSixty° Coffee.
A little low-down on the brand I’ve been trying: ThreeSixty° Coffee is a range of premium single origin coffees from Cuba, Mexico, and Peru. Each of the ThreeSixty° origins is picked, roasted and blended to showcase its incredible arabica flavours and tastes.
And something I really love about these coffees is that every pack is handpicked and fully traceable with map coordinates on the packaging to discover each coffee’s specific region of origin. Who doesn’t love a map coordinate?! It’s pretty cool to know exactly where the coffee you’re drinking is from. (PS you can even type in the coordinates to Google Maps to see exactly the region the coffee is from. And also you know, maybe take a little gander at where you may want to plan a trip…!)
Because coffee is like waking up every day, knowing that the first thing you do is something you look forward to. And with that, flavour is important.
You could wake up in Cuba, sipping on caramelised flavours and brown sugar goodness. Or maybe venture over to Mexico, a citrusy flavour with hints of milk chocolate (HELLO YES PLEASE).
In fact, each of their coffee blends has their very own taste profile, with its own unique taste made up of a single origin (remember the maps!). So what can you expect from each of these coffee beauties? I’ve tried them all to give you the inside scoop. The lowdown?
THE CUBAN BLEND
It’s a single origin coffee and one of only a few coffees produced by their small coffee growing region this season. What to notice about the flavour? Expect a full-flavoured coffee, with a taste of roasted nuts (my fave), cinder toffee, and a caramelised brown sugar sweetness with perfectly balanced acidity.
THE MEXICAN BLEND
ThreeSixty°’s Mexican coffee has a variety of delicious coffee profiles from sweet citrus to smooth chocolate flavours. The beans come from three farming communities to the west of Tepic and Nayaritt, a region famous for its variety of delicious coffee profiles (also look up Nayaritt – it’s STUNNING). You can easily see how the coffee would contain plenty of citrus notes of mandarin. As a bonus, it’s balanced out with hints of smooth milk chocolate.
Or bringing it back to that very first cup I ever had with a bit of nostalgia. ThreeSixty°’s Peruvian blend is full of notes of cocoa and hazelnut. The dream team of flavour.
THE PERUVIAN BLEND
Did you know that Peru is one of the world’s largest coffee growing countries? I had no idea! They have strong ties to certifications and a culture of organic production. This blend is my favourite of them all. A full-bodied coffee with notes of cocoa and hazelnut, so so good.
It’s funny to think that 10 years onward, my morning ritual revolves so much around these little beans. I like waking up to a warm cuppa. Whether I’m sipping out of my favourite mug while I’m working away at my laptop, or relaxing as I read a book. And yes, even a cup in hand as I’m rushing to catch a train in London.
Coffee is what keeps me running and is my favourite way to start the day – and for that, I’m forever grateful to sharing a cup with my roommate many moons ago.
Kelly x
PS. This post is in collaboration with ThreeSixty° Coffee, but all thoughts, words, photos and coffee tasting are my own.