By this point, some of you may be asking, ‘What about all the coffees you tried before? Have you forgotten them?’ Um... if I had to answer, I remember some of them. But if you asked me to describe them on the spot, I would really have to think. Uncle Ben is different: I can answer in a second, and my palate still faintly remembers the flavour. Put simply, it is like eating chocolate—you know what chocolate tastes like without needing to think. That is the impression it left on me.
At this point, I would like to share my own experience. For details such as the flavour notes, you can visit their website or read what others have shared—their descriptions will be much better than mine.
Down the rabbit holeUncle Ben CoffeeFlavour
How do you usually choose which coffee beans to buy?
Do you look at the variety first, then the origin, followed by the flavour profile created by the roaster or brand? I have been exploring coffee for almost a year, but honestly, my real coffee experience has not even reached a full year. I am nowhere near as knowledgeable as some people might imagine. Remembering the origin, variety, estate and their flavour profiles is difficult for me. Even after spending some time down this rabbit hole, it still feels like a high bar, and my memory is not particularly good. Most of the time, after I buy and taste a bag, I may move on and try shop number 2 next time unless it leaves a truly deep impression. What counts as memorable? Put simply, I have to love the flavour in the cup.
Anyone who follows my Story will probably know about Uncle Ben Coffee. I first came across their coffee by chance at Contrast in Cheung Sha Wan. I loved the pour-over coffee they made, so I rushed over to Causeway Bay to buy a bag. When I got home and brewed it, it was excellent. I loved it—and I never expected to find a flavour like this.
From then on, I enjoyed the sensation it brought to my palate every day and gradually became deeply fond of the brand. Its rare and distinctive flavours stayed in my mind, making it one of my close companions in the morning and late at night. It also led me to seek out different local roasters to discover other styles. I genuinely never expected to go from drinking one coffee every day or every few days to drinking two or three cups a day. I do not drink that much coffee to stay awake. I drink it because I love it—it is that simple.
Notes after discovering pour-over coffee
If you are just starting to explore pour-over coffee and have a little room in your budget, consider trying Uncle Ben Coffee after buying the basic brewing equipment. The flavour speaks more vividly than words—give it a try. It may surprise you more than you expect.
Toward the end, I genuinely wondered whether I should write all of this. Then I remembered that the subject was sharing coffee beans, and personal impressions are part of that. Honestly, I really do like this brand. I have not been exploring coffee for very long, and I do not know that many local brands or roasters. I usually learn about them only after seeing other people share their experiences.
Would knowing the estate make me choose those particular coffee beans? Probably not yet, because I do not know much about the estates themselves. As one of the many people who are still relatively new to coffee, I often visit a coffee shop and hear the staff explain where a coffee comes from and how it was processed. I only understand part of it. I genuinely want to learn, but sometimes I simply cannot follow the explanation. In the end, whether I buy the beans comes down to whether their flavour suits me.
I think it will take me a long time to learn about coffee culture and all the information that comes with it. When choosing coffee beans, would I return to the same shop for another purchase? For now, I think flavour will decide. With Uncle Ben Coffee, I doubt it will stop at bags 2, 3 or 4—there may even be 5, 6 and 7... until the day I finally grow tired of drinking it.
I do not know whether everyone will understand what I mean in these closing notes, but I suddenly felt like sharing it.
PS: After finishing this piece, I realised that I had written only positive things. Is there anything else to say? Sorry, but I genuinely cannot think of anything... I wanted to be fair and balanced, and what you see above is already my attempt. That is it. The end.
Coffee bean brand: @uncle.ben.coffee
Address: G102 G/F, 6-10 Sun Wui Road, King Sing Mansion, Causeway Bay
Opening hours: 12:00-18:00 (closed on Mondays)
