Product Highlights
- Origin: Savane Zombie, Haiti
- Varietal: Typica (Haitian Bleu)
- Process: Washed
- Roast: Green (unroasted)
- Package: 1 lb
- Price: $9.15
The specialty coffee world suffers from a peculiar myopia. While enthusiasts debate the merits of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe versus Guatemalan Antigua, an entire chapter of coffee history lies forgotten – the Caribbean birthplace of New World coffee cultivation. Most modern drinkers assume great coffee requires high altitude, yet Haiti’s Savane Zombie region produces exceptional Typica beans at just 600-800 meters, cooled by ocean breezes that slow maturation and concentrate flavors.
Faced with underwhelming supermarket blends or overpriced “premium” brands, many home roasters settle for mediocre green beans. They compromise on either quality (cheap commercial-grade Arabica) or ethics (questionably sourced “specialty” lots). Escarpment’s Haiti Savane Zombie shatters this false dichotomy – offering traceable, historic varietals at less than half the price of Jamaican Blue Mountain (its genetic cousin) while supporting Haitian farmers rebuilding their coffee heritage.
The Zombie’s Reanimation: A Three-Level Dissection
Physical Structure
The dense, blue-green beans reveal their Typica lineage through elongated shape and subtle silver skin remnants. Grown under shade trees in Haiti’s Sud-Est department, the slower growth creates 17-18% denser cell structure than commercial Arabica, crucial for even roasting.
Chemical Composition
Maritime winds boost sucrose content (9.2% vs typical 6-8%) while lowering chlorogenic acids that cause bitterness. The unique mineral profile from ancient coral limestone soils contributes to a pH-balanced extraction ideal for espresso.
Roasting Alchemy
The beans’ density requires a modified ramp profile – slower heat application through first crack (≈9:30) but faster development (1:15) to preserve floral top notes. Finished roasts exhibit 2.3% greater solubility than average Central American beans, extracting cleaner at tighter ratios.
How Savane Zombie Rises From the Grave of Commodity Coffee
| Metric | Savane Zombie | Commercial Brazil | Jamaican Blue Mtn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per lb | $9.15 | $5.80 | $28.00 |
| Espresso Yield | 21.5% TDS | 18.2% TDS | 22.1% TDS |
| Cultural Legacy | 1720s Origin | Industrial | 1728 Origin |
Unlike commodity Brazilian beans that turn bitter past 19g output, or overpriced Blue Mountain better suited to drip, Savane Zombie occupies a unique middle ground – the espresso workhorse with historical pedigree. Its maritime terroir creates a naturally sweet base needing less roast development, while the Typica genetics offer balanced acidity missing from modern hybrids.
From Home Roasters’ Mouths
“After three failed attempts with Costa Rican beans, my first Savane Zombie roast hit all the markers – even development, no tipping, and the most incredible floral aroma during first crack. It’s ruined me for other origins.”
“The price-to-quality ratio is insane. I serve this alongside $20/lb Gesha to coffee nerd friends and watch their minds explode when they learn it’s Haitian.”
A Day in the Life of Savane Zombie
5:47 AM – The Revelation
Your alarm screams into the darkness. Yesterday’s Ethiopian light roast left you with acidic regret. As the kettle boils, you grind last night’s Savane Zombie roast – a conservative City+ that should play it safe. The first sip delivers unexpected depth: molasses thickness without sweetness, bergamot brightness without sharpness. You check the bag again – this came from Haiti?
3:22 PM – The Experiment
Your usual 1:2.5 espresso ratio feels unbalanced. Pushing to 1:3.5 reveals the bean’s secret: caramelized pear notes emerge, with a saltwater taffy finish. The shot runs fast (23 seconds) but lacks astringency – that maritime mineral backbone holding everything together.
9:15 PM – The Realization
As you profile next week’s roast, it hits you: this isn’t just another single-origin. It’s a living artifact – the same Typica that fueled Enlightenment salons now growing wild in post-colonial soil. The beans in your hand contain 300 years of resistance, resilience, and revival.
More Than Beans – A Cultural Resurrection
In choosing Savane Zombie, you’re not just buying green coffee – you’re participating in the reawakening of Haiti’s coffee heritage. Each roast helps rebuild agricultural infrastructure devastated by earthquakes and political turmoil. Each cup proves that greatness isn’t defined by altitude alone, but by terroir, history, and the hands that nurture it.
For home roasters seeking uncommon flavors, espresso lovers tired of overdeveloped profiles, or anyone who believes coffee should tell a story – this is your invitation to taste history reborn.