10/26/2018
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EthiopiaEthiopia, formerly known as Abyssinia, or a coffee cultivar: Ethiopia, or more specifically the Empire under Haile Selassie, was known as Abyssinia. The name is Latin, derived from... ...more Dry ProcessDry process coffee is a method for taking the fruit from the tree to an exportable green bean. The whole intact coffee cherry is dried in the sun... ...more Shakiso Kayon – Kayon natural is brimming with fruitedIn some coffee taster’s lexicon, “fruity” means the coffee is tainted with fruit, and “fruited” means a coffee is graced by positive fruit notes. We don't exactly see... ...more notes of raspberry, blackberryBlackberry flavor in coffee sometimes relates to slightly more developed roast levels.: Blackberry is found as a fragrance, aroma or flavor in some coffees. I find that it... ...more, blueberryBlueberry flavors in coffee take different forms. Dried blueberry was something we first encountered in natural Harar coffee from Ethiopia. It seemed to be most potent in fresh... ...more, dried tamarind and cherryEither a flavor in the coffee, or referring to the fruit of the coffee tree, which somewhat resembles a red cherry.: Either a flavor in the coffee, or... ...more, and a honeysuckle aromaAroma refers to sensations perceived by the olfactory bulb and conveyed to the brain; whether through the nose or "retro-nasally": The aromatics of a coffee greatly influence its... ...more. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention cocoa powder too, the level of which is determined by roast degree. Good for espressoA small coffee beverage, about 20 ml, prepared on an espresso machine where pressurized hot water extracted through compressed coffee.: In its most stripped-down, basic form, this is... ...more.
Sweet Maria’s Moka Kadir Blend – An underpinning of rich chocolateA general flavor or aroma term reminiscent of chocolate. But what type? Usually described with more specifics.: Chocolate is a broad, general flavor or aroma term reminiscent of... ...more flavors come through in layers, accented by dried apricot and plum, pipe tobacco and sweet cedar smoke. MouthfeelHow a coffee feels in the mouth or its apparent texture, a tactile sensation : A major component in the flavor profile of a coffee, it is a... ...more is so creamyCreamy is a mouthfeel description indicating thickness and soft, rounded texture. See also buttery. ...more, and roast tones delivery deep cocoa bass notes. Great espresso.
KenyaKenya is the East African powerhouse of the coffee world. Both in the cup, and the way they run their trade, everything is topnotch.: Kenya is the East... ...more Murang’a Mutitu AA – Fruited aspects shape shift from tropical mango and black plum, to citrus flavors like pink grapefruit and lemonLemon notes, as well as other related citrusy flavors or acidities, are prized in coffee. These usually express themselves as a bright accent in the cup, or aromatic... ...more grass. Slightly carbonized sugars and spice cookies accent the finishSimilar to aftertaste, but it refers to the impression as the coffee leaves the palate. Aftertaste is the sensations gathered after the coffee has left the mouth. We... ...more. A vibrant cup.
Costa RicaCosta Rican coffee is typically very clean, sweet, with lots of floral accents. hey are prized for their high notes: bright citrus or berry-like flavors in the acidity,... ...more Don Mayo El Llano – El Llano is a bittersweetBittersweet is from the language of chocolate, and describes the co-presence of positive bittering compounds balanced by sweetness. It is directly related to caramelization, but has inputs from... ...more brew, balanced flavors of toffee and baking cocoa in middle roasts, as well as a subtle green appleAn acid that adds to favorable perceptions of cup quality; malic acid often adds apple-like acidity, and perhaps other taste aspects recalling apples. Malic acid is yet another... ...more note that adds structure. Good for espresso.
BrazilBrazil is a coffee giant . As Frank Sinatra sang, "they grow an awful lot of coffee in Brazil".: Brazil is a coffee giant . As Frank Sinatra... ...more Dry Process Adriano Senna – Savory-sweet aroma of BBQ and peanut sauces, rusticA general characterization of pleasantly "natural" flavors, less sophisticated and less refined, but appealing. : What is Rustic? This is a general term we came up with... Dried... ...more palm sugar, robust and bittering cacao roast tones, inky bodyAssociated with and sensed by mouthfeel, body is sense of weight and thickness of the brew, caused by the percentage of soluble solids in the cup, including all... ...more, and hint of dried cherry. Good for espresso.
GuatemalaGuatemalan coffee is considered a top quality coffee producer in Central America. Due to our proximity to Guatemala, some of the nicest coffees from this origin come to... ...more Antigua Pulcal Tekisik – A pristine brewed cup, light brown sugarBrown sugar is a type of sweetness found in coffee ...a sweetness characterized by a hint of molasses, yet quite refined as well. Since Brown sugar of the... ...more to darker molasses types, golden raisin and dried appleApple-like flavors in coffee can take on many different forms. The more common ones we use relate to malic acid brightness, which can recall different apple types: green... ...more notes, and green apple acidityAcidity is a positive flavor attribute in coffee, also referred to as brightness or liveliness. It adds a brilliance to the cup, whereas low acid coffees can seem... ...more. So sweet and balanced across a wide range of roasts. Good for espresso.
Guatemala Acatenango GeshaGesha is a long-bean Ethiopia selection with unique cup character. Gesha is the name of the town in Western Ethiopia where the original samples were collected. Spelling it... ...more Lot #9 – A foundation of refined sugarCommon white sugar, also called Cane Sugar. In coffee tasting, it refers to a clear, clean sweetness, with an absence of other characteristics. More complex sugars are Panela,... ...more sweetnessSweetness is an important positive quality in fine coffees, and is one of five basic tastes: Sour, Sweet, Salty, Bitter, Savory (Umami). In coffee, sweetness is a highly... ...more bolsters perfumed flavor notes of jasmineA very positive and intensely floral quality in coffee, usually with a strong aromatic component, reminiscent of jasmine flower or tea. There are many forms of jasmine; the... ...more and rose water, bubble gum, and chamomile flower tea. Tart lemony citrus shines up front transitioning into brisk black tea mouthfeel. So clean.
NicaraguaNicaraguan coffees from the Segovia, Jinotega, Ocotal and Matagalpa regions are nice balanced cups. They often possess interesting cup character along with body and balance, outperforming many other... ...more Santa Helena MaracaturraAs the name indicates cross between large-bean Maragogype and Caturra cultivars. : As the name indicates cross between large-bean Maragogype and Caturra cultivars. It seems to be found... ...more – Santa Helena Maracaturra shows soft sugar and tree nut tones, malty sweet and brown sugar accents, Lipton black tea, candied pecans, and a dash of baking spices.
Guatemala Gesha Malawi “Batch 3 – HoneyIn coffee, honey-like sweetness is often found, but we use terms such as refined honey (highly filtered and processed) as opposed to raw honey rustic honey sweetness. This... ...more Process” Sample Set – A sampling of two different process batches of Gesha Malawi, a unique cultivarCultivar is a term used interchangeably with Varietal in the coffee trade to indicate plant material, although there are distinctions.: The naming of a cultivar should conform to... ...more that’s been transplanted to a Guatemalan farm in small amounts. Four different pairs in all and at roughly 100 of each pair, we’ll be moving through these limited process batches one sample set at a time.
Last month we committed to donating a portion of our green coffeeGreen coffee refers to the processed seed of the coffee tree fruit. Coffee is a flowering shrub that produces fruit. The seeds of the fruit are processed, roasted,... ...more sales to one of our favorite charities, Doctors Without Borders. The numbers are in and the great news is we will be donating $10,000 to them annually for the next three years. This means, through 2020, we’ll send Doctors Without Borders a total of $30,000. If you placed a green coffee order during Sept. we thank you for your support!.
Tom recently went to RwandaA Bourbon cultivar variant from Rwanda and Burundi. Bourbon coffees are named for the island in the India Ocean where French colonists grew it. Some history from the... ...more. Check out his recent blog post with great photos and his insights on why he wasn’t excited about Ugandan coffee in the past and what “Drugars” are.
