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Showing posts from February, 2017

Barkeater Porcupine Blend

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  Today's coffee comes to us from Barkeater Coffee Roasters. Barkeater is based out of East Greenbush, New York. Barkeater prides themselves in being a roast-to-order micro roaster, roasting your beans in small batches by hand as the order is placed.    This is their Porcupine Blend. A blend of origin countries Brazil, Ethiopia, and Bali. They note flavors of chocolate with a hint of sweetness. This is another blend I enjoyed. The roast is a little darker than most single origins I brew, so I brewed this at 1:8. I tend to like my darker roasts even more bold than my single origin beans. This was a nice roast forward blend. Very chocolatey. But the fruity sweetness was there, obviously from the Ethiopian beans. But definitely not berry/fruit forward like you would get from just a single Ethiopian brew. I like how these blends I've tried combine multiple flavors, without being so in your face with a particular profile shining through. Next time I brew this, I wi

Honest Peru, La Flor Del Zapote

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  Today's coffee comes to us from Honest Coffee Roasters out of Franklin, Tennessee.    This is their Peru, La Flor Del Zapote. Honest notes flavors of plum, toffee, and orange liquor. I. Reward this at a ratio 1:12. This was a nice creamy cup. Caramel, chocolate sweetness. I noted some nice tartness. This was a nice drink. Next brew I might have to add a little cream to it to go with the chocolate notes.    Thanks again to Brice and Honest for the coffees. This was my second bean from Honest and they were both great! Go check these guys out, they do great things:  honest.coffee

King Bean Ethiopian Yirgacheffe

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  Today's coffee comes to us from King Bean Coffee Roasters. Owner/Founder Kurt began King Bean in his parents' garage in 1994 in South Carolina at the age of 23. Twenty years and 3 roaster upgrades later, they still pack all coffee by hand.    This is their Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. A natural bean that won the Charleston Coffee Cup's "Best Roast Award". King Bean notes tastes of jasmine, lemon meringue, stone fruit. This was a delicious cup, for a fan of lovers of Ethiopians for sure. Brewed at 1:12. Citrus sweet. Very floral. Excellent cold brew coffee.    Thanks again to Katie & King Bean for the amazing coffee. Go check these guys put and buy some great coffee:  kingbean.com

Brugh Kore

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  Today's coffee comes to us from Brugh Coffee. Brugh is based in Christiansburg, Virginia. They came together based on a mutual love of family, music, art, and good coffee.   This is their Kore - Kochere, Ethiopia. This is a natural bean. I brewed this at a 1:12 ratio. Brugh notes tastes of sweet, bright, blueberry. This is another great Ethiopian coffee. Bright, crisp acidity. Nice citrusy sweet, think lemonade. Fruity berry. Excellent natural Ethiopian.   Thanks again to Luke & Brugh for the amazing coffee. Go check them out and buy some coffee:  brughcoffee.com

Actual Ethiopia Tchembe N2

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  Today's coffee comes to us from Actual Coffee. Actual Coffee is roasting out of Toledo, Ohio.   This is their Ethiopia Tchembe N2. This is a naturally processed bean. Brewed at a 1:12 ratio. Fruit. Bomb. Love Ethiopians, and this was delish. Actual did a great job here. They note flavors of jasmine, strawberry, and chocolate. Spot on. Such a sweet coffee. Get that cream and sugar out of here. The chocolate was also reminiscent of chocolate covered cherries. Such a bright, juicy, creamy cup. So good!   Thanks again to Michael & Actual for the amazing coffee. Go check them out and buy some coffee:  actualcoffee.com

Williamstown Wanita Gayo Woman's Co-Op

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  Today's coffee is another international coffee for me, my second. This is Williamstown Roasters from Williamstown North Victoria, Australia. Williamstown Roasters was founded in 2015 by head roaster James Davidson.    This is their Wanita Gayo Woman's Co-Op. A natural red bourbon Sumatran. The Wanita Gayo coffee co-operative is an all-woman co-operative in Sumatra that provides employment and income to women in Sumatra. I brewed this at my typical 1:12 ratio. I found this to be an interesting cup. I've read that a lot of Sumatrans can be quite earthy; pungent. With this being naturally processed though, it lends a whole new layer to the coffee. I got a very syrupy mouthfeel. Lemon/citric acidity. Being naturally processed gives it a sweetness, but the coffee still is earthy. Tobacco. Cocoa. I feel this makes for a nice cold weather cold brew. Sweet but spicy.    Thanks again to James & Williamstown Roasters for this unique tasty bean. Go check them ou

transcend Aroresa

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  Today's coffee is my first international coffee. Transcend Coffee from Canada. Poul Mark founded Transcend Coffee in 2006. This has brought better understanding and appreciation for coffee to the Edmonton area.    This is their washed Aroresa. An Ethiopian from the Yirgacheffe region. I brewed this at a 1:12 ratio. Transcend notes flavors of strawberry, apricot, apple blossom, and citrus. This was a very fruity coffee. I got red berries, sweet citrus reminiscent of lemonade. Very juicy, refreshing. This was a great cup of coffee.    Thanks again to Michael & Transcend for the great coffee. Go check them out and buy some coffee:   transcendcoffee.ca

Switchback El Salvador Las Delicias Geisha

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  I'm posting today's review in Colorado Springs, Colorado. That's where Switchback Coffee Roasters is based out of. This is the fourth coffee I've reviewed from these guys. They are doing good things here. Anyone in the Springs needs to check these guys out.   This is their El Salvador Las Delicias Geisha. Geisha trees were planted on the Las Delicias farm in El Salvador three years ago, and now, they are finally producing enough coffee to roast. Switchback was lucky enough to be among the first to taste this coffee, and they managed to secure all of it. This was a very nice, and affordable, Geisha so I wouldn't pass this one by. And since they secured the whole lot, you won't find this Geisha anywhere else. I brewed this at my typical Geisha ratio of 1:8, and it was so nice; sweet, floral, fruit. Smooth tropical, like mango & papaya. Very floral, as typical of geishas. But I also got a slight sweet chocolate note there as well, as is typical with b

Topeca Mahiga Peaberry

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  Today's coffee comes to us from Topeca Coffee Roasters. Topeca is based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. With a deeply rooted history in coffee, Topeca is now one of the only companies in the world that controls its coffee beans from the time they are planted to the time they are roasted; "Seed-to-Cup".    This is their Mahiga Peaberry from Kenya. This is a double fermented, dried on raised beds bean. I brewed this at a 1:12 ratio. Topeca notes pomegranate, black fruits, punchy. I definitely get the pomegranate. Very dark, deep fruits here. Black cherry, plum. I also get a bold orange and a brown sugar-like sweetness. This was a very tasty cup.    Thanks again to Tyler & Topeca for the wonderful bean. Go check them out and buy some tasty coffee:   topecacoffee.com

Blanchard's Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Koke

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  Here we have my fourth and final coffee that the fine folks over at Blanchard's Coffee sent over to me. It was an amazing experience brewing and reviewing all the coffees they sent me. They were all awesome.   This is their Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Koke. This is a Honey Natural processed bean. The honey processes are crosses between a natural and a washed. Fans of either should appreciate the results of honey processed beans. This was an excellent Ethiopian bean. As I was grinding, the floral aroma of the beans was insane. Honeysuckle, lavender. The strawberry presence is intense. Very creamy cup. Blanchard's noted flavors of strawberry, pound cake, and jasmine. This was one of my favorites lately. Very tasty; sweet, berry, fruity.   Thanks again to Stephen and Blanchard's for the coffees. They were amazing. Make sure to go check them out:   blanchardscoffee.com

Press Ethiopia Konga

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  Today's coffee comes to us from Press Coffee Roasters. Press is based out of Arizona. They have many locations throughout the state with the roastery being located in Phoenix.   This is their Natural Ethiopia Konga. I brewed this at a 1:12 ratio. Will I ever taste an Ethiopian I don't like? This is nothing short of amazing itself. What you'd expect from a Natural Ethiopian coffee. Very fruity, sweet. Tons of berries in this cup. Cherry, strawberry. So good. Press notes flavors of vanilla, strawberry, juicy. What a great bean.   Thanks again to Alex & Press for the great coffee. Go check them out and buy some coffee:   presscoffee.com

Honest Costa Rica Monte Rosa Geisha

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   What we have here is the first coffee I'll be reviewing from the great people over at Honest Coffee Roasters.  Honest does business over in the Historic Factory in downtown Franklin, TN.  Honest also has the privilege of being Williamson County's first specialty coffee roasting company.    This is their Costa Rica Monte Rosa Geisha.  I bought a geisha sampler box from Angel's Cup before Christmas, and loved them.  I was pretty stoked to find that Brice sent me over some of their geisha.  This is a great example of what I experienced with the fine examples of geisha in the Angel's Black Box.  What a fragrant floral aroma as I ground the beans in my Hario.  As it was brewing, it maintained a sweet floral aroma that filled the kitchen.  I brewed this at a 1:8 ratio (as I did my other geishas).  Fruity, floral, caramely, sweet citric acidity.  This was a delish cup of coffee.    Thanks again to Brice & Honest Coffee for the amazing coffee.  Excited to se

Amateur "Sunday Morning"

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   Today's coffee comes to us from Amateur Coffee. This is my second coffee I've reviewed from Amateur.  They are a husband & wife operation based out of Omaha, Nebraska. The Mr roasts while The Mrs makes everything pretty. They roast their coffees with love & intention to showcase their individual characteristics. They believe there is a coffee for everyone.    Again, their packing is top notch. I love the different labels on each one. This coffee is their 'Sunday Morning'. It's a natural bean from region of Mantiqueira de Minas, Brazil. Cultivated by Afonso de Silva at his farm, Sitio Sao Sebastiao. I brewed this at a 1:12 ratio. They noted tastes of candied bergamot & milk chocolate lime notes. In aroma, this definitely smelled like a natural; I love naturals. Not super crazy fruity like some naturals, but still a very nice sweet cup of coffee.  Chocolatey, sweet citrus, sweet nut, caramel.  A very nice cold brew coffee bean.    Thanks ag

Lumberjack Brazil, Mogiana

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   Today's coffee is brought to us by Lumberjack Coffee Co. Lumberjack is another great coffee roaster based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. "Just a guy with a beard who loves coffee." Starting off good. Lumberjack is a husband & wife business that started out of 'necessity'. Being a 911 Dispatcher and a NICU Nurse by day (or by night), they experienced their fare share of terrible coffee. When they found out that coffee could be great, that it could have depth and complexity, they decided to share it with the world.    I met up with Ryan at Garden of the Gods when my wife & I were out visiting a friend of ours in the Springs. He brought me his Brazil bean from the Mogiana region. Upon opening the bag, I knew I had to brew this a little stronger than normal, so I went with a 1:8 ratio. I've found I like brewing the 'darker' roasts/beans stronger than my average of 1:12. This coffee is amazing. Nice and roasty. Chocolatey. Sweet. Nutt

Hold Fast Costa Rica Finca San Luis

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   Today's coffee is brought to us by Hold Fast Coffee Co. Vinnie and his team are located in Colorado Springs, CO.    This is their Natural Costa Rica Finca San Luis. I brewed this at 1:12. What a nice coffee. Hold Fast notes honeydew, brown sugar, floral. I got a very nice berry/citrus aroma and taste, as would be expected from a natural bean. Honey, sweet, citrus. Very nice for lovers of naturals (as I am).    Thanks again to Vinnie & Hold Fast for the beans. Colorado Springs is definitely supplying us with some great coffee. Go check them out and buy some coffee:   holdfastcoffeeco.com

Switchback Barrel Series

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   Today's coffees come to us from Switchback Coffee Roasters. Switchback is based out of the lovely town of Colorado Springs, CO. My wife & I have a friend on the Springs, so I've done business with Switchback in the past. Brandon & Evan set me up pretty nice when we were in town a couple weeks ago & I was super excited to try this box of beans.     Right off the bat, hats off to Christer Tschamler, who put this together. I love the graphics on this box. Top notch. Hand lettered, custom typography (and I'm a sucker for great typography). This box set includes 3 variations of the same Honduran bean. The first being the bean as is. A washed Honduran from Finca El Sucte. The second is the same bean aged in Napa Valley Chardonnay barrel. The third is aged in a Breckenridge Distillery Bourbon Port barrels.     The 'normal' bean is nice. Brewed at 1:12, I got flavors similar to what Switchback notes; bread, dark honey, cocoa nibs, grapefruit zest

Archetype Elixir

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   Today's coffee courtesy of Archetype Coffee Co out of Lexington, KY. Like my wife, great things are coming out of Kentucky. Archetype defines their name as the original pattern or model which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based. And these beans are an attribute to that.    This coffee is their Elixir blend. A blend of Columbia, Ethiopia, and Guatemala beans. This is another blend I was very satisfied with. Before I started this endeavor, I probably would never have bought a blend, but the couple I have reviewed on here have been great. I brewed this at a 1:8 ratio and I think that's about perfect (for my tastes). I'm not sure of the percentages of the beans, but I feel the ratio is spot on. Not leaning too heavily towards one flavor profile. Great roasty/chocolatey aroma & flavor. The sweet berry/citrus of the Ethiopian is definitely there. And the caramel/toffee really makes for a smooth cup. This was an amazing blend, I can se