Archive for the ‘tasting notes’ Category

April 2009 Peregrinations: Sumatra Takengon

March 29, 2009 in coffee club,tasting notes | Comments (0)

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This is big bean coffee, both in terms of looks and flavors!  It starts with a sweet, dark-bitter smell with really pronounced organic-earthy aromas.  Some unusual notes include scalloped potatoes and sweet onions with a hint of freshly mulched flower bed.  The mouthfeel stands out as very thick, deep, and rich and continues through with big body.  The flavors include some slight fruit notes such as black cherry and fig – think about the sweet earthiness ones gets from dried fruit.  There are clear wood tones like cedar wood mixed with nuts, and dark, dark baker’s chocolate.  This cup is well balanced and finishes smoky-peppery and dry, and has practically no acidity. A really superb coffee.


Brazil Cerrrado Water Processed Decaf

March 27, 2009 in tasting notes | Comments (0)

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The sweet smells from the cup evoke honey and peaches, and some of that is reflected in the cup as soft floral tones.  The dominant flavors that come through are dark and smoky chocolate notes combined with the more traditional nuttiness. The mouthfeel is smooth with no discernable acidity at all.  The finish starts off with a slight peppery edge in the throat, switching to a dark and earthy, long lasting aftertaste of quintessential coffee.  A very drinkable, not-too-complex decaf.


Java Kajumas Curah Tatal

February 24, 2009 in tasting notes | Comments (0)

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The first word that jumps to mind is wood.  The aromas are the first clue, starting with a distinct cedary smell combined with fruit, and meaty organics tones. This coffee is very dry, with a contrasting creamy finish.  There is a tiny tinge of tartness which suggests some acidity, but it is very slight and quickly fades to the background against a cocoa-wood combination – think dark chocolate covered walnut, if such a thing were to exist.  There is a smooth, watery mouthfeel with a mild, very long, dry finish that is dusty and powdery.  Another excellent Indonesian.


Hawaii Kowali Estate Kona Extra Fancy Typica

in tasting notes | Comments (0)

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What a surprise! Open the bag and these beans smell like…pizza! Absolutely — tomatoes, savory spices, and a meaty, steak-like sweetness, almost like brisket in a ketchup-heavy BBQ sauce.  The aromas change quickly on brewing heading toward heavy florals and some fruit. The cup is nicely balanced with a bright start, and a somewhat watery, dry mouthfeel.  Some coffees’ tastes turn up in one spot in your mouth – the tip or side of the tongue; this one you taste all over – it seems to throw off flavors in all directions.  It is a complex cup with a certain nutty-savory note that hints at salted peanuts. There is also watermelon rind, wrapped with tea-like tones.  Finally, there is the chocolate and anise-licorice path that leads right to the flowers — approaching Jasmine on the finish.  A long finish ends this very interesting coffee.


Hawaii 2008 Kona Extra Fancy Greenwell Farms

January 15, 2009 in tasting notes | Comments (0)

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These are gorgeous beans, so large, even, and smooth, you could make jewelry from them. The coffee smells like dulce de leche, caramel with sweet nuts (marzipan and hazelnuts), mixed with sweet pipe tobacco and a slight saffron dustiness. The cup starts out with a satiny mouthfeel with great body. It is very balanced and elegant with a slight bright-lime acidity.  There is a subtle, consistent, fast fading, clean, smooth finish.  All the right things one expects from a great cup of coffee with no single dominant note.