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'Special Releases are just that. Really special coffee, usually the tiniest of microlots. You may never have tasted coffee quite like this.'
This is what our special releases are really about. Rare, unusual, exceptional and just downright wild coffees - and this one is no exception. This coffee is a very rare varietal, Java. It's also been grown and processed by one of the most innovative growers currently operating in Colombia, Jairo Arcila.
In the cup, you're in for quite the experience and it's hard to know where to start. There's just so much going on, and it's not familiar territory. We get notes of cinnamon, blueberries and a distinct note that reminds us of kalamata olives. Others have found flavours in there that remind them of raisins, dark chocolate and limes. The bottom line is that this is incredibly complex coffee. What will you find in there?
We find that this coffee doesn't work particularly well in espresso. You may disagree of course, but we thought we'd let you know. Something like a Clever Dripper though? - oh my.
Origin: Santa Monica Farm, Armenia, Quindio.
Varietals: Java
Processing: Natural
Roast degree: 120 (read more).
Suitable for: Filter Brewing (read more)
Q Score: 89.75 (what's this?)
You can get more sensory information about the coffee by looking at the diagrams in the images above. If you need to know how these work, just click here.
Taste and flavour perception are complex and difficult to articulate. We love sharing our tasting notes with you, but please don't rely too heavily on our reports. Your experience is what matters most and it may be different. We've written about that whole issue here.
IMPORTANT: Please read our short Coffee Bean Care Guide here.
Want to know more about this coffee? Read on......
This coffee was grown by Jairo Arcila at the farm Santa Mónica. This coffee was carefully hand-picked in order to select only the ripest cherries and then hand sorted to remove any defects. The coffee was sundried on raised beds in temperature controlled conditions until the ideal moisture content is achieved.
This micro-lot is 100% Java. This variety originated in Ethiopia and is a natural mutation of Typica. The seeds were taken to Indonesia where it was named Java. In 1991, it was introduced to Costa Rica and in 2010, it made its way into Colombia.
I seldom write reviews. I think this deserves a mention! You get a strong and an intense aroma of cherry balsam when the bag is opened. The aroma is herbal and spicy to me, which prevails on a subdued note upon brewing and pulling a shot.
It is a very good cup of coffee to drink as a long black, if one were to like this taste. The fruity acidity is mild to moderate with a pleasant orange sweetness. The Cherry Balsam taste and aroma are so strong, I did not get any floral (rose water) notes from my brew. Perhaps, it was there but over powered by the Cherry Balsam. The cup will leave a bit of tartness aftertaste, which come from blood orange and cherry balsam
If pulling a shot, pull long 1:2.5 to 1:3. The fruity flavour is very intense on our lever machine at home and was difficult to drink as an espresso; this bag outperforms Kenyans’ for its’ intensity as an espresso.
As a milk-based drink, it is perfect as a flat white in the ratio of 3-4 portions of milk depending on the taste bud. I initially did not like this with milk. A flat white is sweet and will give you a subdued cherry balsam flavour and leaving the cup with plenty of an orange sweetness and a rose flavour, which wasn’t noticeable as a long black.
Overall, another very good coffee but it is not a standout bag, IMO.
I liked this coffee, good rich full flavour. Nice but a little heavy on the fruit tang for me, so 4 stars.