Java Taman Dadar

From the Kayumas Estate

I can't begin to tell you how important the island of Java is to the history & development of coffee. In fact, this is the origin of specialty coffee as we know it. Up until a century ago, coffees from Java commanded prices up to fifteen times the standard price elsewhere. And your organic Java Taman Dadar, a name which translates to "the flower garden", was grown among the most legendary of all Indonesian coffees. The Dutch, having smuggled live coffee cuttings from Africa, began growing coffee shrubs on the island in the 17th Century, and coffee was exported on a global scale ever since. It's no coincidence that the word itself, java, is synonymous with the dark, caffeinated drink we all love so much..

This is a much more traditional Indonesian coffee than the Java I was serving earlier in the year. This Taman Dadar is a wet-hulled coffee that is tank-fermented before milling, resulting in a round, robust cupping experience. The dry fragrance sets the tone for this cup's character, hinting at white cedar and anise root. This has a bit of unsweetened chocolate in the nose and, once brewed, has the earthy intensity and heavy body one would expect from a volcanic, Indonesian brew. As the cup cools, the earthy, terra-cotta quality sweetens a bit, revealing an undercurrent of fennel spice and fermented blackberries. This is a complex, low-acid coffee with a hugely developed character, a rich history, and a lingering, smokey finish. This, my friends, is Java!

As coffees from Java traveled along trade routes West toward Europe, traditional Java encountered a radically different coffee at the port city of Mocha; although our Ethiopian Guji Natural Sidamo isn't from Yemen, it's flavor profile is very similar. If you blend the Java with the Sidamo, fifty-fifty, you can make your very own Mocha-Java blend. 

Grower Certified Organic, and Rainforest Alliance Certified

Bali Blue Krishna

Leading into the holiday season, I was inundated with calls and emails regarding one of the most precious Indonesian coffees we've ever had. Typically, Autumn marks the harvest season for many of the Islands in the Indonesian Archipelago, and that's when Bali Blue Krisha typically finds its way to the shop. It took some extra effort and a lot of time on the phone, but for coffee as exquisite as this, I promise it's worth the wait!

 So what is it that actually makes Bali Blue Krishna so special? There's a solid volcanic earthiness in this cup, reminiscent of the finest, cleaner Indonesian coffees. Beyond the rustic, I genuinely savor the rich syrupy finish, swelling with ripe cherry fruit and sassafras. When drinking this I'm often reminded of a dark liquorish gum drop. Roasted properly, your Bali Blue is the perfect combination of the earthy, viscous brilliance of a classical Sumatra and the bright, fruit-juice subtlety of a pulped-natural, sun-dried Ethiopian Sidamo. This coffee disappears from our shelves very quickly, and I can't recommend it more highly. Good luck!

Bali Blue Krishna
Grower Certified Organic

Roast Color: Dark/Dark
Prep: Wet Processed
Body: Heavy
Flavor Profile: Thick, syrupy
Cupping Notes: Rich, volcanic earthiness in this cup paired with the bright subtlety of a pulped natural.

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Indian Mysore Nuggets from the Arabide Estate

Some coffees are solid, middle-of-the-road, predictable. Other coffees, however, defy expectation. I hadn't roasted this rarity in over a year, and it vanished quickly. The reason is incredibly simple: your estate-grown Indian Mysore Nuggets is an impeccably balanced varietal, with a wonderful expression of several complimentary qualities. These seeds, cultivated in the exhausted gold fields of Mysore Province, are driven by monsoon wind & rain, pumping the beans with moisture that smooth-out their flavor. If you haven't had this coffee, now is definitely the time.

Without doubt, this is the best Indian coffee I've ever had. The aromatics form a compelling and intricate tapestry. The dry fragrance has a clean, nutty quality, with a subtle whisper of white cedar and cinnamon. When brewed, there's a fruited element to the cup that reminds me of baked granny smith apples, crisp & clean tasting. It's snappy, with an exceptional brightness to the acidity. The body is thick, finishing with complex sweetness and a touch of rustic cedar. There is the slightest amount of woody, campfire flavor in the aftertaste reminiscent of burned marshmallows. This is an exciting experience for the professional cupper and the casual taster alike!

Received 08/27/2013

India Mysore Nuggets Arabide Estate
Rainforest Alliance Certified

Roast Color: Dark
Prep: Washed
Body: Deep, heavy
Flavor Profile: Crisp and bright, thick and syrupy
Cupping Notes: The body of this coffee is thick with a fruited element to the cup that reminds me of baked granny smith apples. It finishes with complex sweetness and a rustic hint of cedar.

India Mysore Nuggets Arabide Estate

Some coffees are common, others exceptional, some easy to come by, others quite rare. The last time I roasted this hugely popular coffee from India was a year ago. Your estate-grown Indian Mysore Nuggets is impeccably balanced, a wonderful expression of several complimentary qualities. These coffee seeds, cultivated in the exhausted gold fields of Mysore, are exposed to monsoon winds and rain, which pump the beans with moisture and smooth-out their flavor. If you haven't had this coffee, now's the time!

This is the best wet-process Indian coffee I've ever had, without a doubt. The aromatics form a compelling and intricate, sensual tapestry. The dry fragrance has a clean nutty quality, with subtle hints of white cedar and cinnamon shavings. When brewed, there's a fruited element to the cup that reminds me of baked granny smith apples, made crisp and clean with a wonderful brightness. The body of this coffee is thick, finishing with complex sweetness and a rustic hint of cedar. There is the slightest amount of woody, campfire flavor in the aftertaste reminiscent of burned marshmallows. This is an exciting experience for the professional cupper and the casual taster alike. Enjoy!

Received 07/16/2013

India Mysore Nuggets Arabide Estate
Rainforest Alliance Certified

Roast Color: Dark
Prep: Washed
Body: Deep, heavy
Flavor Profile: Crisp and bright, thick and syrupy
Cupping Notes: The body of this coffee is thick with a fruited element to the cup that reminds me of baked granny smith apples. It finishes with complex sweetness and a rustic hint of cedar.

El Salvador Cerro Las Ranas

It's been more than a year, but I'm finally roasting this insanely satisfying bourbon varietal, cultivated along the peaks of the Apaneca Ilamatepec mountain range. Your El Salvador Cerro Las Ranas is in the roasting drum, and I can't wait to share. Honey-processed coffees like this are the most exciting coffees to drink, with an "old world" milling style that allows for unexpected, delicious nuances in your brew. The beans are sorted by hand, stripped of the fruit skin, and sun-dried with the fruit pulp still on the seed. The result is a wilder cup, with apple and berry aromas, milk-chocolate creaminess, and a clean, snappy finish.

The dry grounds put out fragrances of malted milk and hazelnut, along with caramelized sugarcane and mulling spices. Once brewed, softer aromas of red apple and cinnamon emerge. The is an incredibly round, balanced cup of coffee, with a great, heavier-than-expected body that allow for the cocoa and almond flavors to mingle nicely. The flavors are clean and distinct as drip or press coffee, but your Cerro Las Ranas is an intense and wonderful espresso, as well. I love this coffee!

Received 07/09/2013

El Salvador Cerro Las Ranas
Rainforest Alliance Certified

Roast Color: Medium/Dark Roast Color
Prep: Dry-Process, Pulped Natural, Sun-Dried
Body: Smooth, Medium-Bodied
Flavor Profile: Bright, balanced acidity
Cupping Notes: A shop favorite, this honey-processed varietal delivers a rich and sophisticated cup that we've been waiting for for over a year. It begins with a sweet start, followed-up by creamy milk chocolate and cherry flavors, a fully-developed body and a lemony-orange finish.