Counter Culture Coffee Washington, DC

Hello folks!

Here are the notes from the cupping this morning:

We had 4 cuppers and no first timers.

Ariel Pajoy Microlot, La Golondrina

La Plata, Columbia

Fragrances on the nose this morning were citrus fruits (orange zest, grapefruit) with a chocolate and nutty platform.  The aroma and break brought out the savory characteristics (tobacco, smokey, bitter chocolate,celery) and some spices (cinnamon, fennel seed).

The brightness was soft, light, low, and muted.  We tasted 80% Cacao dark chocolate, bitter orange, herbs, citrus, raw green beans, and nuts.  The body felt light and soft, and the after taste was short with notes of dark chocolate, smoke, and hay.

The coffee was described as a “good afternoon cup, a coffee coffee.”  Cuppers wanted a little more punch and sparkle, and this was slated as a good “rainy day coffee.”

Lot #8, Bwayi

Kayanza, Burundi

Fragrance was woodsy with some dusty fruit and bananas.  Aromas were of fresh cut wood, chicken soup, and oranges.  The break was grassy, broccoli, stir-fry, and light florral.

The acidity of this coffee was medium high, mediocre, subdued, but sparkled when cool.  Flavors were woodsy, nutty, dried fruit leather, and honey with a milky and smooth juicy body.  Aftertaste was drying with unanimous fruit with some black tea at the end.

Idido Misty Valley

Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia

This one wins for favorite on the table with 4 votes.

Fragrance was of bananas, anise, musty decayed wood, rotting vegetation, lemon, jasmine.  We got some exotic sweet spices, tonka beans, and bubble gum in the aroma.  The break was grapefruit, dark berries, black cherries, and spices.

We all agreed the brightness was medium-high, and tasted of sweet fruits and flowers.  The flavors were clean and fresh, fragrant, dried fruits, blueberry, yogurt, and honeysuckle.  Body was medium and creamy/round with a cherry, chocolate(!), lingering fruity aftertaste.

This coffee tasted really great today and cuppers thought the Misty Valley is a great coffee for a sunny summer day.  lemons and flowers, blueberries and chocolate, this coffee is truly shining bright lately!