Brew Analysis by Alisha Rajan
This highly anticipated minimal-intervention Ethiopian natural from Gedeb reveals the unbridled sweetness of jammy berry fruits and syrupy molasses with every sip, an unsurprising yet pleasant revelation during the brew analysis. I truly enjoy coffees that spark the imagination as well as the tastebuds, and this one was no exception. For those of us that are more synesthetically or visually oriented, the tasting experience may evoke hues ranging from delicate pink to deep maroon. It certainly did for me. Eliciting a certain dreaminess, it left me captivated and eager to explore its range.
I began the brew analysis with a standard recipe on the Kalita wave, dosing at 18.0 grams at a medium fine grind setting for a yield of 300 grams. Coming in at just under four minutes with an extraction percentage around 20%, this one was full bodied and punchy. Perhaps the booziest of the group, I was getting strong cherry cola and blueberry notes. My strategy from here was to coarsen the grind to extract some more delicate fruit flavors. The next Kalita brew at a slightly coarser grind yielded syrupy and caramel/molasses flavors, but I was left desiring some more fruity brightness.
The next phase of the brew analysis was done using the V60 brewer. Retaining the specs from the first brew (18.0g dose, 9 grind, 300g yield), this one brought forth more of that brightness and sweetness that I was after, most notably a larger than life strawberry and lemon-lime candy. Increasing the dose further proved to be fruitful (pun intended). My favorite recipes on the V60 came in at 19.0g and 19.5g doses ground at 9 and 9.5 respectively, resulting in a higher TDS of 1.53 for both. These last two brews were punchy yet delicate in all the right places. A soft Bing cherry/raspberry medley sang alongside warm molasses and maple-like sweetness, striking the perfect balance of flavors. I had found the one!
As the first natural Ethiopia of the season, this beautiful coffee could not have arrived soon enough. With its vibrant yet delicate fruit character underlined by the sweetness of caramel and molasses, it is sure to be universally appreciated. I would recommend dosing a little higher and using a fine to medium-fine grind setting on a conical brewer to extract some of the more delicate stonefruit and raspberry notes. As we welcome the colder months, it is sure to be a welcome treat for any morning.
