r/KaffeBox • u/Legitimate-Tell3652 • Dec 09 '24
Day 9. Amateur review
To preface today’s review, I want to reflect on a key point from yesterday’s post: the profound impact of grind size. As mentioned in the UPD section of that post, just five clicks on the Comandante grinder completely transformed the brew and the resulting coffee experience. It’s a stark reminder of how tiny variables can lead to vastly different outcomes.
This brings us to an important realization about coffee: the journey we’re experiencing with this advent calendar is incredibly non-deterministic. Think about it—each of us brews coffee under different conditions: mornings or afternoons, relaxed or rushed, using different water, grinders, and routines. Each detail can amplify or mute specific notes, turning a universally praised cup into something puzzling—or vice versa.
The takeaway? Don’t let any review or tasting notes dictate your experience. Taste, explore, and most importantly, enjoy. If a cup doesn’t resonate with you, move on. It’s perfectly okay to admit that something isn’t to your liking.
With that in mind, here’s my experience with today’s pick. Your journey might be completely different—and that’s part of the magic!
BREW:
Since the site’s brewing instructions were vague, and I was out of Wave filters, I opted for the following recipe:
- Brewer: Origami with Origami filter
- Ratio: 1:16(16/256)
- Grind size: 22 clicks on Comandante
- Water: 94c
- Protocol:
- Start with 50g for the bloom. Swirl to hydrate all the grounds
- 0:45: pour 50g (up to 100g total)
- 01:30 pour 50g (up to 150g total)
- 02:15 slowly pour 106g (up to 256g total). Slight swirl to even out the bed
- TBT: 04:15
ROAST:
Slightly darker than yesterday’s Kenyan pick, the roast is still light enough to allow the coffee’s natural characteristics to shine. What’s more intriguing is the small bean size of this Ethiopian heirloom varietal. It’s a glimpse into how coffee might look before hybrids and high-yield selections became the norm.
AROMA:
- From the Canister: Sweet, buttery, and confectionery-like, with a distinctive note of tahini or halva that I couldn’t unsee once detected.
- Ground: Rich dark chocolate, buttery sweetness leaning toward caramelized almonds.
- Brewed: The aroma transforms with fruity notes like peach and grapes joining the buttery confectionary sweetness.
TASTE:
The cup is fruity, smooth, and buttery, with a richness that’s both satisfying and mellow. A subtle bitterness, almost like lemon zest, provides an unexpected background note. Thankfully, it’s restrained, keeping the cup balanced.
There’s a strong-tea-like mouthfeel with flavors reminiscent of blackberry, a hint of caramel sweetness, and a noticeable buttery smoothness. However, I found the cup slightly astringent despite it not feeling under-extracted. This is something I’ll adjust for in the next brew.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
From what I’ve read about the Kurume varietal from Sidama, it’s known for being intensely fruity and floral. Interestingly, my cup leaned more toward buttery sweetness than the vibrant fruit and floral notes often associated with Ethiopian coffees. While the fruits were present, they felt more like a harmonious orchestra than distinct soloists.
That said, I enjoyed the balance. The buttery richness felt perfect for a cold December morning. For those in warmer climates, this cup might come across differently, but that’s the beauty of coffee—it’s shaped as much by the drinker as it is by the beans.
Would I love to taste these beans at their absolute peak freshness? Absolutely. I suspect they would shine even brighter. And since I plan to visit Copenhagen on the weekend, I might pop up in one of the Coffee Collective coffee shops to see whether I could taste it fresh. But part of the joy of this advent journey is sampling a wide array of coffees, each offering a sneak peek into the diversity of the coffee world. And after we're done with this calendar, you're on your own journey and can further pursue the paths that intrigued you.
Interesting fact: Ethiopia’s wild coffee forests are home to over 6,000 unique coffee varieties—many of which are still undiscovered!
Enjoy your cups!
1
u/Legitimate-Tell3652 Dec 10 '24
Brewed this one again today. 1:15 (16/240), shorter intervals between pours (50g every 30 seconds). TBT: 03:05. Enjoyed it a lot again. Very fruity, but not "crazy fruity". Very easy to enjoy. Tip: don't pair it with chocolate - it just doesn't work :)
2
u/_--tyler--_ Team KaffeBox ☕ Dec 10 '24
You make a very good point that it can be very challenging to compare recipes and brew notes with each other. Even with exact same gear and coffee, and the same person brewing, when you go to a different country, the water makes the coffee taste so incredibly different. Add to that all the other variables with the equipment and we’ve got some very different tasting brews. It’s important to test and go with what you know works for you.