Rwanda-Ethiopia SWP Decaf Blend

Rwanda-Ethiopia SWP Decaf Blend

Farm Description

We have been so encouraged by taking charge of our own decaf program that we just can't stop. Many roasters buy decafs that are spot coffees, essentially off-the-shelf stock available from an importer or coffee broker. Just as our Farm Gate program allows us more involvement in selecting coffees at the farm or mill level, working in a more direct way, selecting coffees for decaf from our own stock ensures traceability. And the results have been great. This new blend is from two Farm Gate coffees, Rwanda Impala Cooperative from the Shanga-Nyamasheke area of Western district, and Ethiopia Hana Bosoke Cooperative from Illubabor. While you cannot know for sure how a decaf will turn out, I had a pretty strong feeling that this would be an ideal blend, and result in a sweet and bright coffee. The results are beyond my highest expectation. I could not believe the coffee was decaf, and it is amazingly sweet in the cup.


Cupping Notes

This blend has a dry fragrance from the ground coffee with molasses and cane sugar sweetness, raisin-plum-fig-peach fruit; it has no trace of the typical decaf-y smell. Amazing. The wet aroma has the same complex fruit mix, with almond oil on the break. In addition to a nice, syrupy body, the sweetness is the first thing that impresses with this cup. Their are similar fruits in the sapid taste as in the aroma: peach, apricot, plum, raisin. While there is a brightness in the cup, it pertains more to roast level than acidity, as the Full City roast seems very moderate in flavorful acids. The finish has a dark brown sugar overlay on the fruit tastes, with sweetness extending long into the aftertaste. The cup flavors really embody both the Rwanda and Ethiopia flavors well. As with other decafs, the external coloring of the bean during roasting is difficult to judge. Use the sounds and smell of the roast as well as sight to determine roast level! Decaf espresso from the FC+ roast is unreal. (That's how we say "really great" in California-speak).

Score

88.4

Lot Size

76 60KG Bags

Roast Recommendations

As with all decafs, color is difficult to judge during the roast. So attend to the roaster. City to Full City+

Processing

Other (see review)

Varietal

Bourbon     Heirloom Varietals    

Grade & Appearance

.6 defects per 300 grams, 15-18 Screen

Packaging

Shipped to us in GrainPro
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How to pick ripe coffee, at Hana Bosoke, part of this decaf blend

Old coffee trees at Hana Bosoke

Coffee cherry ready to pulp in Rwanda

Rwanda Bourbon coffee on the tree, Impala.
 

Comments

#1 Super sugary sweet. Chocolate

Super sugary sweet. Chocolate and caramel with toasted marshmallow with a bright and lively finish. As it cools it has a little more banana like esters that go with the caramel like bananas foster. such a great cup of coffee, period.

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