While it was definitely iced coffee weather in New York City last week, team TampTamp took some time out of the office to retreat on beautiful Lake Champlain in upstate New York. One of the things we took some time to do was cup and taste coffee and we got to taste some really good coffees. Here’s some tasting notes:
#1 Barismo Costa Rica El Llano
- Dry: Brownies, Dark Chocolate X2, Baking Spices, Popcorn
- Wet: Dark Cocoa Powder, Sugar, Chocolate, Smoke
- Break: Meaty
- Brightness: low, medium high
- Flavor: Roasty, Plum, Dark Chocolate X2, Smokey,
- Body: Heavy, Dry, Resinous
- Aftertaste: Long, Resinous
#2 PT’s Coffee Costa Rica Finca Cerro Paldo
- Dry: Apricot, Toast, Plum,
- Wet: Juicy, Roasted Tomato
- Break: Sweet, Honey, Allspice, Black Current
- Brightness: Medium
- Flavor: Almond, Red Fruit, Grapes, Carmels Slightly Fruity, Nutty
- Body: Light, Medium thin Thickens as it cools
- Aftertaste: Clean
#3 Intelligentsia Coffee Itzamna, Guatemala Finca la Soledad
- Dry: Fresh Vegetable, Green Pepper, Fresh Straw
- Wet: Malt, Woody
- Break: Tomato, Red Fruit,
- Brightness: Medium High
- Flavor: Nougaty, Cherry
- Body: Medium
- Aftertaste:
#4 Wrecking Ball Coffee Guatemala Jacaltenango Rio Azul
- Dry: Stewed Tomato, Beefy Stew, Fruity
- Wet: Jazzmine, Malt, Fruity
- Break: Pot Pie, Bready, Beefy,
- Brightness: High, Sparkling
- Flavor: Earthy, Tomato, Clean, Apricot, Bergamont
- Body: Medium, Creamy
- Aftertaste: Super Clean, but Lingering
We also got to evaluate some coffee’s by drip brewing, and here are our notes on those:
Redeye Roasters Organic Ethiopia Amaro Gayo
This version of the Amaro Gayo is clean and sweet, with strawberries and blueberries up front, a rich full body, and a slightly smokey, cocoa finish.
PT’S Coffee Panama, Hacienda La Esmeralda Special, Mario Carnaval
It’s hard to fairly evaluate a coffee, with so much press, and so much anticipation, so I’ll only say a few things about PT’s version of the Mario Carnaval lot of Esmeralda: it’s super juicy, bright, clean, and floral, with lots of berries and jasmine. It’s also really really good. This is the coffee I want to drink on my birthday.
Thanks to all of our friends who sent us coffee, and to our good friend Seth (who blogs at Americano to go) for the pictures, insight, and companionship.