Blind Assessment: Floral, strawberry-like sweetness in the aroma with a hint of dry, walnut-toned cocoa. Turns pleasingly bittersweet in the cup, with the cocoa coming forward and the flowers turning pungently lavender-like. Crisp acidity; lushly syrupy mouthfeel. The finish is deep and flavor-saturated when the cup is hot; dries toward walnut as it cools.
Notes: This coffee is a dry-processed or “natural” coffee, meaning the beans were dried inside the fruit rather than after the fruit has been removed, as is the case with wet-processed or “washed” coffees. This version is considerably crisper and less fruit-dominated than most natural Ethiopias, however. Barrington Coffee is an artisan roaster dedicated to elite coffees, fresh delivery and roasting that foregrounds the coffee and not the roast. Visit www.barringtoncoffee.com or call 800-528-0998 for more information.
Who Should Drink It: An unusual brisk natural Ethiopia. Aficionados interested in variants on the great Ethiopia cup may particular enjoy it.