(5 = Extraordinary to 1= Satisfactory)

ACIDITY 5 BODY 4 AROMA 5 COMPLEXITY 4 BALANCE 4 SPICEY CHOCOLATY - CARAMELLY - NUTTY - BUTTERY - FRUITY FLOWERY WINEY EARTHY -

Well slap me across the face with Lilies! Yirgacheffe is one naughty and truly seductive coffee! From the celebrated and lush Yirgacheffe growing region of Ethiopia. Yirgacheffe is a town in the Sidamo region, a high plateau north of Harar. "Yirg" should mean "highest quality and most fruity acidity" compared to washed Limmu and washed Sidamo -- or else the name doesn't mean a thing! Unusually robust and full-bodied for this more typically high-toned, lighter-bodied floral coffee.

Deeply rich acidity and a surprisingly heavy body; a shimmering cocktail of pineapple, pear, citrus and floral notes in the nose. The dry fragrance from the grounds is sweet and caramelly; the aroma from the brewed cup has great sharp peppery notes. The flavors in the cup are a dark raisiny sweetness, behind pungent black pepper high notes, a dry zest in the finish with hints of apricot or plum. The coffee becomes more citrusy as it cools, complex with tangy bittersweets. Look especially for a fruity winelike acidity and floral elements. Everything you like in an Ethiopian Sidamo coffee is even more pronounced in this Yirgacheffe.

This coffee is intriguing for its outstanding sensory properties. We encourage you to try a "sip" without cream and sugar to experience the uniqueness of one of our most exotic offerings (we debated heavily over whether to put it in our "Exotica" catagory!). Wild nights in every cup of Yirgacheffe: not too heavy or spicy and with that touch of wilderness...it is a satisfying full-bodied cup. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and every coffee drinker should try the original.

Roast: City+ Roast -- A medium roast brings out the subtle nuances. Don't roast this too much into second crack! If roasted dark this coffee becomes sharply pungent, thin, and all the flowery and fruity notes will be lost. Excellent for blending for that "special conconction".

Archive Photo

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