NEW CROP! EVERY BIT AS GOOD AS LAST CROP!
Ethiopian Yirgacheffe has always been considered one of the fine, heavier-bodied coffees available, but this seems truly supercharged! It starts right out of the grinder with an almost overwhelming aroma. A lot of coffees stimulate your nose only to let your taste buds down, but not so here: this coffee meets and exceeds the expectations. Large is the one best words to describe the Yirgacheffe. Aroma, body (even in a F-A-B roaster), brightness, and complexity are all so strong that it's like trying to balance a boulder on a nail. Perhaps that's overstating it a bit, but if you're looking for a delicate cup of coffee with a lot of subtle nuances, look elsewhere. This is bold: chocolatey with a carmelly texture, heavy fruits and a sweet honeyness.
I know this is a coffee from the Yirgacheffe region, but I would have been just as certain it was a great Harar blended with an outstanding Yemen blended with an outstanding Yirgacheffe. Fruity notes from banana to blueberry to even a hint of strawberry, dark cocoa, nutmeg, and cinnamon; a hint of floral and nutty notes and surprisingly just a whisper of earthiness. I would say that this is the most complex single origin coffee I've ever had the pleasure of drinking. As such, in my experience a lighter roast that keeps the beans out of second crack will preserve the great complexity.
If you like Ethiopian and Yemen coffee, this is a must try. If you had the pleasure of trying the Misty Valley Idido the first time around, you know exactly what I mean.