Ethiopia Misty Valley Yirgacheffe Natural

by mcclurem on September 7, 2018

This Yirgacheffe lives up to all the 'hype'. Like the other Yirgacheffes we've had over the years, this delivers a full body, complex flavor...From first sip to last. Even as the coffee cools down, it still holds its flavor. For our roasting, we typically take it to ~2 minutes past first crack. Some place between FC and FC+. I agree with the other reviews: you don't want to take this into 2nd crack or beyond. Too much is lost in terms of the complex flavors. One caution: Like with other Ethiopians, there is a lot of chaff. Doesn't effect the flavor, but just be prepared to clean out a lot of chaff from your roaster. ;)

by John on January 10, 2009

This is reall good stuff. After having my first pot I had to order more. Better than the more expensive geshia coffees.

by Backwoods Roasters on October 4, 2019

The roast is very easy to manipulate and it roasts to the desired flavor profile. The circus and nutty notes pair well.

by Kevin on March 21, 2020

So far these are my favorite beans that I’ve roasted.

by Dmitriy D on March 11, 2020

Just recently starting roasting at home and the Misty Valley Yirgacheffe is my favorite thus far! The large uniform beans roast very evenly. Amazing complexity of flavors and aroma.

by Eli Gaisford on January 27, 2020

This coffee is very good, make no mistake about that. The flavors aren’t quite as strong as I am used to but that could be because the bag came with a nice, big hole in it so I’m sure the beans got plenty of oxygen to make them slightly stale.

by Sarah Hill on December 17, 2019

This is the best coffee on this site. It has been my favorite since I first tasted it. The blueberry undertones make it so delicious!! You will LOVE this coffee, I promise. Give it a try and you will never go back to anything else.

by Kerry on August 14, 2019

It had been years since I roasted this coffee. I thought I'd try it again and meh. There are many coffees that appeal to me, this is not one. I guess my palate doesn't find this one as fantastic as other reviewers. I enjoy Indian (Monsoon Malabar in particular), Papua New Guinea, Brazil, and Vietnamese coffees. .

by Andrew Battaglia on March 9, 2019

This Particular (misty valley Grade 1 natural) notes not at all chocolate but more citrus! Dialed down the roast thru first crack on my second attempt to draw out the deeper tones and to no avail! all citrus and star fruit! Yes, Much Chaff but we it is a given with YC. it does need a bit of time to develop after roast to tone it down, so temper your palate at cupping for @ 60 to 70 hours. Great coffee to use on non rush delivery after roasting or prior to shelf or ship!

by Geoff in Topanga on February 9, 2019

First I took this to 2nd crack, and it was a bitter mess, but at City+ this bean really shines - as others have mentioned. Definitely a keeper!

by Doug on October 17, 2018

Ever since the original "Misty Valley" natural (Ethiopia Organic Idido - Misty Valley) exploded onto the market in 2007, I've been trying to find its equal. See, that first experience ruined me forever. It was highly forgiving, yielding intense blueberry notes across a fairly wide range of roasts. That blueberry essence is what I've chased for the last 11 years. I've roasted a hundred or more Ethiopian lots in that time...washed and natural...and never found its rival. I've never found those flavor notes in any washed Yirgacheffe, and hitting them in naturals is incredibly tricky: FC at most, don't push it into second crack, and try to find the sweet spot...which may be no more than 5 seconds in the roast. I've roasted this lot 4 times, brewed it both cold and conventionally...no blueberries. Didn't even feel like I got close. It's good, sure, a nice example of a natural Yirgacheffe, but it's just not exceptional...to my tastes. You may love it. Only way to know is to try it!

by Steven Hanscom on September 24, 2018

Very nice Thanks

by Anonymous on February 24, 2008

This is my favorite coffee in the past 2 years. It has an amazing complexity in tastes and you can vary the taste greatly depending on roast. I like a city+ which give the best definition to the fruit tones. Let it rest at least 48hrs

by Sarah Hill on January 22, 2019

I LOVE this coffee. It is by far my favorite over all the others I have tried. If you want to drink your coffee black and enjoy the flavors, this is the one for you. It’s actually sweet on its own and has the most delicious after taste. I will drink this as long as it exists! Misty Valley is excellent!

by rchen2235 on November 3, 2018

I tried Vienna and Full City, it's Chocolate, balance, but a little bitter and lack of acidity or fruity. I use pour over with Hario V60 dripper.

by David on December 9, 2018

Oh my...when it says "heavy fruits," that's an understatement. I should have avoided this one as well as the other Ethiopian. The fruits are here aren't an undertone: they are smack you in the face, overpowering and blows out every other nuance of this coffee: I've never had anything like it...same with the other Ethiopian. I love a winey flavor in coffee such as a top shelf Kenya has but this is absolutely not that. After drinking less than a cup of this and the other Ethiopian, both went in the trash (and I have never once thrown coffee I roasted in the trash). And I agree with Doug....no hint of even Blueberry...just a sickening, overriding (I guess you can call it) fruitiness that is just flat out nauseating. And I do not know what the issue is with these Ethiopians from CBC...I have roasted many Ethiopians and never had one anywhere near this level of sickening fruit...sorry guys, these are just nasty. Sorry to have wasted the money.