Washed Bourbon - 2

Rwanda

I roasted this bean for the second time using the Popcorn Popper. This was a City Roast being removed from the heat just after the First Crack finished.

I made two cups using two methods. The first was with the French Press and the second was with a very coarse ground and my wife's tea infuser. Both cups turned out well. The flavor was highly floral / fruity and very mild.

It seems to me that this is a good coffee if I ever figure out how to make it well. I will keep you posted when I figure it out.

Espresso Coffee - Washed Bourbon A

Washed Bourbon

The other night I roasted some of the Rwandan Washed Bourbon to use for Espresso. I did not enjoy this cup as much as I enjoyed the Finca San Jose because the Finca San Jose seemed a touch sweeter and inviting but it was much much less bitter than the Flores Bajawa.

So for these reason I give this bean a 5 rating.

All Part of the Experience

I have become aware that I have made some mistakes that will necessitate that I re-roast and re-evaluate the coffees that I have already sampled. This affects the Flores Bajawa, Finca San Jose, Washed Bourbon, and Harar Horse coffees. which I will add addendums to as I re-sample the beans.

The mistakes?

First, I used to little ground in my pots of coffee. I used 1oz. of grounds to a 12 cup pot which is simply diluting the coffee too much to get the real essence of the bean. Second, I did not grind the beans enough. I need to sample a finely (Turkish) ground bean as this allows the flavor to be quickly extracted by the hot water of my coffee maker. A peculator or French press can use a more course ground simply because it has the luxury of time to adequately wash over the grounds. And lastly (at least for now) the first of the beans that I roasted was brewed with tap water where filtered water certainly enhances the flavor.

So, there are the three mistakes that I can and will remedy. I am informed that using a burr grinder (rather than my blade grinder) will enhance the flavor of my coffees as well but for the price of a burr grinder I will just have to suffer. Anyway, I will add an addendum to the posts that exist as soon as I get back to to them.

Washed Bourbon

Rwanda

I highly anticipated this third coffee roast as the green beans smelled very pleasant (vs. the Flora Bajawa & Finca San Jose). The brewed cup had an earthy, almost sweet saw-dusty scent which was pleasing and beckoning.

The flavor's first initial nuance is a fruity note that suggests a bitterness that never actually materializes while the buttery attribute stands out as it finishes. Although it boasts a nutty tone I did not notice it as much as in the other two coffees and it seemed the more enjoyable for it.

This brew has a hearty body which allows the flavor to finish long and it is packed in a bright amber-brown color that hints emerald green at the edge.

From 1 to 10 I rate this coffee a 5.