Today: Coffee Alchemy Ethiopia Shakiso Natural - last of this year's crop I've found anywhere. Heaps of blue and red fruits in the background, blackberry and chocolate in the foreground, tons of texture, sweetness and body. Dusty cocoa mouthfeel, sparkling acidity. One of the standout espresso coffees of the year for me, and nearly as stunning in milk. If I was competing tomorrow, I'd grab a bag of this. Not as fantastic as a piccolo long black - lots of the balance, texture, clarity and intensity is lost when adding water to the espresso (well, pulling the shot on top). Drunk as: - Piccolo long black (aka medium black) 3/5 - Piccolo latte 5/5 - Double ristretto 5/5 Lovely pong of morello cherries as a dry aroma and in medium Coffee Alchemy Panama Carmen Estate 'Siete Dias de Bellota' microlot My understanding is that this translates as 'Seven Days of Acorns', but I've been told it means 'Seven Days of the Harvest' by someone else. I'm guessing it means this because of the dry/natural process (like fresh acorns used to be processed back when they were a staple crop), drawing a contrast to the washed processes so common in Central America. Anyhow. Whether I say I'm certain that this is the best pourover coffee I've had all year, whether I say it's exceedingly complex with berry fruits, floral and chocolate notes, that it's super clean, very balanced, has a super-long finish an a gentle honeyed sweetness that ties everything in, or whether I say this is easily a 90+ coffee, probably 92-94, I'll say this: This coffee takes me to my happy place!
