“City: Raisin, prune, date, and yellow fruits in the sweet cup, rock candy and burnt sugar notes, medium body, juiciness that ties nicely with the flavor and acidity.” -Sweet Maria’s
At first pour, the flavors are restrained, but the juiciness is already evident. There is a juicy mouthfeel, and a slight acidity that balances out as the cup cools. The darker fruits are evident in the bolder body flavors of each sip, and the bright juicy flavors abound! The sweetness is well balanced with the juiciness. As it continues to cool, the tartness disappears and yields to an orange twist, and some chocolate and spice emerges in the aftertaste. With a City roast, it’s a lighter body, and as the cup cools, hints of black tea flavors are evident. The body is much more balanced, with a smooth mouthfeel, and the aftertaste is dryer, and lingers longer.
Overall, I think this first roast hit the sweet spot for this bean. The roast was done in a Whirley Pop, with a low flame (gas stove), and was preheated to approximately 350 degrees before the beans were added. After the temperature stabilized at 250, it took 9 minutes for the beans to reach first crack, which also allowed for a much more even roast. After first crack started, the roast was allowed to progress for 1 minute before the beans were pulled. They were cooled with a strainer, agitated over an air fan to ensure they did not coast very much after being removed from heat. They reached room temperature within 3 minutes.
I am looking forward to this roast as a first cup serving in the morning, paving the way for some of the darker, bold coffee flavors.