“City to C+: Nice fruited profile, juicy with asian pear, passion fruit, guava, Honey Crisp apple, a complex cup that opens up as it cools.” -Sweet Maria’s
At first pour, the flavors are a little mixed, but there is a crisp acidity that is apparent. The flavors have a complexity that opens and balances out as the cup cools. The fruits are evident in the acidic flavors of each sip, but they are tempered with the full body, which has some dark chocolate undertones. As it continues to cool, the Full City roast has a medium body, and the acidity goes from tart to a balanced citrus taste. The mouthfeel is a little syrupy, the body is much more balanced, and the aftertaste is sweet with hints of brown sugar, and lingers just long enough to get some fruit flavors.
Overall, I think this first roast was on the darker side 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 10.5 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 1.5 minutes 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 second cup serving in the morning, it’s complexity and the way it evolves as it cools definitely warrants taking the time to savor each sip. However, the time after first crack will be reduced on subsequent roasts, as I would like to target a City+ level roast next time.