“City+: Light in body, complex in character. Balanced sweetness with caramel, green apple, melon, slight earthiness, truly unique.”
Initial sips yield a light body, with bright acidity which does tend towards a green apple tartness. The sweetness is light, and as I did detect a slight caramel aftertaste, although it was fleeting. As the cup cools, the brighter flavors have balanced out, and the earthiness has come forward. The aftertaste is sweeter, and the finish lingers nicely with some citrus acidity.
Overall, I think this first roast was spot on for this bean. The roast was done in a Whirley Pop, with a low flame (gas stove), and was preheated to approximately 176 degrees celsius before the beans were added. After the temperature stabilized at 124 degrees celsius, it took approximately 9.25 minutes for the beans to reach first crack, which lasted 1.5 minutes, and allowed for a much more even roast. After first crack ended, the roast was allowed to progress for another 30 seconds 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.
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Overall, this is a light bodied cup, but it definitely has a complexity to it. The bright acidity cools down and is balanced nicely with the earthiness. I can see this as a first cup, waking the taste buds.