2018-03-30 — Ethiopia Gera Jimma Nano Challa Coop
Roast Date: 30 Mar 2018Roast Level: FC
Duration: 11m31s
First Crack @ 8m59s
Rating: ★★★☆☆
1.2lb → 1.023lb; 15% Weight Loss
Sweet Maria’s
Nano Challa has a honey sweet smell in lightest roasts (City), stone fruit and tea suggestions, and sugary sweetness that finds it’s apex when adding hot water. Brown sugar and toffee smells are focused in the wet aroma, a candy sweetness that reminds me of torrone (minus the nuts), and the break releases a light accent of pearl jasmine tea, giving way to more weighty fruited smells that have elements of fruit cobbler. Brewed, Nano Challa produces a lightly fruited cup at City and City+ roast levels, with refined sweetness, and pristine finish. The underlying flavor is reminiscent of white honey, which is mildly fruited in flavor, and an aromatic note of ginger chew candies. Lighter roasts have a mild citrus note like orange juice, pulp and all, along with subtle Earl Grey and Jasmine accents. Darker fruit tones are built up at deeper roast levels, along with a Ricola-like dark herbal aspect, and the finish is marked by pleasant bittering qualities of cacao and dried orange peel. A mild citrus-like acdity serves as a focal point too, especially in the lighter roasts, adding a mouthcleansing affect to the finish. This years’ Nano Challa has a dense mouthfeel, especially in middle to dark roasting, making for a nice choice for espresso blend accent coffee.
Cupping
Acidity: Almost grassy acidity that I hope I learn to love.
Sweetness: Very subtle chocolatey sweetness.
Mouthfeel: Fresh and non-oily.
Flavor: To me this mostly tastes like dark chocolate. I can just barely taste the fruit flavors. Hopefully I’ll be able to taste them more tomorrow.
Finish: Light finish with just a hint of bitterness.
Balance: This coffee is fine. Not amazing. Hard to compare to other Ethiopians.