I hit the jackpot this week, coffee-wise.  Back in April I placed a “big” order for 15 pounds of various coffees all from the same source.  Those 15 pounds included 4 different varieties of coffee beans.  On Wednesday this week, the shipment arrived!  Oh, I was so happy!

As I said, the shipment included 4 different coffees.  I immediatly roasted about a quarter pound of each bean, just enough for sampling, and testing out the roast.  I have now sampled each of the coffees.

Here are my thoughts on each, my early thoughts that is:

Rwanda Cup of Excellence #18 – Nkundiye Innocent – Bufcoffee Nyarusiza

This is one of the winning beans in the Rwanda Cup of Excellence contest this year.  Roasting was fairly typical.  I roasted it just to the start of the 2nd crack.  I tasted a cup at 20 hours rest and it was excellent.  Very smooth, kind of a molassas flavor, quite sweet.  Very smooth in the mouth.  We’ll see how this continues to develop given additional rest time to continue degassing.  So far, I am very happy with this bean.

Kenya AA Eegads Estate

This was my first time to get a bean from Kenya.  I didn’t know what to expect, but I am very happy that I decided to try this bean.  It is excellent.  Again, I roasted this bean right up to the start of the 2nd crack.  Cupped initially at 20 hours rest.  Very strong grapefruit flavor in the cup.  I mean very strong.  Very distinctive and unique cup of coffee from my perspective.  My only disappointment is that I ordered only two pounds!  Now this bean is out of stock, and I wish I had 10 or 15 pounds!  By far, this is my favorite bean of everything I’ve ever tried.

Mexico SGH Organic Natural Terruno Nayorita

Again, my first time to try a bean from Mexico.  I roasted these beans a little darker than the first two, not intentionally, but it just worked out that way.  Cupped after about 21 hours rest, and enjoyable.  Smooth flavor.  I am happy with this purchase, no doubt there.

Sulawesi Kalossi Toraja Gr. 1

First chance to try an Indonesian bean.  This is coming from close to home (our neighboring country), so it’s interesting to give it a try.  My roast on this bean went beyond where it should, leaving a bit of oil on some of the beans.  Not too much, though, and still perfectly usable.  Cupped at 21 hours after resting.  Wow!  Strong, strong taste, and my wife and I both agreed completely, it has a flavor of MUD!  Yes, mud, as in watery dirt.  At first I didn’t like it, but after a half cup it grew on me, and I like it now.  It’s not one of my favorite beans, but I will keep some stock of Sulawesi beans on hand, because it is an interesting cup.  Will be interesting to see how it shifts in flavor as it ages more.

Jackpot!

Yes, Wednesday’s mail was like hitting a jackpot.  Coffee is a new hobby for me, and getting in four new beans from four different countries gave me lots of new opportunity to enjoy the hobby, and learn some new things too.  I’m having fun!