I was recently given a sample of Colombian “Sierra Nevada”, a Fair Trade and Organic certified coffee.   I’m not a huge fan of Colombian coffees.  I’ve sampled many, but I tend to find them a little too boring for my palette.  I like a wild, robust and complex coffee.  Hard to find in Colombians with what is available to me.  I tend to roast and drink only Fair Trade and Organic certified coffees, which limits what is available to me to some degree.

I roasted these beans to 415 Fahrenheit, a typical cinnamon roast, in my hottop roaster.

So, how about the flavour then…..

Slightly sweet with subtle notes of chocolate, nuts and caramel

• Roast: Cinnamon

• Origin: Colombia – Sierra Nevada

• Crop: Current (2009)

Aroma: slightly earthy, nutty, roasted coffee

Wet Fragrance (crust): sweet, slightly nutty, raisins

Acidity: vinegary, bright, sides of tongue, lingers on roof of mouth

Body: medium

Flavour: slightly sweet, notes of chocolate and nuts, slightly earthy

Aftertaste: medium-long, acidity lingers then changes to roasted coffee aftertaste

I rate this coffee 79/100 on my cupping sheet.

I was recently given a sample of Indonesian Sulawesi Toraja, a Fair Trade and Organic certified coffee. I was very interested in sampling this coffee because I enjoy Indonesian coffees, particularly Sumatran coffees from the Aceh area. These Sulawesi beans appeared to be quite similar in shape, size and colour to the Sumatrans.

I roasted these beans to 415 Fahrenheit, a typical cinnamon roast, in my hottop roaster.

So, how about the flavour then…..

Very earthy, especially in the nose, with a musty, roasty undertone and a very slight nuttiness.

• Roast: Cinnamon

• Origin: Indonesia – Sulawesi Toraja

• Crop: Current (2009)

Aroma: berry, vanilla, dried banana, strawberry, very aromatic

Wet Fragrance (crust): earthy, musty, woody, asparagus

Acidity: lemony, short, mellow

Body: medium-heavy

Flavour: very earthy in the nose, musty, roasty, berry, slight nuttiness

Aftertaste: short, toasty, pleasant

I rate this coffee 81/100 on my cupping sheet.