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Esmeralda: It's the Best We've Had

We were gleefully anticipating opening the first of the three half pound bags of Bill_sipping_the_esmeraldathe Esmeralda this morning.  And we were not disappointed.  The bag fairly exploded with citrus - a virtual lemon bomb of greater magnitdue that the typical blueberry bomb you get when opening a bag of top Harrar (and we're overdue for some of that here).

We did two 17oz press pots of the Esmeralda before we were 'dialed in'.  Luke from Caffe Intermezzo happened in while we were tasting the first pot (1oz to 17oz water, brew time 3:30 with stir after 30 seconds- brilliant flavors but seemed thin) and hung around until we finished the second (same proportions, immediate stir and additional stir after 1 minute, total brew 4 minutes... name your superlative). 

Andi was effusive about general citrus (grapefruit, orange, lemon) and a jasmine flower head, Lois and Rich were focused on the lemon (zest, not pulp juice), the flowers (Rich: something like juniper) and the astrigent characteristics that Bill (pictured) later called "winey" and which Fortune called "grape skin" on her blog's write up. 

Bill said it was definitely worth the fin.  Chris - normally an espresso man - was wowed by his cup.  Mark bought TWO cups while detailing his latest trip out West (he hit Blue Bottle, Ritual and Stumptown - and we're jealous).  Everyone else who tried it agreed it was indeed delicious.  Some found it worth every cent and would go again sometime, others did it just for the experience.

Belle, Melanie, Lauren and Petra each took turns making a pot and trying some.  While there is disagreement on which flavors pop, everyone agrees that this might be the smoothest - and possibly "cleanest" - cup of coffee they've ever had.

At the end of the day we had gone through most of the second half pound with the third yet untouched.  As the roast date was the 28th, we know we're good for at least another three days, but we expect the last half pound to be gone by close tomorrow (we're on abbreviated hours - 8am to 1pm).

As we say, "Coffee Is the New Black' (sm) and Esmeralda must be drunk black to appreciate it.

If we have any left over after tomorrow, a few lucky customers may get a surprise Wednesday morning.

July 03, 2006 |

Comments

Erik

A great write up on Esmeralda Geisha coffee!..dad

Posted by: Erik | July 23, 2006 at 04:21 PM

The comments to this entry are closed.

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