Slate - Finca Cerra Negro, El Playon Honduras - Inverted Aeropress

Jay's great friends got hitched, and honored him by inviting him to officiate their wedding. The day prior to the wedding, they surprised him out of their thoughtfulness, by buying him a year-long subscription to Slate Coffees, and a bottle of gin. So he wouldn't have to wait for the first bag, they already gave him some of their Finca Cerra Negro, El Playon Honduras which is a honey-processed coffee that they made for the Volunteer Park Café, here in Seattle.

As Jay couldn't wait to try it in the office, he used his french press at home, but it did the coffee little justice on its complexity, giving it an intense, smokey taste.

Tasting notes: Now, Monday morning in the office, the aeropress gives it some three dimensionality: The citrus notes come forth, and it is much sweeter and much less smokey than the French press at home. Overall, a little darker than we would have expected due to the Region and the roaster, but from my taste at Volunteer Park Café, they tend to like a little more intensity.

Jay's rating: 7
Brent's rating: 8.5

Slate Coffee Roasters, Sidama, Ethiopia Kilenso - Inverted Aeropress

One mid-day break on the way to the quarter finals of the world cup, Brent had let me know that Slate Coffee Roasters had some Brazilian beans. Anxious to get these to properly root for a Brazilian victory (post-script, the game against Colombia was a bitter, Pyrrhic victory). At Slate, the fellow working noted that they were not only out of the Brazil, but also all the South or Central American stuff (our recent jam). Reluctantly, we asked what was recommended, and he immediately suggested their Sidama, Ethiopia Kilenso.

Upon brewing this in our now usual inverted aeropress fashion, there was a mighty bloom found:

Notes -
Brent: As always, Slate delivers in the African coffee category.  They seem to have an exceptional way of roasting these coffees - full flavor, nice complexity.   This kind of coffee does not perform well in a traditional coffee maker, and will surprise a casual drinker as the flavor profile is quite strong.  My wife personally does not prefer the natural process, she finds the flavors too strong.   I think the aeropress brings out the best of this one, the strawberry is quite apparent.

Jay:
This coffee, despite the light roast, retains the full power that African coffees are able to have, without the monolithic punch of smoke. It was all about nuance, and is some of the best coffee from Ethiopia I've ever had. Amazingly powerful smell of strawberries, tangy, light with an ending of unsweetened cocoa nibs.



Jay's Rating: 10
Brent's Rating: 9