Yachi Kachise, Ethiopia - Seven Seeds

The Coffee

Roaster: Seven Seeds - Melbourne, Australia

Region: Jimma, Ethiopia

Varietal: Heirloom
Processing: Washed

Demographic: Classic, Rich, & Fruity
Brew Rating: 95/100

Filter Brew

Location: Home Brew

Brew Method: Hario V60

Ratio: 21g Coffee - 315g water

Time: 3:00

The Story

This coffee has had quite the journey from farm to cup.

Famed in Ethiopia ➫ Roasted in Melbourne ➫ Purchased in LA ➫ Brewed in Chicago!

After finding this coffee at Paramount Coffee Project in LA, I had to bring a bag back for the team at Bow Truss on Broadway in Chicago. They were gracious enough to brew a cup to share.

Coffees from Ethiopia are consistently my favorite coffees, especially naturals. Many of these coffees, however, serve a specific palette. What impressed me about this particular coffee is the flavor profile would truly serve just about anyone despite it's specific stand out taste notes.

Rich mouthfeel & deep flavors truly bring this coffee to life. When hot, this coffee displayed a depth of flavor that was nothing short of remarkable. My first recollection from sipping this coffee was of Fentiman's Rose Lemonade. It was unmistakable -  bright, crisp, & vibrant. Fortunately for the masses, there was a depth of familiar coffee flavors that will keep anyone coming back for more.

If you can get your hands on this coffee, do it. Get your hands on this coffee. The traditional simplicity of this Ethiopian coffee combines with the deep complexity of a botanical lemonade is not something you want to miss.

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Got another international review coming to you in the new year!

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If your interested in this coffee, please check the following link and support an artisan roaster!

(Coffee available as of 12/31/2015)

Seven Seeds - Ethiopia Yachi Kachise

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Heritage Bicycles - Chicago, IL

The Cafe

Name: Heritage Bicycles
Location: Chicago, IL
Address: 2959 N Lincoln Ave
Serving: Intelligentsia
Visit Date: November 14, 2015

The Experience
Cafe Aesthetic: 95/100
Coffee Quality: 80/100
Hospitality: 80/100
Overall Experience: 85/100

I originally heard of Heritage Bicycles & Coffee by way of Spruge a couple of years ago. I was excited by the concept of bike shop & coffee bar! Last week, I was finally able stop in for myself.

Heritage brought me back to the 1920s. Old world charm & classic bikes filled the space. The cafe was warm, welcoming, & bustling with guests. 

The welcoming feel of the cafe was accentuated by a full display of pastries calling my name. I took on a red velvet old fashioned from Something Sweet Donuts and it was amazing.

Throughout the cafe, the menu was displayed in about 3 different iterations. The specific coffees were laid out on an ever changing paper menu. The pour overs seemed pricey (yes - even for an S.O pour over), but a kenyan offering certainly struck my fancy! The baristas were functional, but neglected to engage any more than necessary to get me through the system and hand me a cup of fresh coffee.

THE COFFEE

The V60 of Kenya Raikiberu promised notes of pomegranate, lemon, & currants. The final cup however seemed to be overpowered by a rich tomato. While the mouthfeel was full and rich, I am not a fan of the more tomatoey Kenyans. I wouldn't discourage fans of lighter roasted Kenyans from enjoying this coffee, but I would certainly aim for something else next time I stop in.

Overall, my experience at Heritage was positive. The cafe had a good vibe and I was able to enjoy my coffee. I would not shy away from bringing friends visiting from out of town. The coffee & welcoming atmosphere is sure keep me warm more than a few days this winter.

HERITAGE

Good coffee served by skilled baristas in a cozy cafe.

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Guatemala El Limonar - Roast House

The Coffee

Roaster: Roast House Coffee Roasters - Spokane, WA

Region: Huehuetenango, Guatemala

Varietal: Bourbon, Caturra, & Catuai
Processing: Washed

Demographic: Light Bodied, Smooth, & Fruity
Brew Rating: 90/100

Filter Brew

Location: Home Brew

Brew Method: Chemex

Ratio: 48.5g Coffee - 800g water

Time: 5:00

The Story

I'm all about dessert... and for dessert, I'm thinking sugar. After a meal, I crave a sweet glutenous treat overwhelmed with sugar. There are times when eating with friends, when the host tries to break this habit by placing a bowl of fruit with just a dollop of whipped cream at my place. Often, my initial reaction is offense.

"Who does they think they are?! If I want sugar, I'll eat sugar and if I want to fill up on gluten, I will!"

Once the initial reaction fades, the truth sets in.

"I like fruit. Fruit is good."

This coffee reminds me of one of those times.
A light, fruit medley, with the perfect natural sweetness.

Before diving into the cup I was introduced to this coffee with the smell of a warm cherry tart. This coffee was truly a pleasure to drink. While I usually prefer heavy bodied coffees, El Limonar had a silky smooth body that kept me coming back for more. Tasting notes were a straightforward fruit medley.

This is a coffee I would strongly recommend to anyone. The combination of a silky mouthfeel & complex fruit flavors is delightful. I was craving an over the top dessert and Roast House delivered!

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This is our second review from Roast House

Give it a try!

If your interested in this coffee, please check the following link and support an artisan roaster!

(Coffee available as of 12/5/2015)

The Roast House Coffee - Guatemala El Limonar

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Ardi Natural - Timbertrain Coffee Roasters

The Coffee

Roaster: Timbertrain - Vancouver B.C. 

Region: Sidama, Ethiopia

Varietal: Heirloom G1
Processing: Natural
Demographic: Natural lovers, Natural haters, coffee nerds

Brew Rating: 90/100
Espresso Rating: 90/100
Overall Rating: 90/100

Filter Brew

Location: Spokane

Brew Method: V60

Ratio: 19g Coffee - 300g water

Time: 2:40

             Meet Ardi. This Sidama Heirloom is easily one of the best Natural processed coffees I’ve ever had. This is one of those “wow” moment coffees that are frequently sought but not frequently found in the coffee community. Coffee nerds behold! 

As brewed coffee the taste is as clean as a high end washed process while still revealing peeks at the Natural processed inherently sweet berry taste. The cup is incredibly complex. Starts off hot with light cane sugar sweetness up front leaving the palate with a blueberry pie aftertaste. As it cools it reveals blackberry jam with the complexity still present in the form of a black tea. If it was a meal, it would be like an English muffin with blackberry jam and your Gram’s favorite black tea. Maybe throw in a small bowl of blueberries. With some cream. Maybe sprinkle sugar? Yeah. 

On espresso this coffee requires one to grind a tad fine. 

Espresso Parameters

Espresso Machine: Linea Classic - La Marzocco

Grinder: EK43 - Mahlkonig

Ratio: 20g In - 60g Out

Time: 30 seconds

           At these parameters I picked up on an incredibly creamy mouthfeel, hints of coco, syrupy sweetness, and a dried blueberry taste serving as the backbone of the espresso. If it were a meal it would be like having a blueberry pie with a bar of chocolate to finish off. Served probably some more of Gram's tea. Cause your still at Gram's house. 

Easily one of the best Naturals I have ever had. First sips might be a let down on count of the dry aromas dried blueberry nature until you realize you were stupid for thinking this was going to be a typical natural. That being said, for people who are anti natural processed this is an enlightening experience, and for Natural lovers you will either love it for tasting so clean/complex or hate it cause the mouthfeel isn’t as thick as you.

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Give it a try!

If your interested in this coffee, please check the following link and support an artisan roaster!

(Coffee available as of 12/2/2015)

Timbertrain Coffee Roasters - Ardi Natural

 Thanks for reading! 

-JH

Osmium Coffee Bar - Chicago, IL

The Cafe

Name: Osmium Coffee Bar
Location: Chicago, IL
Address: 1117 W Belmont Ave
Serving: Dark Matter
Visit Date: November 11, 2015

The Experience
Cafe Aesthetic: 85/100
Coffee Quality: 80/100
Hospitality: 90/100
Overall Experience: 85/100

At the moment I'm spending much of my days building out new cafes. These mornings, I often let far too much time slip away before my first cup of coffee. On this particular Wednesday, however, I was resolved not to let this happen. Two birds were sent to glory with a single proverbial stone this morning as I entered Osmium Coffee Bar in Lake View. I've heard a lot about this particular cafe and I was excited at the opportunity to stop in.

I was greeted warmly by a pair of baristas who seemed to be in the midst of a pleasant morning. They immediately asked what they could prepare for me and I asked for an espresso. They let me know I was getting a single espresso with the strength of a triple espresso. I haven't heard this before and I was thrown off (thus forgetting to inquire of the origin - this will not happen again!). While the espresso was enjoyable, it was a bit bright for my taste. That being said, I would not shy away in the future.

After my espresso I inquired about their barrel aged cold brew which was served on tap. A concoction of Ethiopian coffee aged in whiskey barrels. I was given a small sample, which was just the right amount! The smell of whiskey shined and I could pick up on the scent when the glass was still on the table. As with the espresso, the coffee was quite bright and the whiskey seemed to accentuate the coffee and add to the brightness. I will say, I was pleasantly surprised by the flavors found here. That being said, I would not be inclined to drink more than 4oz at a time.

An early morning started off right - good coffee & welcoming baristas. Osmium Coffee Bar delivered a positive experience and I'm looking forward to another visit.

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Congo Kivu - Roast House

The Coffee

Roaster: Roast House Coffee Roasters - Spokane, WA

Region: Kivu, Congo

Varietal: Bourbon
Processing: Washed

Demographic: Sweet, Rich, & Complex
Brew Rating: 85/100

Filter Brew

Location: Home Brew

Brew Method: Chemex

Ratio: 48g Coffee - 800g water

Time: 7:00

The Story

This review is coming to you all from the beautiful city of Spokane, WA... Well, actually, this review is coming to you from my quiet Chicago apartment as I wind up for a new day.

My first impression on this coffee came from exact the moment when the stream of water hit the freshly ground coffee. My nose was instantly filled with a think sweet-honeydew aroma that stayed with me for the entirety of the brewing process.

This Congolese coffee surprised me with a syrupy mouthfeel that reminded me of a tea sweetened with just the right amount of honey. This coffee delivered delightful sweetness as well as floral & citrus notes to make this a quite complex cup. As the cup cooled, the sweet & citric bouquet mellowed out and was accented by a slightly woody finish that I didn't love, but it didn't turn me off, either*.  Tasting notes from Roast House include honey, hibiscus, & grapefruit. These descriptors are on point for this coffee and they show themselves in a cup that demands to be shared.

¡ESPRESSO BREAK!

Espresso Machine: Classe 9 - Rancilio
Grinder: EK43 - Mahlkonig

Ratio: 19g In - 38g Out

Time: 22 seconds

This coffee as espresso was surprisingly bright (with above dial). The aroma was insane in espresso - that rich honey-dew smell was so delightfully strong I could hardly believe it. 

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Good news for all of us, is that this is just 1 of our reviews coming from RH!

Check it out!

If your interested in this coffee, please check the following link and support an artisan roaster!

(Coffee available as of 11/12/2015)

The Roast House Coffee - Congo Kivu

*NOTE: I forced myself to leave a few sips at the bottom for the express purpose of this review. 

This was extremely difficult as all I wanted to do was drink it all right now (then).

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Welcome to Artisan Coffee Reviews

Artisan Coffee Reviews is a collective of coffee professionals from across the country who drink an obscene amount of coffee. Our goal is to utilize ACR as a platform to both record and share our thoughts & help you find the best cup of coffee to bring home.