This is the second coffee I was sent by the nice folks at True Coffee Roasters. I enjoyed tasting their Ethiopia Guji, and part of the reason I opted to try it first is that Ethiopian coffee is one of my favorites – I’ve rarely met an Ethiopian coffee I didn’t like. Costa Rican coffee and I have a more mixed history, but given the obvious care that these roasters put into their product, I was more than willing to give these beans a try.
Whole bean: Super fragrant – lots of citrus brightness and floral notes. It was a little overwhelming, especially after the relatively gentle character of the Ethiopia Guji.
French press: This was just like a cup of cranberry limeade.
Chemex: Bright and fruity to drink – it made my lips pucker a bit. I tasted red fruit and citrus.
V60: This was more balanced than the Chemex cup – still fruity but with a smoothness to it.
AeroPress: This particular cup surprised me. I had expected it to be rather bright and sour since it would be concentrated, but the coffee actually came out smooth, a little toasty and buttery, but with the nice liveliness of the cranberry and lime I tasted before.
Summary: The tasting notes on this bag make clear that this is a pretty fruit-forward and complex coffee! I liked it best brewed in the AeroPress, with the Hario V60 as a close second.
From the roaster: Cranberry, raspberry, kiwi, lime, almond, and honey
True Coffee Roasters Costa Rica Finca Calle Lajas
Note: True Coffee Roasters sells their beans in 1-pound (16-ounce) bags.
Review conducted 8-10 days post-roast.
Disclaimer: I received this product gratis in exchange for a fair and honest review. Even though I received this for free, I treat and test it the same way as if I had paid for it out of my own pocket.