I’ve enjoyed drinking coffee for decades, but I still remember the one coffee that changed everything, the one that awakened my senses and introduced me to a world I never knew existed. The coffee was a natural-processed Ethiopian, and I remember marveling at its sweetness, the blueberry aroma, and how much I enjoyed drinking it black (which I had never done before then). To this day, it’s one of my favorite origins. When the lovely folks at Black Diesel Coffee sent me a couple of selections to try, I was delighted to receive a bag of their natural-processed Ethiopia Yirgacheffe!
Whole bean: These beans have the fragrant, sweet aroma of mixed berries.
V60: My total brew time in this preparation was 3:40, and this resulted in a deliciously fruity cup. It was exactly what I expected from these beans! This coffee was juicy, perky, and had just enough tartness to make your mouth water before the sweetness kicks in on the finish.
Chemex: The aroma was like honey. Slightly less juicy in the cup compared to the V60, but still a wonderfully bright and sweet coffee.
French press: I expected the immersion methods to taste quite different from the pour over methods, and I was right; this cup turned out amazingly rich and creamy in texture, with a hot cocoa vibe that had the slight tang of red cherries on the finish to keep your mouth awake and interested.
AeroPress: Historically, AeroPress brewing hasn’t been my favorite way to make coffee, but I rather liked these beans made in this device. The coffee had the same rich texture as the French press cup, but with a slightly more refreshing, joyful fruit flavor on the finish.
Summary: There’s a lot to love about this coffee. If you enjoy Yirgacheffe, you’ll enjoy drinking this in any form. The pour over preparations make a fruitier, juicier cup that drinks like fruit punch. The immersion methods are more like a tangy version of hot cocoa. I would recommend every brew method, but I think the AeroPress and French press cups suited my mood best when I did this tasting.
From the roaster: cherry pie, Bavarian cream, black tea
Black Diesel Coffee Ethiopia Yirgacheffe
Review conducted 15 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.