I received this intriguing bag of coffee as a birthday present from a dear friend (thank you, Jennifer!!), and I’ve been looking forward to reviewing it properly. Lemma Coffee Co. is a coffee roaster based in North Texas that currently has three locations throughout the Metroplex (Carrollton, Frisco, and Plano). I realized when doing research for this review that I’ve actually visited the Carrollton cafe – I remember stopping in for a very good espresso once after visiting Dead Wax Records.
Their Baklava + Mango is a blend of natural-processed Nicaraguan coffee from the Jinotega and Matagalpa regions.
Whole bean: Large coffee beans, dry (not oily), lightly roasted. Particularly at the finer grind settings, I noticed that this coffee has a tendency to clump.
French press: If you are going for the flavors on the bag (baklava, mango, honey), this brewing method is hands-down the best option for bringing out these tasting notes. This made a tart and juicy cup of coffee that tasted of mango and had a mouthfeel like lemonade. Mouthwatering and refreshing!
Chemex: While these beans are undoubtedly light-roasted, this and the following brewing methods made this coffee taste (and look!) a lot closer to a medium roast. Perhaps the filter captured a lot of the pleasant acidity I found in the French press cup, but the Chemex cup had most of the acidity gone – replaced instead by a smoother, toasty brew with just a hint of brightness. If the French press version of this coffee felt like lemonade in the mouth, this was more like apple cider – less tart, more sweet, still fruity.
Hario V60: The thinner filter gave this coffee a slightly more tangy finish than the French press cup. Sweet honey flavor lingered on the palate. This was my 2nd favorite method for these beans (after the French press).
Clever Dripper: Weirdly, my first impression of this coffee made in the Clever Dripper was that it came out a little savory, like chicken nuggets (!). This dissipated quickly, but the flavor never reached the heights of the other methods, and it was the blandest cup of the four. I’m starting to wonder if brewing in plastic devices is just not for me. I gave up my AeroPress because I rarely liked the coffee it made as much as other methods, and I’m finding I feel similarly about the Clever so far.
Summary: If you love light-roasted coffee, brew this in a French press. If you think light-roasted coffee is too sour but are still interested in trying this, brew it in a pour over method. The coffee literally looks darker in color and tastes smoother when using paper filters. The Hario V60 has a thinner filter, so it will give you more brightness in your cup vs. the Chemex.
From the roaster: baklava, mango, honey
Lemma Coffee Co. Nicaragua Baklava + Mango
Review conducted 34 days post-roast.