This community microlot from Gatara was hand selected by Masha washing station for anaerobic natural processing in order to highlight effervescent brightness and sweet, fruity flavor. With notes of orange soda, peach, lime, raspberry and honey along with a silky smooth body and a clean finish, it's got summertime written all over it!
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Despite its small size, Burundi has established itself among the coffee greats of Africa over the last few years. For better or worse, almost all coffee grown in Burundi is of the Bourbon variety which lends an unusual amount of dependability and consistency to the origin profile. The best cups of Burundi we’ve had are similar to those found in Ethiopia whose wild heirloom varieties gave birth to Bourbon. So it’s no surprise that if you enjoy good Ethiopian coffee, you’re gonna love a good cup of Burundi as well!
Masha washing station buys cherry from over 2,500 farmers in its community. If that number shocks you, it’s important to keep in mind that more than 80% of coffee farmers in Burundi are smallholders. These are folks who only have a couple hundred coffee trees which produce less than a pallet (10 bags) of specialty grade coffee each season. That’s too little to attract a suitable buyer, so community washing stations like Masha sort and blend the local crop in order to create large enough profile focused lots to export.
Community lots like this one are a great way for washing stations to craft a coffee that showcases the local terroir. This particular microlot was selected for anaerobic fermentation then finished with natural processing in order to highlight its inherent brightness and sweet, fruity flavor. The cup has effervescent yet sweet acidity which we noted as orange soda. We also noted ripe peach, raspberry, limeade and honey in our samples. These tasty notes were well balanced with a silky smooth texture and a clean, quick finish. It’s delightful as a single origin drip, but where it really shines is as a flash iced coffee. Just in time for those hot summer days that beg for an afternoon pick-me-up!
Recommended Roast Range: City to Full City (Light to medium)
Start at City (light) or just into a rolling first crack if you’re looking to get as much florality as possible out of the cup. If you’re looking for more caramel and body in the cup, take it as dark as full medium or after first crack has ended, but before second crack begins. We recommend keeping it to full medium or lighter to get the most from this coffee. Most roasters will likely prefer a City+ (light-medium) roast as first crack is trailing off.
Roasted this one a few times now with minor tweaks between roasts and have liked every roast so far.
1st roast I took an ultra-light approach. Hit DE between 4:30-5:00 minutes, stretched out maillard for 3:30-4 min, hit FCs somewhere around 9:00 minutes. Dropped at about 380-382F. The orange soda note is super strong at this roast level, but I don't think its an ideal roast for this coffee (sacrificing a lot of body for acidity/fruity notes).
2nd roast I took more of an average honey/natural process approach. Same drying phase (4:30-5:00 minutes). Shortened maillard phase to 3:00-3:30). Hit FCs around 8:00-8:30min, and dropped at around 400F. This resulted in more of a balanced cup for me, and is what I would/will probably follow moving forward. Taste wise, I can still definitely taste the orange soda note and other fruitiness, Overall, another winner for the Captain's Coffee!
This is my third time ordering this one. It might be my favorite. I roasted it as light as I possibly could, to right when the first crack started to pop.
This is one of my favorite brews. I like that it has its on flavor qualities. I’m not good at noting all the subtleties but I know what I like and I like this robust yet mild taste
As advertised. Orange soda up front and all the sweet and tart of peaches and lime after the initial punch. Great for mornings or as a dessert pour over flash brew. It's just so good.
Oddly enough, my favorite roast of this bean is just touching second crack. The fruity flavors punch through and mingle really nicely with the darker, roastier flavors. It makes a nice light roast too, but is definitely worth trying dark!
I roasted this on the light side, not quite a light-medium. After a few days, I tried it. I get the taste of chocolate orange, which is really nice. The orange flavor is more apparent after a couple days and beyond, but I did try it fresh after roasting for the first time. I got a distinct orange soda note in the aftertaste, which is wild! I also taste toasted sugar, like the top of a crème brûlée. A very nice, smooth, and wonderful tasting coffee. I plan on buying this again.
This coffee offers a delightful roasting experience that truly highlights its quality. The beans roast evenly, resulting in a rich, full-bodied flavor profile. One of the standout qualities is the noticeable fruitiness in each cup, which adds a unique and refreshing twist to the traditional coffee experience. The aroma is inviting, hinting at the vibrant flavors within. The balance between acidity and smoothness makes it enjoyable for any time of day. Overall, this coffee is an excellent choice for those seeking a well-roasted brew with a distinct fruity taste, delivering both complexity and clarity in every sip. Highly recommended for coffee enthusiasts.
I am brewing this with a Hario "Switch". 45 seconds pour through half the water and 1:15 to steep the rest then drain. It is a wonderful fruity and bright morning coffee.
First disappointment from The Captain. This coffee doesn't have any flavor that I would associate with a natural process let alone an anaerobic. It's pretty much tasteless. No fruit, no nothing. I'll roast a little longer next time to see if that helps.
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