Blind Assessment:

Deep, complex, sweetly pungent. Black currant, baker’s chocolate, moist, fresh-fallen leaves, maple syrup, a slight hint of juicy, berryish ferment in aroma and cup. Crisply sweet-savory in structure; plush, buoyant mouthfeel. Flavor resonates long into a richly drying finish.

Notes:

This coffee tied for the second-highest rating in a cupping of coffees from Sumatra for Coffee Review’s April 2019 tasting report. Coffees from the northern part of the Indonesian island of Sumatra are valued for their complex earth and fruit notes that appear to result largely from unorthodox fruit removal and drying practices called “wet-hulling.” This is a particularly refined example of the type, produced in the Lintong region south of Lake Toba, one of the oldest and arguably the most admired of Sumatra growing regions. Notch roasts in small batches to maintain quality and also offers a signature line of cold-brew, ready-to-drink coffees and concentrates. Visit www.notchcoffeee.com for more information; to order, email hello@notchcoffee.com.

The Bottom Line: Fine traditional Sumatra, lightly plump and juicy in mouthfeel, aromatically driven by earth-nuanced pungent fruit and dry chocolate.