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90

Van Houtte Cafe

Sumatra Dark

Roaster Location: Montreal, Quebec
Coffee Origin: Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
Roast Level: Medium
Agtron: 46/57
Review Date: January 2006
Aroma: 8
Acidity: 8
Body: 7
Flavor: 8
Aftertaste: 8

Blind Assessment

In the aroma the earthy scent of moist fallen leaves and sweet grapefruit, with a hint of semi-sweet chocolate. In the cup I couldn't find the chocolate, but the fresh-turned, leafy earth tones and the sweet grapefruit intensified. The earth tones remain soft and free of hardness in the long, sweet finish. This is one of several Van Houtte coffees cited by reader Carolyn Jones, who simply testifies that Van Houtte has "awesome coffee!"

Notes

A classic traditionally processed Sumatra, typically marked by low acidity and idiosyncratic flavor notes that appear to result from serendipitous taints - mild ferment and mildew - acquired during unconventional drying procedures. Van Houtte ("A Taste of Europe in Your Cup") is a large Canadian coffee roaster and office coffee provider with its roots in European small-batch roasting. Visit www.vanhoutte.com for more information.

Who Should Drink It

Those who enjoy earthy/fruity Sumatras and those newcomers interested in giving this idiosyncratic coffee type a try.

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This review originally appeared in the January, 2006 tasting report: Romance and Perfection: 2006 Readers' Choices

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About the Author: Ron Walters

Ron Walters, co-founder of Coffee Review, manages business operations, including CoffeeReview.com, marketing, and social media. He conceived of and helped pioneer the development of 100-point reviews in the specialty coffee industry. For the past twenty years, he has been engaged in strategy, marketing, and management of specialty food and beverage businesses.

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