Description: Direct trade. "Floral Shining Citrus." Indigenous grown at 1700-1900 meters in Ethiopia.
Source: Café Grumpy, 224 W. 20th St., between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.
Geographic origin: Yirgacheffe region, Ethiopia.
Date Roasted: Nov. 18, 2008 by Intelligentsia.
Date Purchased: Nov. 24, 2008.
The Pour: "What's that? Smells good," said my wife from across the room. She does not drink anything but decaf, and that, rarely. The flavor is mellow, not overpowering, not bitter or sour, either. I'm not sure I am a fan of coffee that calls to mind fruit flavors, but this one does and pulls it off. It's subdued.
Intelligentsia says, "Charming the palate with its citrus fruit acidity, the Kurimi sparkles and shines as it brings forth flavors of orange, lime and lemongrass. Notes of jasmine and honeysuckle carry a delicate sweetness that gives the cup a juicy, refreshing character. A subtle and clean finish leaves notes of sweet spice and cocoa. Truly an elegant cup."
I caught the hint of orange, missed the notes of jasmine and honeysuckle, and did get a whiff of cocoa when the shot of espresso was brewing. I think I prefer something deeper and richer in a coffee, but this bean was a unique experience.
Effects: My first shot was made mild, in the early evening Wednesday, and I was still drowsing an hour later. That was probably a sign of my exhaustion from cramming a week's worth of work into three days before the holiday. I eventually perked up and roughed out this post while catching up on some podcasts and following the dire news from Mumbai. I didn't dare try another shot, or I would have been up all night.
This morning, I made a strong shot to wake up for the holiday. Feeling like a bit of a sluggard. Jane is cooking vegetarian stuffing in the kitchen to take down to our communal Thanksgiving feast with friends. CNN is chattering in the other room. The crowd are trapping us at home for a while. Our daughter is upstairs with Indian neighbors, who are watching the Macy's parade out their window a block away, big balloons passing through buildings on Broadway in the distance. I'll have to go up and get their take on the news. This shot of Kurimi was a brief moment for reflection. Does it shine? Maybe it does. We shall see how the rest of the day goes. I may need a third.
Peace.