Review 11: Lincoln Coffee House, Reading

Source: Lincoln Coffee House
Date: 23/05
Country: Rwanda/Guatemala
Beans: 60% Rwandan Gisuma; 40% Guatemalan Finca la Esperonza
Preparation: Americano

Nose of grounds: N/A
Colour of brew: Rich, reddish-brown
Nose of brew: Light, earthy
Early flavours: Chocolate, toffee, nutty - almond or hazelnut
Finish: Even, rounded, no bitterness

Tasting notes:

It's been a fair old while since I've posted a review - just over a year, in fact. It's not that I've stopped drinking coffee; it's just that I got busy and stopped updating. And not only that but I've started another blog in the meantime - a collaboration with some friends around the sheer joy of food. Go and have a look at food.matsuya.co.uk.

I was walking in a part of Reading that I don't normally see that much, and I noticed that there was a new coffee shop. It looked interesting, so I dropped in.

I was hoping for a good filter brew, but the only options were espresso-based. Going for the americano, I noticed that their brew was written on the wall - and very interesting, too. I've never had a Rwandan coffee and don't know anything about it; in fact, I'd never heard of either coffee bean (Gisuma and Finca la Esperonza). I found out a bit of information about each on the internet, but not a lot; but what I've seen looks interesting.

Tasting the coffee, I immediately felt that this was slightly different to usual. There was very little nose to it, and no sharp aromas at all. Tasting it, I immediately got a hit of sweetness - a nutty toffee with some chocolate to it too. It was beautifully rounded with no bitterness or acidity at all; it really slipped down easily. None of the flavours were what I would call 'bold' but everything was fairly subtle, which I really liked. The only thing I might hold against it was that it was a touch watery - perhaps there was a little too much water in it but I wasn't convinced that the strength of the brew was right.

But an excellent coffee. If I was having it again I'd have an espresso, to see what the flavours were like a little more concentrated. On the whole, though, a really worth-while visit and a great coffee to kick-start my reviews again.

Guest Review 1: Waitrose Kenyan AA Arabica

Source: Waitrose
Date: 4 May 2014
Country: Kenya
Beans: Arabica, AA
Preparation: Cafetiere

Nose of grounds: Rich, citrusy with a sweet "after-nose"
Colour of brew: Brown
Nose of brew: Slightly nutty, soft
Early flavours: Smooth and light taste
Finish: Short and clean.

Tasting notes:

At £3.29 for 227g, this is one of Waitrose's premium range of coffee beans. I've tried a few different Kenya AA coffees, but this is the first supermarket-branded variety I've seen, and I was curious to see how it would compare to others.

As it happens, I was most impressed by the smells of the beans and the grounds, both of which left a distinct mouth-wateringly pleasant sensation. The coffee drinking itself was enjoyable, but I think I might have slightly overestimated its strength, and didn't get all the flavours coming through in the actual brew.
The citrusy flavours that the label suggested were not the most prominent, but there was a distinct sweetness about the coffee. It was easy and light to drink, and left a clean pleasant feeling on the tongue.

Coffee maker's notes:
A top AA graded coffee grown in the northern region of Nairobi on high plateaus surrounding Mount Kenya and to the west along the Rift Valley, at an altitude of between 1500-2100 metres. This climate produces two harvests per year, in March and then October. The fermentation time ranges from 24 to 48 hours. All coffee is graded by the Kenyan coffee board and then sold at fortnightly auctions. Use this sticker to reclose.

Review 9: Nespresso 'Leggero Lungo'

Source: Nespresso
Date: 2 May 2014
Country: East Africa/Central America/South America
Beans: Arabica
Preparation: Nespresso machine - Lungo

Nose of grounds: N/A
Colour of brew: Red-brown
Nose of brew: Light, floral, spices.
Early flavours: Cinnamon
Finish: Medium, balanced finish with spices.

Tasting notes:

Review 5: Nespresso 'Vivalto Lungo'

Source: Nespresso
Date: 24 March 2014
Country: South America/East Africa
Beans: Arabica
Preparation: Nespresso machine (Lungo)

Nose of grounds: N/A (capsule)
Nose of brew: Bitter, spicy aroma, with a definite edge
Early flavours: Flowery, almost like rosewater
Finish: Not too strong but with a bit of tang

Tasting notes:

I've always been impressed by the simplicity of the Nespresso machines and the fact that you can get good coffee quickly and (I imagine) without too much mess. I decided to give a test to the different flavours of the Nespresso machine.

The flavours that hit you are sharpness and delicate flavours combined. It's an interesting combination and the coffee feels like it does not have the broad base of strong coffee flavour, instead emphasising the 'higher', interesting flavours. I like these flavours which are all interesting and in a well-balanced combination, though ultimately I find the coffee a little unsatisfying. It's worth noting that I went for the 'Lungo' brew - the larger cup where the machine creates a full cup (as opposed to an espresso with added hot water). If I had made it myself, I'd have probably put a little less hot water to retain strength, but then I doubt it would have that broad coffee base but simply be a little sharper and a little spicier.

On the whole, though, I was impressed!

Coffee maker's notes:

"Vivalto Lungo is a balanced coffee made from a complex blend of separately roasted South American and East African Arabicas, combining roasted and subtle floral notes."