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Posts Tagged Coffee Pairing

Rwanda Rusenyi Coffee Review

Jan 22

Posted by Mike in Coffee, Tasting & Reviews | No Comments

Rwandan Rusenyi Bourbon, from Mighty Good Coffee

Rwandan Rusenyi Bourbon, from Mighty Good Coffee

Info: This Rwandan coffee from Rusenyi coffee growers was grown in the Lake Kivu region and roasted by the Mighty Good Coffee Roasting Company of Ann Arbor, Michigan.  It is 100% Bourbon Varietal, hand picked, and sun dried.  The coffee has been brought to a medium roast, with no oils showing on the outside of the beans.  Mighty Good Coffee describes it as “Sweet with notes of caramelized sugar, dates and raisins”.

Nose: Sweet, light, and meek.  A gentle sweetness with underlying scents of ripe berries and pan seared bananas.  There isn’t a massive smell coming from this coffee but it doesn’t smell weak either.  It’s crisp and aromatic.

Mouth: What a joy!  The acidity flows and delights my tongue but manages to be modest at the same time.  The brightness gives way to an easy going nutty element, and then sweet blueberry tones dance on my tongue as the coffee takes its time in the finish.  The flavors stay with you after the finish, but in a pleasant, “happy” way; as opposed to an ashy burn bearing down from an over roasted coffee.  This Rwandan offering has a restrained, delicate elegance about it.

Pairing: Dark chocolate (60% cacao) covered cashews.  After experiencing some of the tartness present in the chocolate the coffee smoothed out a bit.  There was still a little brightness left that nicely complemented the cashew flavors.  I’m sure this coffee would pair well with many fine treats such as french truffles or chocolate covered cherries.

The Big Picture: Rwanda Rusenyi was meant to be enjoyed slowly, sip by sip, savoring all of the complexities it has to offer. It may be lighter in body, but it delivers with plenty of enjoyable flavors.  Dark roast aficionados looking for creamy body won’t find their nirvana here, but anyone who can respect brightness and complexity will have a smile on their face.  It paired great with the chocolate covered cashews, and I can see myself relishing this coffee late at night with some friends.  For those who haven’t tried Mighty Good Coffee, I highly suggest it.  They ship their coffee very soon after roasting and everything I have tried from them has been exceptional.

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Coffee Review: illy Dark Roast Review + Pairing

Dec 29

Posted by Mike in Coffee, Tasting & Reviews | No Comments

illy Dark Roast | Review from Mikepedia

illy Dark Roast and Lauren's Mocha Fudge Cake

Info: illy coffee is commercially produced and distributed and can be found at a variety of upscale food retailers and fine dining establishments.  illy’s signature blend has been around since the company’s founding in 1933.  8.8 oz cans of illy coffee are sold for around $14 and are air sealed to preserve freshness.  When I opened the can it most definitely smelled fresh.  The beans appear to be roasted at a Full City or Full City+ level, without much oil showing on the beans.  The illy blend is “proprietary” and no one really knows for sure what the included varietals are, but it is known for maintaining it’s signature taste.  Time to see what my palette thinks.

Nose: Sweet and smokey.  The rich sweetness coming from this coffee induces the romantic connotations of coffee in my cranium.  Soon afterward the not-so-subtle smokiness reminds me that this is a dark roast, and this coffee has brawn to back up it’s brain.  There is also a small brightness that is very hard to place; perhaps a mild apple (Fuji?).  A hint of soothing clove-like spice closes out this outstanding aromatic coffee.

Mouth: This coffee is the official “King of Smooth”.  Smokey, roasty, (in a positive way) rich velvety goodness soothes my mouth.  Towards the end, the coffee backs off and doesn’t leave anything hanging in the balance — the rich flavor presents itself and leaves in a pleasant way with no hanging aftertaste.  There are no wild notes that stick out.  The spice flavor is present but always fleeting.  “Faint clove” would be the best description.  This coffee has body too; it’s thick and creamy (for coffee).   As soon as I tasted this I was excited to test out the pairing.

Pairing: I chose to pair the coffee with some Mocha Fudge Cake that my girlfriend Lauren graciously prepared (pictured to the right).  The cake is served cold and is rich with chocolate flavor.  It brings out a chocolate sweetness in the coffee that screams  “Late Night Delight!”.  When tasted together my palette could only identify a uniform, sweet and smooth entity.  The coffee solidifies itself as an after dinner champ.  I could see this coffee pairing great with any variety of  desserts — strawberry shortcake, chocolate souffle, crème brûlée, tiramisu, etc..

The Big Picture: What really puts a smile on my face is that this coffee presents a positive roasty quality that doesn’t leave traces of ash on my palette.  I’m sick of so-called French/Italian roasts that just taste like ashes from a fireplace.  Some like to describe them as bold or strong but I think they are a poor example of what superb coffee can be.  “illy’s Dark Roast” delivers with the body and richness of a darker roast without selling out to mediocrity.  This is definitely my go to late night coffee.  While it comes at a somewhat hefty price tag, good coffee is worth it.  Even more, it’s wide availability in fresh form is a win for enthusiasts who have trouble finding a good cup of coffee outside of their house.  This coffee receives a strong recommendation for those fond of dark roast, rich, or dessert paired blends.  To be fair I think most who enjoy coffee would appreciate illy Dark Roast.

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