I am usually a single-origin snob and avoid blends, but recently I have been a bit obsessed with blended coffee—specifically single-origin blends. Ever since I tried Fruit Snacks Blend from Dapper & Wise, my eyes have been opened to the possibilities of what is possible when you blend two coffees with different strengths together. When sharing my love for Fruit Snacks Blend, I heard over and over again that if I like that one, I had to try the Tropical Weather Blend from Onyx.
Tropical Weather Blend is a blend of two Ethiopian coffees—one naturally processed, one washed. Its flavor notes promised mango nectar, pineapple, peach sweet tea and floral honey. What?! I was extremely excited to dive into this coffee.
The fragrance of the coffee was incredibly strong, sweet and fruit-forward. I smelled a variety of tropical fruit including kiwi, mango and pineapple. The flavor delivered much of the same. It was full of extreme fruity sweetness and a variety of tropical fruit notes (pineapple, mango, papaya). The acidity was very bright, but not overpowering—a testament to the perfect combination of washed and naturally processed coffees in the blend. In the aftertaste I tasted some sweet floral notes and a lingering acidity. While the coffee was dominated by fruit notes, it was still quite complex. There was a nice layering of the floral notes and an evolution to the sweetness that was fun to explore. While it dominated in pour over methods, the coffee was still good as espresso and was a real treat when flash brewed.
The Bottom Line
I had high expectations with this blend and they were absolutely met. Onyx Coffee Lab delivered again with a delicious blend of coffees that really does leave you longing for summer, shorts and sunshine. This and Fruit Snacks Blend has left me longing to explore other great single-origin blend options available.
