Ethiopia Aricha – Rogue Wave Coffee

Rogue Wave Coffee is a roaster based out of Edmonton, Canada. I’d heard nothing but great things about Rouge Wave and finally had a chance to try some of their coffees a few weeks back. This Ethiopia Aricha stood out as my clear favorite with its sweet, fruit-forward profile and juicy body.

The coffee began with a fragrance that was strong, sweet, rich and full of notes of berries, tropical fruit and mango. The flavor was juicy with fruit notes dominating it through and through. I tasted notes that reminded me of blueberry, raspberry and tropical fruits (a great continuation from the fragrance). The acidity was strong, yet balanced and aligned with the acidity profile I’d expect in a naturally processed Ethiopian coffee. The body was light, but jammy. The intense sweetness of the coffee was one of my favorite attributes of the cup; it was incredibly sweet and berry-forward. It lingered long into the finish, which also featured subtle floral notes. I only had a small sampling of the coffee, so I didn’t get to experiment with it in espresso, but I can only imagine it would make for quite an exciting shot.

The Bottom Line

This Ethiopia Aricha hit all the notes I love in a coffee: big, bold fruit-forward flavor notes, intense sweetness and a complex profile. I can’t wait to try more Rouge Wave Coffees in the months to come.