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Ethiopia Shakisso – Coffee Friend

Andrew Pautler

Ethiopia Shakisso – Coffee Friend

Coffee Details

  • Coffee Name
    Ethiopia Shakisso
  • Roaster
    Coffee Friend
  • Roaster Location
    England, United Kingdom
  • Estimated Price
    £14.00 / 250g
  • Flavor Notes
    Blackberry, blueberry, jasmine
  • Process
    Washed
  • Varieties
    Heriloom
  • Country
    Ethiopia
  • Region
    Guji
  • Elevation
    1800 MASL
  • Producer
    Shakisso
  • Roast
    Medium
  • Review Brew Method
    Flower, Orea, Torch
  • Roast Date
    August 28, 2021
  • Review Date
    September 6, 2021

Coffee Scoring

8.9
Aroma
8.5 / 10
Body
9 / 10
Flavor
8.5 / 10
Acidity/Brightness
8.6 / 10
Balance
9.5 / 10
Sweetness
9 / 10
Cleanliness
9 / 10
Aftertaste
9 / 10
Complexity
8.5 / 10
Flexibility
9 / 10
Pros
  • Approachable, berry profile
  • Rich sweetness

Disclosure: This is a sponsored review. As always though, all opinions are 100% my own.

Coffee Friend is an international retailer for coffee and coffee machines in Europe. In addition to other coffee brands, they have their own line of specialty coffee. I recently had the chance to try a variety of their Ethiopian offerings, as well as a Jamaican Blue Mountain, which is always a special treat given their limited availability. This washed Ethiopian from the Guji region had a lovely rich sweetness and approachable profile though, I thought it was the best of the set to highlight.

The coffee began with an interestingly complex aroma that was subtle, but had notes of stone fruit, berries, chocolate and pecans. The flavor featured richer notes of dark berries & chocolate with subtle nutty undertones. The acidity was fairly subdued and steady throughout the full sip. The medium body was smooth and somewhat silky. The sweetness was a favorite feature in the coffee for me with a pronounced richness and mix of fruit and chocolate within. The coffee had a lovely lingering finish that featured sweet floral notes and residual acidity.

The Bottom Line

While this wasn’t the most complex or exotic coffee I’ve had recently, it was quite delicious. For those that appreciate a more balanced and approachable cup that still features pronounced sweetness and a fruit-toned profile, this is an excellent coffee to try.

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