Ethiopia Shakisso – Coffee Friend

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.