Here is a post that I made on Instagram which I hash-tagged to your page. Not sure if you saw it:
My first shipment of Parachute Coffee is fantastic!
My wife got me a 3 month subscription for Christmas and I was eagerly awaiting my first delivery.
More than ten years ago I worked as a coffee roaster and QC guy (coffee cupping) at an NS roastery and would probably still be working there today, but for a toxic and dysfunctional management that laid me off due to “corporate restructuring.” I tried to stay in the coffee biz, but opportunities were so limited. The upside is that I learned a whole lot about coffee.
My tasting notes:
The coffee is a medium roast of Brazilian and Guatemalan. I had roasted a lot of Guatemalan but no Brazilian (as it had to be both organic and fair trade) so didn’t know what to expect. It was indeed a medium roast and seemed quite fresh (no oil on the beans is a good sign.) Freshness is everything for maximum quality. (Buy freshly roasted, and grind as you go, kids! Also, no cream or sugar!!)
I decided to use a pour over with a Chemex. I’ll try an espresso tomorrow, and then a French press.
The fragrance of the ground beans was very nice—fruity, but fruit that is slightly beyond ripeness. A banana with a few dark spots. (This must be the Brazilian) I copied the pour over technique I had seen at cafes in Japan many times. The same fruitiness of the fragrance carried through to the aroma of the brewed coffee.
I poured three cups worth in the Chemex, but forgot to preheat it (duh!) meaning it was a little below optimum temperature.
The flavor was outstanding! The fruitiness continued to the cup. Nice smooth, silky body for a medium roast with a very pleasant understated acidity, likely from the Guatemalan. Like a good sipping wine or bourbon, it is good as a treat for special occasions, not an everyday standard, like Colombian. For one, it’s way more expensive than my usual $11 for 2lbs Costco coffee, and for another the flavor is a bit exotic for an early morning wake-up.
My wife and daughter also liked it, commenting on the fruitiness, pleasant acidity and long finish. In short this coffee has beautiful balance, smooth body, and moderate acidity. A two thumbs up from stormy Nova Scotia.
Thank you @parachutecoffee !