Ken-Yeah! Gatomboya
It's true, I love Kenyan coffees best.
Perhaps it's because it was a Kenyan coffee that first convinced me to fall in love with coffee, or maybe it's just the taste. Whatever the case may be, I have always been a Kenyan coffee girl, through and through.
So you can imagine my excitement when our current Kenyan coffee, the Gatomboya, first arrived on our shelves late last year, popping with a bright and sassy, citrus boom! I was instantly won over by the subtle hint of savory-syrup-yum behind all that sparkle and zing! But over time the excitement wore off and the honeymoon was over. My heart began to wander to other coffees (Oh, Remera!) that would occupy my attention and my dear Gatomboya, was slowly replaced as my favorite coffee.
Perhaps it was an attempt to win back my undivided affection or maybe things just do get better with age, but a recent change in its roasting process has the Gatomboya back to being a coffee that is simply impossible to ignore!
Perhaps it's because it was a Kenyan coffee that first convinced me to fall in love with coffee, or maybe it's just the taste. Whatever the case may be, I have always been a Kenyan coffee girl, through and through.
So you can imagine my excitement when our current Kenyan coffee, the Gatomboya, first arrived on our shelves late last year, popping with a bright and sassy, citrus boom! I was instantly won over by the subtle hint of savory-syrup-yum behind all that sparkle and zing! But over time the excitement wore off and the honeymoon was over. My heart began to wander to other coffees (Oh, Remera!) that would occupy my attention and my dear Gatomboya, was slowly replaced as my favorite coffee.
Perhaps it was an attempt to win back my undivided affection or maybe things just do get better with age, but a recent change in its roasting process has the Gatomboya back to being a coffee that is simply impossible to ignore!
Using a Clever Dripper, I brewed and tasted several cups of this coffee in order to explore its recent transformation. Here are the things I observed:
All in all, I am happy to say, I love this coffee! These alterations in roasting have resulted in a very mature and balanced flavor from the Gatomboya, and leaving me with a cup of brew that I will happily call my favorite!
The whole bean aroma was of light chocolate butter-cream frosting and chopped nuts, then when ground, it smelled more like spice cake and chocolate dipped roasted orange peels. After brewing and while still hot, this coffee tasted like a rum raisin pudding, which slowly turned to a delicious orange infused olive oil cake! As the coffee cooled I tasted more and more "purple" and caramelized, syrupy fleshy fruit flavors: Roasted apricot, with a hint of stewed tomatoes and a rich smoky finish. The body was smooth and the mouth-feel was thick and velvety, a perfect balance to its caramelized complexity!
All in all, I am happy to say, I love this coffee! These alterations in roasting have resulted in a very mature and balanced flavor from the Gatomboya, and leaving me with a cup of brew that I will happily call my favorite! 
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Ryan Apr 5, 2010 – 1:48 PM
Hey, who spilled the beans?