Free U.S. Shipping on Orders Over $40
Dose: 21g
Ratio: 1:16.2
Grind: Finer than Neutral
Lab Grind: 5.5 EK43 Drip Burrs
Brew Time: 2:35
TDS: 1.37%
Extraction: 19.3%
Sensory Description:
Well-dialed cups of Encanto Maragesha trend towards more refined and delicate flavors. The absence of fermentation combined with a traditional washed process offers a clear expression of this unique variety’s flavor profile, combining the genetics of Maragogype with Gesha.
Well-dialed brews should present with a mild sparkling acidity like that of a white grape. Many of the fruit notes are soft and sweet like peaches, pears, and honeydew. You can expect a silky texture, slightly exaggerated by the small up-dose I’m recommending. You’ll also find some delicate white flower notes like pear blossom and jasmine. The finish is quite smooth on the palate and more florals came through on the aftertaste.
Dial Notes:
Please note that this particular Maragesha will be quite different from the Marageshas of previous years. This release comes from a different farm, Jardines del Encanto, and does not undergo the intense fermentation or natural processing of the Villa Betulia Maragesha.
In my testing, this coffee tended to brew quite quickly, even at very fine grind settings. Don’t be afraid of brew times on the short end of our parameters, and pay close attention to the clarity of the more delicate flavors to determine if you’re dialed or not.
Under-extracted cups of Encanto Maragesha lacked the fruit-like sweetness of better-dialed brews, missing the soft honeydew and peach notes. The cups also had a fresh herbal characteristic that, combined with the saltiness that can come from under-extraction, made them slightly savory. If you’re picking up on this savory quality, I recommend grinding finer for the next cup.
Over-extraction came across as slightly flat and dull compared to the effervescent white grape acidity of better dialed cups. The more delicate notes of pear and white florals were muddled and the texture was heavy rather than silky. For cups trending in this direction, I would grind slightly coarser on the next brew.
Well-dialed cups of Aril highlight the unique fermentation and processing combination of this Panamanian gesha. With an extended Carbonic Maceration combined with a washed finish, you’ll find this coffee to be exceptionally bright and lively compared to more delicate expressions of gesha. The result is a flavor profile of ripe tropical fruit like pineapple and mango, with some strawberry-like sweetness. You should expect a crisp, clear expression of fruit flavor rather than a syrupy or heavy-bodied one. The brightness and clarity in the cup also allows the floral and slightly citric notes to shine all the way through to the aftertaste.
Los Bellotos Bernardina are defined by their rich sweetness and creamy texture. There’s also a unique and pleasant contrast between the upfront flavor profile and the finish. At the front, you’ll notice more fruit-forward notes of concord grape, kiwi, and green apple – sweetness and malic acidity pairing well together. Towards the end and into the aftertaste, the flavors transition to more caramel, cola, and hazelnut-like notes.
