So my Mrs kindly prepared coffee advent calendar and handed it to me this morning. Thought I’ll share it with you daily ! So day 1 is Goldbox coffee - Mexico Mazateca Mujeres - initial fruity sourness onto clear raspberry notes followed by creamy mouthfeel as espresso. As a milky piccolo more balanced with less prominent fruitiness - creamy mouthfeel and gentle bitter aftertaste.

prezes Nice to see the actual roasted beans as well.

What a great idea! I’m impressed you got it dialled in with such a small amount.

Ernie1 that’s such a great advantage of Niche… So easy to dial in. I keep a list of all the coffees I had previously which makes it easier to dial in by referring back to origin and process. This coffee was in a 50g bag

Day 2! Smith street Castanhas do Brazil - smooth and well balanced as expected from Brazilian coffee. Note of hazelnut is the main thing I can pick up with sweet aftertaste.

Day 3: Goldbox Colombia Santa Ana - my taste buds suggest blueberry on every sip and lightly boozy flavour in the background with lingering aftertaste. Brings back memories of Django’s Santa Ana!

Onto day 4 and we’re changing continent. Sidewalk coffee Kenyan Kithungururu - can’t really put my finger on the taste with this one. It’s got a creamy mouthfeel matching roasters description but doesn’t strike as dark cherry to me. Good tasting cup with gentle citrus like flavour in the background which goes away after a while and leaves a sweet aftertaste.

Day 5 is a Workhorse 50/50 Brazil/Rwanda espresso blend from Horsham - does exactly what it says ! Low acidity, nuts, chocolate and sweetness that could be associated with caramel. Found more prominent citrus note in the background with milk rather than espresso.

Day 6: Kiss the hippo aquaires Costa Rica - well balanced coffee with light, pleasant bitterness. Brewed at 92 degrees 1-2.2 ratio, run 30 seconds with 10 seconds pre-infusion. Will grind a tad finer next time.

Day 7 - Smith street the don El Salvador Peru - their season blend. Sweet with light bitterness lingering with maybe a bit of spiciness in the background. Preferred this one as a piccolo. Pulled 1 - 2.25 ratio @ 41sec with 10 sec pre-infusion at 93 degrees. Will grind a little coarser next time. Least favourite at the moment.

On day 8 we’ve got Tank coffee Ethiopia Djimmah - smooth body with bittersweet aftertaste. No fireworks here but a decent cup. 92 degrees, 1:2 ratio @ 23 sec so see how it comes out when ground finer. Second attempt was at 32 seconds but still not fireworks.

My Coffee advent calendar

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Day 15 brings Kiss the hippo Donna 50/50 blend manos de mujer Colombia and san juan Nicaragua - Dark chocolate and caramel sweetness with pleasant minimal bitterness. I’m not a fan of dark roasts but this isn’t one of those burned, oily darks. Nice change from last few days fruit forward coffees. 1:1.8 ratio @ 90.5 degrees 35 seconds with 5 second pre-infusion.

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Day 16
Tank coffee Ethiopia Yirgacheffe - very floral on first sip with nuts and fruit afterwards. Prefer this with milk. 1:2.1 ratio @ 92.5 degrees 37 seconds with 10 seconds per-infusion. Required a really fine grind.

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Day 17
Goldbox brazil rancho grande estate - sweet nutty, chocolate coffee with almost no bitterness. Very smooth and satisfying. 1:2 ratio @ 90.5 first shot run at 41 seconds with 10 second pre-infusion.

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So day 18 it is !
Smith street Chazez Honduras - fruity start balanced by sweet and nutty aftertaste with very smooth almost peanut butter like body. 1:2.3 ratio @ 92 degrees 34 seconds shot with 10 seconds pre-infusion.

CoyoteOldMan

prezes day 28 it is !

Time flies!

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CoyoteOldMan lol well
Spotted ! Corrected

Cuprajake

Was this bought or made

Cracking gift

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Cuprajake it was made by my Mrs. She bought small packs from few roasters and wrapped them up for me individually! Couldn’t ask for a better gift !!

DavecUK

prezes That’s a very creative gift! Fun too….

Cuprajake

🥰🥰🥰

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Day 19
Tank coffee Ethiopia sidamo - can’t put my finger on anything in particular here. Smell is quite complex. I get a bit of spiciness which is followed by sweetness and leaves a lingering sweet taste. 1:2 ratio @ 91.5 degrees 33 seconds shot with 10 seconds per-infusion.

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Day 20

Kiss the hippo Angelical Honduras - very pleasant tartness to start off which I can happily associate with blackcurrant followed by a complex sweet flavour. Really enjoying this one. 1.2.1 ratio @ 91.5 degrees 32 seconds shot with 10 seconds per-infusion.

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Day 21

Smith street La Danta Guatemala - perfectly balanced coffee with light fruity notes and sweetness which reminds me of sweet cherry taste. 1:2.4 ratio @ 93.5 degrees 37 seconds with 10 seconds per-infusion

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Day 22
Horsham Brazil fazenda inhame - this one just screams hazelnut as you smell and taste it. Not a lot bitterness. Easy drinker! 1:2 ratio @ 91 degrees 29 seconds with 10 seconds pre-infusion.

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Day 23:
Kiss the hippo George street 50/50 blend of washed Peruvian and natural Ethiopian - big chocolate hit from start to finish for me. Didn’t get any berry like flavour yet but there is gentle acidity in the background so this is most likely it. 1:2 ratio @ 91.5 degrees 33 seconds with 10 seconds pre-infusion

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Day 24… last day!
Smith street white peak 50/50 blend of Brazilian/Guatemalan - this is great as great as espresso as with milk. Sweet, nutty with clear cocoa notes. Really enjoyable. 1:2 ratio @ 92 degrees 35 seconds with 10 seconds pre-infusion.

DavecUK

I’ve greatly enjoyed reading the daily coffe tasting descriptions, also good to see photos of every bean as well…thanks for posting these.

prezes

It was a cracking experience and I enjoyed it thoroughly! I will surely reach out more for blends now as used to buy single origins mainly but there had some really good blends here.
It makes you appreciate single dose grinders even more.

Kiss the hippo was the most consistent with the roasts.
Goldbox was a huge surprise. Never heard of them but each coffee was very good.

Meldrew

prezes That’s what I call a very thoughtful gift. It’s been great following your coffee journey.

CafeCalando

@prezes I’ve thoroughly enjoyed following your advent journey. A lovely gift that you have shared with us. Thank you.

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