Coffee Review: Ethiopian Nekisse, Fonte Coffee Roasters
C
ompany: Fonte Coffee Roasters
Bean Origin or Blend: Ethiopian
Body: Medium
Roast: Medium
Brew Method: Drip and French Press
Price: $24.50/16oz.
Background:
Fonte Coffee Roasters was the first independent coffee roaster in the Pacific Northwest, being founded in 1992 in Seattle, Washington. Slightly different from most coffees we’ve reviewed here, Fonte is available in many restaurants and five star hotels. You can learn a bit more about them online and on Twitter.
The Ethiopian Nekisse is part of Fonte’s Special Selection Coffees, which includes other well known, hard to find coffees, such as Jamaican Blue Mountain, Kona, and a Cup of Excellence Award winner.
All Ethiopian coffees are purchased through the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange, and the Nekisse variety of beans are naturally processed – the beans are actually dry roasted inside of the coffee plant, which imparts the fruit flavor that is present. Developed on a private farm in Southern Ethiopia, under strict micro-selection standards, this coffee is fairly rare and is sold as high as $12 a cup, though it is available very reasonably from Fonte.
Profile:
The Ethiopian Nekisse has a very pleasant aroma that takes on mostly nutty notes, with a muted earth undertone and a berry aroma that lingers. On consumption, the flavor profile is very similar to the aroma – a pronounced nuttiness that is similar to roasted peanuts and a smoky aftertaste. The berry never totally identifies itself, but the fruitiness of the cup is excellent – the Nekisse bean truly is unique. There was a slight acidity and very little pungency, so this was a mostly clean cup of coffee. The medium to long finish coated the palate well and added some intense complexity to an otherwise clean profile.
Synopsis:
I thoroughly enjoyed this coffee from Fonte, and it is one that I would revisit without hesitation. If you haven’t had Nekissee beans, I highly suggest you try it. The subtle, yet complex flavor profile and the clean nature of this cup create a bright and lively experience, which was not exactly what I expected from an Ethiopian bean. Fonte has done well to secure this lot. The price is out of my comfort zone for a daily drink, but it is however appropriately priced.
