Saturday, October 26, 2013

For That Fruity Note In Coffee


Rushed around all morning with no time for a coffee break or food, beyond a hasty cup of yoghurt with blueberries. Finally had time to wander off, find a cafe and sit down with a book.

First solid savory bite and first coffee of the day, in the middle of the afternoon, at The Coffee Academics. Okay, instead of my usual piccolo latte, I wouldn't mind a cold cup. Plenty of ice-drip choices on the menu.

Stared at it, and decided that I would splash out HKD128 for a glass of 'Orange Honey Geisha' from Santa Felisa Estate, Guatemala. Chemex, ice-drip. That geisha bean is known for its delicate and perfumed flavors. It has shaken off the label as a novelty bean, and solidly established its fine standing in the world of coffee. I've had it a few times. Loved it. Was it worth it? Yes. It was gorgeous. To be savored, and not downed like an espresso. Although it isn't an everyday drink for me. I still prefer hot coffee. In this glass, there were the promised honey notes, body, and a delightful aftertaste. Cold brewed tea and coffee always bring out different layers of taste that aren't forced out by hot water. This ice-drip didn't taste like coffee. It tasted like...a really good unpeated single malt. The notes and aftertaste also reminded me of a really light Norwegian oatmeal stout- Havre Stout brewed by Nøgne Ø.

Unsurprisingly, a strong craving for a single malt stirred within an hour of leaving the coffee joint. Specifically, something non-peated, of course. Not Islay, not Speyside. Perhaps from the Highland. A port-matured...something. A Edradour, or a Bunnahabhain maybe. Luckily, by the time I left, it was fairly close to 5pm, a reasonable time to take in alcohol at a conveniently located bar in Wan Chai.

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