Costa Rica Chirripo Joicafe

This lot from the Joicafe micromill has the kind of simple and clean bittersweetness in the cup that Costa Rican coffee is known for. Grinding a City+ released a chocolate hazelnut note, with some pungent bittersweetness behind it, and a hint of honey. The wet aroma drew out more of a dense chocolate tone, along with very subtle fruit suggestion. There's a really nice interplay of balanced sweetness and acidity in the brew, like brown sugar and milk chocolate, with a mild tea-like bright element, and hint of dried apple. Full City roasts are bit more intense, with punchy bittersweetness that's great on it's own, but pretty perfect for milk drinks too. I'm also loving this lot as espresso. I pulled shots at 6 days rest (18g in, 36g out over 30 seconds) and found a chocolate-lovers dream in Joicafe! There's an initial flavor of dark chocolate (like "Extra Dark" 82% Scharffen Berger) that's accented by chocolate puffed rice and orange rind, then unsweetened baking cocoa dials up the intensity in the aftertaste.