Yesterday my district manager and myself went touring around the stores, this is our usual practice - to keep in touch with Store Coffee Masters and to support them as much as we can. My last port of call was St. John's Wood store, which is also the only Black Apron Store in my district.
Now, Black Apron Stores are shops that sell (surprise, surprise!) Black Apron Coffee, that is speciality coffees, rare non-mass-produced beans, delicate and exotic, for an ultimate classy coffee experience. (Black Apron is also a give away sign of a Coffee Master - that crazy person, constantly high on caffeine, pursuing you to find a lemon meringue aroma in a cup, that smells of - well, coffee!)
This time of the year Black Apron offering happened to be Aged Sumatra, the beans that small amounts of going into our signature blend - Christmas Blend. It retails at hefty almost 9 pounds, however, it is worth every penny, if you think about how much time and care went into production of this wonder!
They say: "A bold, exotic coffee from a land of tigers and spices." I have to stop here for a moment, because you won't find another person, so painfully obsessed with tigers as you humble servant. This short sentence, this simple marketing trick of marrying a real obtainable product, available to you now, with a notion of some far and totally impossible destination (paradise with tigers and spices mixed into delightful concoction!) sold me instantly! " Aged coffee, it's said, originated aboard sailing ships laden with spices and coffee beans as they made their long voyage home from Dutch Indonesian colonies to Europe. Exposed to exotic hardwoods, spices, ocean spray and extreme temperatures, the unroasted beans acquired intriguing qualities. Inspired by these maritime voyages, we carefully aged this coffee up to five years in its native environment. Our boldest cup to date, Aged Sumatra possesses an exuberant* cedary aroma, a syrupy mouthfeel and untamed flavour." ROAR_R_R_R_R!!!Beans come in a beautiful bronze coloured tin with a little carefully composed booklet. I think it makes a fantastic gift for Christmas. (Tin alone is invaluable for keeping memorabilia from far land exotic travels or jewels).
Tasting notes
Aroma is exotic indeed, reminiscent of a pinewoods, mossy and moist, smashed leaves and maple syrope.
Not as "green" and herby as conventional Sumatra. The body is pleasantly full and engaging, very balanced and unusual. Has some characteristically Sumatran spiciness, however, more delicate and complex.
Really nice cup!
* I had to look up this word in dictionary :-) It means "lively and cheerful".
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