HEB Cafe Olé - Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Single Origin Review
The bag that started this whole month of exploration: HEB’s Cafe Olé Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. I picked it up knowing that I wanted to explore a single origin coffee, and thought the aroma that I squeezed out of the bag was fruity, dense, and enticing. Aside from that, I had no idea what to expect out of these whole beans.
We ground 50 g to a medium-fine grind, then brewed in our French press with water at 200℉. Even towards the bottom of the bag, this bean had a very active bloom. The aroma held true to my first impression and remained dense and wholesome with fruity notes.
After pressing and pouring, I taste a bright acidity that coats the mouth and lingers pleasantly. It isn’t overwhelming or overpowering and is reminiscent of lemons and grapefruit. Often the acidity turns me away from a coffee, but this was beautifully blended with a rich berry and never loses the robust coffee flavor. The berries are the most prominent flavor and remind me of blackberries or a summer berry mix. The berries are also not overpowering and create a wine tartness (which is common in Yirgacheffe coffees).
This medium roast coffee is described by HEB as “medium bodied and complex, accented by tangy crispness.” The flavors are beautifully blended to create a bright smooth drinker that would be perfect for warm summer days (or winter days when you need something lighter). My favorite part about this blend is that it doesn’t compromise on the heart of coffee – the rich and dark flavor that reminds us of early mornings and hard-worked days – just to bring in the fruity notes.
Truly a coffee I will return to in the future. Grab a bag next time you are at HEB and see which berry notes you pick out.
Cheers,
Mrs. Brew
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