The last #whatsCTpulling of the year also sees the end of a 5 coffee run from Klatch Coffee with their Golden Bean Espresso. A blend of Panama Elida Estate and a natural Ethiopian, this coffee won the Gold Medal in the Milk Based category at the Compak Golden Bean completion. “The milk based category celebrates espresso that pairs well in lattes and cappuccinos.” Ironically enough, of the three espresso blends I tried from Klatch, this was the one I most preferred as straight espresso.

An easy to work with a sweet, approachable espresso.

I preferred this one the most because I wasn’t detecting any deeper more roasty bass notes. This coffee favored milk chocolate instead of cocoa powder, fruit instead of carmelized sugars, etc. To me, it was simply sweeter and more balanced. Acidity was very milk and the coffee was well balanced with good body overall. Subtle berry and fruit notes became more pronounced in the finish as the cup was left to cool. In general, this was a very easy to work with and approachable coffee.

Dosing 18.2 grams in a 18 gram VST basket and pulling shots to 30-32 grams in 27 seconds or so @200F seemed to be my preferred zone. These parameters pulled shots with thick syrupy body, and lots of balanced sweetness.

As one might guess, the coffee worked very well as a cappuccino, though not in a revolutionary way by any means. It simply created a very sweet, balanced, cup. Lots of milk chocolate, a bit of nutty sweetness, and subtle berry notes complimented a creamy texture.

Available for $19.95 for a 12 ounce bag or $39.95 when purchased with America’s Best Espresso, and keep an eye out for shipping promotions that Klatch runs frequently.

Hope you all have a great New Years and I’ll see you in 2017 with some new coffees from a go-to roaster.