India Shevaroy's Superior

First a disclaimer. There are no certified organic Indian coffees, and I’m not sure if this one was grown organically. It probably was based on the fact that is it a high altitude, high quality coffee. But that's my only basis.

India is an underrated coffee. It is grown right up there near Yemen, near Africa, and has a clean, gentle, nutty taste that you would think would give it more credit in the coffee world. This one has a subtle spiciness to it, and the aroma reminds me of cinnamon, the initial taste of hazelnuts and an aftertaste of nutmeg. It’s not a dirty-tasting coffee, and actually has a creamy quality, and a sweet grain-like quality to it that reminds you of a high quality south american coffee. A friend remarked it reminded her of a combination of Chai tea and coffee. Another described it as "Market Spice" meaning, the taste and aroma one would experience when walking through a street market in India. That makes sense -- India grows coffee alongside their spices.

The vast majority of the quality coffees from India are generically sold as Mysore Nuggets; but this one is a single lot grown in the Shevaroy Hills, which are in Southern India with peaks as high as 5,000 feet. It's a really nice lot, and was worth separating out and selling at a premium.

It’s good on any roast level, but I tend to let it out a few seconds into the second cracks, or else a nice French Roast well into the rolling 2nds. My sweet spot on it is a bean temperature of 412 degrees (Full City roast); although a melenge blend of equal parts of 398 (City Roast) and 418 (Full City+) is equally enjoyable. But even at 435 degrees, deep into the 2nd cracks, this is a fun coffee. The body holds up well, but it leaves a spicy feeling in your mouth making it addictive.

It seems to be a versatile and forgiving coffee. This is a washed process coffee, not the monsooned process coffee that India is often associated with.