Uganda Ekimuli #1 Kasese

With coffee it is sometimes like travelling, big and small, planned as well as spontaneous. In any of these versions, you can take a gentle turn and find yourself in a completely new place. It's the same with finding new flavours and sensations in coffee. For me, such a journey into the unknown was a packet of freshly roasted Uganda Ekimula #1.

I rarely drink coffees from this country, but when I do, they evoke emotions in me. Different ones, admittedly, but always an emotion. Better than none at all because it makes it easier for me to remember them.

But to the point.

I received the parcel on the occasion of a very nice few days together in Rumia, during the 2020 Polish Latte Art Championships, which Robert was judging and I was organising as Shadow Coordinator at the SCA.

Of course, as at such an event, there was little time for coffee and to focus on it so I postponed the pleasure until after the competition.

And as I said to myself, so I did. The day after the event ended, I had a longer moment to enjoy that coffee - after all, gifts always make me happy, and coffee in particular.

Aromas of Uganda

Upon opening the magic packet, a pleasant aroma immediately burst straight into my nostrils cocoa, flowers, in particular Lavendersand as far as I'm concerned oranges. After grinding the beans, the aroma only became more intense and encouraged me to brew the brew even faster.

I classically used Scott Rao's method, which is fast and good, almost like cheap wine used to be, only instead of fast it was cheap, because if it was fast wine it could go very wrong. But for a reminder of this method: grind reasonably coarse, pour pre-infusion, then stir it, leave it for 30 seconds so that the carbon dioxide is released from the grain and then pour to a given volume, stirring again after pouring. Two simple steps that end up producing very pleasant results - and that's what I respect most about coffee - simplicity and getting it done as quickly as possible. Especially as I suffer from a chronic lack of time, and a day is definitely too short for me.

Impressions after brewing....

The whole thing brewed in about three minutes, and the aroma that wafted from my decanter reminded me of my beginnings with speciality coffee, where the first coffee I had was a natural Ethiopia probably from the Johan&Nystrom roaster, as I mentioned in my first post.

This coffee also brought back those fond memories for me - definitely the aroma of natural-processed coffee lingered and tickled my nostrils pleasantly. It featured flowers, oranges and chocolate.

After the first sip I could feel the whole brew settling pleasantly on my tongue, the slightly sticky body and the long sweet aftertaste did not let me forget this coffee. The longer I drank it, the more I waited for the next sip, causing me to almost drink it all at once. At the last minute, I found myself slowing down to focus and dissecting this coffee.

 

"After the first sip I could feel the whole brew settling pleasantly on my tongue, the slightly sticky body and the long sweet aftertaste did not let me forget this coffee."

Certainly the heat was on notes of raspberry yoghurt and chocolates. The more my coffee cooled, the more it appeared flowery in coffee and notes of red orange and grapefruit peels. The aftertaste reminded me of orange peel and dark chocolate. Acidity definitely medium, raspberry-like.

After finishing a cup, I regretted having to share it with my wife, as I would have loved to drink more of it, and unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, there was not enough time to brew another one. However, the memory remains. That's why, at any spare moment, I eagerly return to this coffee and brew it for myself as soon as the moment allows me.

For whom is Uganda Ekimuli?

If I were to recommend this bean to a particular group of people, it would definitely be lovers of 'naturals' who will like it and people who go for transparent medium-complex brews. Because there may not be a lot going on in this coffee, but it has its own character, is definitely "likeable" and has sensory notes spread out in a point, which I personally like a lot!

So much for today.

The holidays are starting, so I wish you all rest and peace.

Best regards and until the next one!

Paweł Świderski