Garrett's Coffee Journal

6/22/10

Zoka Kirkland

Pour Over Method

The Summer Solstice blend is 50% Rwanda, 25% El Salvador, and 25% Sumatra. You can really tell that Rwanda is the primary ingredient. It has the same darker flavor, but it’s not as heavy as the Rwanda. That reminded me of a Guinness where this one reminds me more of a brown ale. I’m trying to pick out some of the notes, but I’m really bad at that part. Still trying to figure that out.  

One of my favorite drinks at Zoka is the cold brewed coffee. If you like drip coffee, but are looking for a cold drink, this is the perfect option.

As I understand the process coffee beans are ground course, placed in a big filter, a cheese clothe, then into a 5 gallon bucket with water and put into the fridge for 12-24 hours. The product is a very concentrated, cold, black coffee. Fill a glass with ice, then half full of the concentrate, and the other half cold water. Now you have a tasty cold coffee drink that is worlds above a drip coffee or espresso drink that is poured over ice.

The cold brewing process also gives a coffee an interesting taste. There is no acidity at all. And I also think that because you don’t have to contend with the temperature of the coffee you are able to taste more of the notes in the coffee.

If you get the chance to try out a cold brewed coffee do it.

Date: 6/9/10

Coffee shop: Zoka Kirkland

Brewing method: Fetco

So I’m not exactly sure what I think about this coffee. For one I’m not really sure how to describe it. If I use my method of comparing the coffee to beers, I would say that it most reminds me of a red or brown ale, maybe a bit lighter. For some reason i just couldn’t pick up on any complex flavors in this coffee. It maybe be because of the fetco. I think that the pour over method is my favorite, but I’ll have to try the same coffee done up in both the pour over and fetco to decide if its the method that’s throwing me off.

Date: 6/6/10

Coffee Shop: Zoka Kirkland

Barista: N/A (It’s from the pot)

Brewing Method: Fetco

So I’m not exactly what to do with my post tonight. This is the first coffee I’ve written about that’s a blend and not single origin. It’s also the first one I’ve written about that was brewed in the Fetco and not pour over.

They tell me it’s supposed to be a dark blend, but i don’t find it to be too dark. It’s not as dark as the Rwanda, more like the Columbia. It’s very easy to drink. I’m trying to decide if I want to say that it’s bitter or not. I know it’s not sweet. Perhaps savory is a good description. Whats most intriguing to me is the different brewing method. I think someday I’ll have to try the same coffee but from different methods.

Anyways, I would recommend The Colonel if you were looking for a medium roast that was easy to drink.    

One of my favorite drinks is a cold brewed coffee from Zoka. Today they were doing a Rwanda. I would have done a proper review of it if I didn’t have to catch up in some work. But next time I have a cold brew I’ll make sure to do a proper review.