Mugged: The Barn

Subject: The Barn
Coffees Mugged (coffees were not rated on the normal scale due to small amount mugged) [see key]:
- Nano Challa, Gera, Ethiopia
- Amaca - Los Anayes, Cauca Colombia
- La Isla, Naranjo, Costa Rica

- La Montana, Narino, Colombia

- Fazenda Um, Minas Gerais, Brazil

- Nguguini AB, Kirinyaga, Kenya

- El Diamante, Intibuca, Honduras

Lots of coffee roasters extend across the continent of Europe, but only a handful have a strong reputation internationally. One of these roasters is The Barn Coffee Roasters in Berlin, a German roaster that has been growing in reputation since their inception in 2010. Sadly I have not set foot in Europe during the past 8 years, so my interactions with their coffee have been fleeting and subject to luck in finding them here in North America.

But recently, they sent over a giant sample box of their coffees, namely seven bags each containing a few ounces of coffee. Given the number of coffees and that each bag really only contained enough coffee for a single infusion (for Mugged posts I usually hold to at least three infusions per coffee), I took more of a broad brush stroke approach in highlighting the standouts below. 

The one thing I would emphasize soundly is that there was not a lackluster coffee in the batch. Every, single coffee of the seven, both the filter and espresso roasts, hit the proverbial ball out of the park. Of the individual coffees, a few of the Central and South American coffees really stood out to me. The Las Isla of Costa Rica proved sweet and intense in flavor, full of chocolate, dulce de leche, strawberry, wheat, cream and croissant in a medium body. The El Diamante, Honduras blasted out notes of caramel apple pie, berry, croissant, sugar cookie and sweet cream, proving thick and smooth. Lastly, the La Montana, Colombia sang of honey, almond, fuji apple, flan, pretzel, pound cake, white grape and butter, making for a bright and syrupy concoction. 

To put it simply, The Barn made good on its superb reputation. Whether you seek their coffee stateside or on the streets of Berlin, definitely check out this excellent German coffee roaster the next time the opportunity avails. 

note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above view is objective feedback.