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What does "Mugged" mean?
Subject: Willoughby's Coffee & Tea
Coffees Mugged: Kenya AA Kagumoini
Rating: 5+ [see key]
Sometimes in the dark, short days of winter a good cup of coffee is the only sunshine you get (yes, that sounds cheesy but I've noticed my love of cheesy phrasing seems to increase amidst lacking sunshine). Thankfully, I had a good run with a great pound of Kenya AA Kagumoini sent to me by Willoughby's Coffee & Tea.
I sampled the coffee in the usual three manors of drip, siphon and french press.
French pressing this Kenyan equated to a smooth cup, with sweet peach and apple flavors first, followed with a pleasant nuttiness, wheat grass and some molasses. I found it a beautiful, bright coffee.
The siphon formed a much sweeter beverage with not as much of the peach/apple sourness, thus the cup had more of the molasses, a good bit of grain, some nutty flavors and still the wheat grass. This particular brew I found to be juicy and smooth.
Dripping, the last method produced the molasses with the noticeable brightness offset by a little more darkness and cocoa. The wheat grass still appeared towards the end; an overall good cup though my least favorite of the three samplings (but still a great cup!).
My days were literally brighter thanks in part to this coffee (i.e. it was really good). If you are yearning for a good Kenyan, give this one a run.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
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What does "Mugged" mean?Subject: Willoughby's Coffee & TeaCoffees Mugged: Guatemalan El Socorro Y Annexos, 2008 Cup of Excellence #4
Rating: 5+ [see key]
Connecticut is yet another nearby state that stands as a stranger to me, kinda like the neighbors three doors down that seem like happening people, but you are never around when they are home. I grew up somewhat close (2 hour drive) and yet, the only time I've stopped in was for a graduate school interview at Yale. As you can deduce, things did not work out for Yale and since then, I haven't been back.
Thus, I was thrilled to get some coffee from a New Haven coffee company called Willoughby's Coffee & Tea. The place had not really made my radar but their cafes look pretty nifty and their coffee offerings intriguing.
The first of the two coffees I tried was a 2008 Cup of Excellence winner from Guatemala. I sampled it in the typical three methods of drip, siphon and french press.
The drip I dove at first. The ensuing mug demonstrated a coffee smacking of sweet honey and caramel popcorn, with a wheaty aftertaste, a tiny sour kiss and an overall pleasant smoothness. This was by far one the sweetest coffees I've had in a long time.
The siphon had a tad heavier body. This cup possessed more of a chocolate and caramel sweetness as well as bits of fig, date and a milky texture. Different result but still delightful.
The french press generated a lighter coffee similar to the drip, though with much more prevalent caramel and a nice chocolate milk texture and flavor. The fig and ending wheat were still present and some unique notes of spice also showed up; also a great cup.
To say I was satisfied would be putting it lightly. If Willoughby's locations can serve up espresso as well as they can roast coffee, then Connecticut would finally have a true pull for me to visit.
If you're looking for a well-roasted Connecticut coffee, order a pound from Willoughby's.
note: coffee was provided free of charge and the above review is objective feedback.
What does "Mugged" mean?
