Introducing Jungle Road Tasting Set Dial

Jungle Road Tasting Set

The Jungle Road tasting set is an exploration of varieties of coffee. Each coffee has been grown in identical conditions and all three have been processed as naturals, allowing the difference in varieties to shine. The tasting set is excellent for coffee enthusiasts who might be curious about how much the type of plant (variety) influences the final profile of the coffee.

When dialing these coffees, begin with the Bourbon Aji then move the Striped Bourbon as they have similar, if not identical, grind sizes. The Sudan Rume extracts easier than the Aji or Striped, meaning it’s grind size will be slightly coarser than the other two. 

Keep in mind, these coffees are excellent varieties but are not Geshas like the previous tasting sets. You should approach dialing these more similarly to dialing high-end core coffees or exotic coffees over trying to get Gesha notes. All three of these coffees have the signature attributes of high quality Colombian coffees: structured acidity, deep sweetness, and vibrant fruit notes. Dialed brews of each of these coffees find a balance between texture and acidity.

Bourbon Aji

Dose: 20g
Ratio: 1:17
Grind: Significantly finer than neutral
Brew Time: 3:30
TDS: 1.28%
Extraction: 19.4%

Sensory Description:

The Bourbon Aji stands out for it’s creamy texture and vibrant acidity, resulting in a cup that is bursting with malic and citric acidities and a soda-like sweetness. A well-dialed cup has a prominent note of orange soda, with malic fruit notes like green grape, green apple, and rhubarb, along with a sparkling sensation (phosphoric acidity), similar to strawberries. The body is medium-heavy with a creamy texture. It has a long and refreshing aftertaste like well-extracted black tea with clover honey.

Dial Notes:

The bourbon aji requires a fine grind size and long brew time to extract. This is likely due to the density of the bean and the light roast to express the variety and terroir. Poorly extracted brews result in an imbalance between the texture and the acidity.

Under-extracted brews of the Aji lean too far into acidity and do not balance the vibrant acidity with creamy texture. If you’re observing notes of underripe fruits with minimal texture, the coffee needs a finer grind size and more extraction.

Over-extracted brews sway the other way, resulting in muted acidity and an overpowering body. The various acidities present in the coffee are hidden by the addition of bitter solubles, resulting in a drying, muted sensation similar to that of cacao powder or oversteeped black tea. If you are observing these notes, the coffee needs a coarser grind size and less extraction.

Striped Bourbon 

Dose: 20g
Ratio: 1:17
Grind: Significantly finer than neutral (Same grind size as the Aji)
Brew Time: 3:30
TDS: 1.27%
Extraction: 19.2%

Sensory Description:

The Striped bourbon is similar to the Aji in that they are both bourbon, but presents with a more silky texture and layered florals. The fragrance and aroma of the striped bourbon stands out for its rich florals and deep fruit sweetness. In the cup, there are structured notes of orange marmalade, raspberry, and cherry. The texture is silky with a medium-heavy body. The aftertaste is long and pleasant with a toffee-like sweetness.

Dial Notes:

Similar to the Bourbon Aji, the Striped Bourbon required a fine grind size and longer brew time to extract properly.

Under-extracted brews of the Striped Bourbon were thin and tart. The primary flavor of underextracted brews were underripe raspberries with minimal sweetness. If you are noticing underripe fruit notes with minimal texture in the coffee, adjust your grind size finer.

Over-extracted brews of the Striped Bourbon dissipated on the palate quickly, leaving a drying sensation on top of the tongue. The primary flavor of over-extracted brews was bakers chocolate. If you are noticing drying chocolate notes and muted fruit, adjust your grind size coarser. 

Sudan Rume

Dose: 20g
Ratio: 1:17
Grind: finer than neutral (slightly coarser than the Aji and Striped)
Brew Time: 3:15
TDS: 1.32
Extraction: 19.47%

Sensory Description:

When well dialed, the Sudan Rume is a vibrant coffee with structured acidity and creamy texture. The variety lends itself to a boozier expression of Colombian terroir, resulting in notes of spiced rum, mango, hibiscus, and citrus. The texture is creamy with a medium-heavy body, creating a sweetness reminiscent of caramel. The aftertaste is long, sweet, and layered with florals.

Dial Notes:

Under-extracted brews of the Sudan Rume were thin and unbalanced, resulting in a citrus forward cup but missing the creamy texture to balance the profile. If you’re noticing notes of underripe mango or lemon zest, grind finer.

Over-extracted brews of the Sudan Rume were heavy and sweet, but lacked the vibrant fruit-forward notes of well-extracted cups. If your brew primarily tastes like brown sugar or caramel, but lacks structured acidity like ripe mango and hibiscus, grind coarser. 

Also in Reserve Dials