Rwanda Rusizi Mushaka
Cupping Notes
(Credit Sweet Maria's)
The grinds let off fresh, sweet smells, like when cracking a bag of brown sugar, with accents of molasses, and blackberry. The wet aroma showed caramel-sweet notes at a wide roast range (it reminded us of the Sees brand suckers), with subtle spice notes, leafy tea, and raisin. In the brewed coffee, the cup sweetness was complex, with layers of light brown sugars, like demerara and sucanat, and a burnt sugar aspect in the aftertaste. This coffee has illuminating acidity, that along with notes of English Breakfast tea and lemon, brings a brisk element to the brew. We found roasts in the middle ranges to have very nice bittersweet tones that lead to accents of rooty tea, like ginseng, sarsaparilla-type herbal notes, and black tea pungency in the finish. Lemony effervescence comes through in this context, mingling with an aroma that's both spiced and herbaceous.