Dear Francis Reviews

Cheated a little bit on the Advent as it's November 30th... As someone who typically avoids blends (Dear Francis is known for its blend and subscription service), this roaster has been somewhat off my radar. I was happy to see it featured on the first day of the PDX Coffee Club Advent calendar with a unique roast. I really enjoyed this coffee; it's an easy drinker with notes of black cherry and sweet orange. Three-quarters of the way through, I noticed a hint of grapefruit zest, followed by a smooth finish. There's a lot of natural sweetness and a very pleasant mouthfeel. I also think there's a touch of jasmine florality. I hadn't tried the Catisic varietal before, so I looked it up on World Coffee Research. Catisic is a coffee variety developed by the Salvadoran Institute for Coffee Research (ISIC) through a cross between the Timor Hybrid 832/1 and Caturra. This breeding aimed to combine high yield potential with disease resistance, specifically against coffee leaf rust. In terms of flavor notes, Catisic typically has bright citrus or floral acidity, a smooth medium-to-full body, and prominent sweetness, often featuring caramel, chocolate, and fruits like red apple or berries. Depending on the processing method, these beans can highlight either clarity and crispness in washed versions or richer, fruit-forward characteristics in natural or honey-processed versions, resulting in a balanced and well-rounded cup that reflects the unique terroir of Guatemala.

Theo Chan, Managing Editor

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