Crust & Bloom
Washed Ethiopia, Guji
from Counter Culture Coffee
crustbloom.com/beans/washed-ethiopia-guji
On the bag
In my cup
Jasmine on the nose, then stone fruit, apricot and white peach, over a clean, tea-like body. Bright but never sharp. It pulls clean and sweet as a light espresso.
When I want the opposite of my daily driver, this is the bag I open. Where Forty-Six is chocolate and comfort, this washed Guji is all lift. Floral, bright, and delicate.
What the bag says vs. what I taste#
"Jasmine, stone fruit, bergamot" is honest here, which isn't always the case with florals-heavy tasting notes. The jasmine really is on the nose, and the stone fruit lands as apricot and white peach rather than a vague "fruity." The body is light and tea-like, and the acidity is bright without tipping into sour.
How it brews#
I pull it short as a light espresso, and the florals hold up while it stays sweet. It's also lovely as a pour-over if you want to stretch it out and let the tea-like quality come forward. A darker, milk-based drink buries what makes it special, so I keep it black.
The verdict#
This is a "sit down and pay attention" coffee, not a background one. It won't replace my everyday blend, but I almost always have a bag of something like it on the shelf for mornings when I want the cup to be the event. Would rebuy, and usually do.
