Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:53:01
Coffee pod of the day - Fratello Yemen Moka Sanani Single Estate
That’s a hell of a name...Fratello’s Yemen Moka Sanani Single Estate may not roll off the tongue when spoken, but it certainly wakes up the tongue when consumed. I’ve been drinking it for three days now, so it’s time to review it.
First, the construction. I’ve been through maybe 30 brands of pods in the last couple of years, and it’s not easy to find a brand that works well. Some have dense filter paper that resists water, some are paced so densely that they give the brewer fits, some are so loose that they collapse inside the pod holder (even the smaller, shallower holders) and all the water rushes past the pod, unaffected by coffee grounds in any way. Gourmet Cafe has a well-made pod with all factors perfect for my simplehuman A40. Now I think I’ve found another; Fratello.
These are standard 60mm pods for most pod brewers. 9 grams each...and I randomly picked three out of the box, they all weighed 9 grams on the nose. Well constructed, with enough of a lip to stay firmly in place and packed in the right balance to give optimum extraction. With a bit of pre-wetting, they brew a perfect 4-7 oz cup of coffee, depending on how strong you like it.
Taste: Very good. It’s a light-ish roast, probably smack in between “light” and “medium.” The aroma is exactly what you would expect coffee to smell like if it were lightly roasted, with a sweetness mixed with that earthiness that a roasted bean gives off. The first burst of flavor has a roasted coffee body, but the light sweetness dominates, especially after cream & sugar are added. It’s vaguely fruity without being identifiable as any one fruit flavor, but definitely berry-like. They call it blueberry at Coffeewhiz (where I bought it) but I wouldn’t be that precise. It also has that subtle kick of earthy, almost chocolate taste. It gives off all this flavor and body without feeling heavy and dark in your mouth, which is great for people who don’t like a dark, bitter coffee. It’s a great early morning coffee. It would be perfectly at home next to a danish or a bowl of fresh fruit. Might even be good as a dessert coffee.
Fratello gives you 18 pods in a box, and Coffeewhiz sells them for $8.99. It might be bit costly to drink every day if your coffee budget is small, but it’s really worth it for a change of pace, once-in-a-while box. If the price sounds perfect for you, this could easily be an everyday drinker. Highly recommended!
Posted by JimK at 02:53 PM on October 07, 2007
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Categories: Personal, Coffee
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single serve coffee
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Comments:
#2 Posted by Drumwaster 
on 10/08 at 12:58 AM -
Two words.
Tanzanian Peaberry.
Don’t tell anyone you don’t love.
(I don’t drink coffee, but I have heard the opinions of those who enjoy really good coffee. The Peaberry is classed as among the very best on the planet.)
I’m currently “inventing” a drum roaster for my BBQ
Two more words.
Microwave roasting.
See, with modern roasting, you have to strike a balance, because by the time the interior of the bean is cooked, the outside is a little overdone. The larger the bean, the greater the overcooking. (Unless you go the other way and leave the interior undercooked.)
Microwave roasting cooks all parts of the bean simultaneously.
You’re welcome.
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#1 Posted by Astronomizer
on 10/07 at 07:55 PM -
I do believe I’ll try this--reading your review made me run upstairs to start a brew.... :)
I’ve mentioned here before that I regularly use a french press---and have just recently started using a vacuum pot. Great brews from these. I can’t bring myself to ever using drip again. Additionaly, I’ve also started roasting my own green coffee beans---what a difference! Don’t laugh---but I use an air popcorn popper. The batches are small but it works! I’m currently “inventing” a drum roaster for my BBQ so I can do bigger batches. Plus buying quality coffee as green beans is a lot cheaper than roasted in-store stuff. I’m finding that roasting your own is both a science and an art…
I digress--I mention the above only because your review made me look up the coffee at one of the sites I buy beans from. I’m going to buy a pound and try it myself! :) Mokha Sana’ani