A Treat From Doma: Their Sumatra Organic

Editors Note From Mike: Today, I want to introduce you to one of the two new faces that you’ll be seeing around here more. Meet Christina and instead of me telling you about her, I’ll let her words do the job.

As this is my first coffee review, you may be wondering, “Why should I care about what you think about this coffee?” Right? Well, let me tell you a little bit about where I’m coming from.

My love affair with coffee began when I met my husband 10 years ago. Up to that point, I had been a social “drinker,” tipping my hat to the atmosphere of trendy, college-town coffee shops and the occasional strong drink of more well-known coffee brewers. My, then, boyfriend served a stint as a barista and was already particular about the kind of coffee he drank. As we became better acquainted, coffee shop cappuccinos and lattes and strong, home-brewed knock-offs began to play a huge role in our courtship.

Sooo… often times when I smell and taste coffee, I’m smelling and tasting memories. I’m starting to develop a more mature pallet for good, “un-doctored” coffee, but I definitely know the difference between a rich, fair-trade variety and the pre-ground, grocery store tub. Since being introduced to the really good stuff at home, I have a really hard time accepting anything less for my morning joe. And now, for the business at hand….

The Drink: Doma Sumatra Organic
Type: Co-op Whole Bean Medium Dark(Dir. Trade, Relationship)
Overall Rating: 3.25 out of 5 coffee mugs

As I opened my mailbox Monday morning, the aroma of this medium dark blend from Doma, via the online coffee store Go Coffee Go, greeted me and instantly lifted my spirits. I was further impressed when I found out that the coffee had been roasted just the previous Friday. I knew I was in for a treat!

Upon opening the bag, the most prominent scent to me was a certain amount of sweetness. The beans were smooth and chocolatey. I tend to like my coffee rather strong, so when I get a medium roast, I often increase the amount of coffee to water ratio in my pour-over Mr. Coffee to attain a stronger result. This time, though, I followed a more common coffee to water ratio. The result was a mellow, smooth-tasting, medium-amber liquid that packed an–at first–un-identifiable punch as I sipped it. The further into the drink I got, the more I was reminded of a certain fruitiness with each sip. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it was very distinct.

I brewed another cup in my pour-over the next morning, this time, enough for my husband and me, and this time, with the higher coffee to water ratio. Even at this stronger level, the coffee was mellowly earthy, but the fruity punch (still as yet unidentified, since it has taken me several cups to make sure I’m familiar with this brew) was much more poignant and distinct. This cup was, of course, a darker amber in color and still smooth to drink. And as suggested on the gocoffeego.com/products/Doma-Coffee/Sumatra-Organic-1208.html”>Doma Sumatra page, I added a little cream (ok, and a little organic agave), and was pleasantly taken back to warm coffee memories of days gone by.

The description of Doma Sumatra Organic includes notes of cocoa powder, caramel, pecans, earth, spices, and goes on to add aromas of leather, clove, and fire-roasted chestnuts. I, obviously, missed several of those, but caught a few of them. Chalk it up to an as-yet untrained nose, or to the fact that they just weren’t there. Either way, the coffee was good.

One of the things I like about this coffee is its Fair Trade status and the fact that purchasing Doma Sumatra Organic helps support the livelihoods of farmers hard-hit by both domestic unrest and the Indian Ocean earthquake at the end of 2004. A 1 pound bag is $15.55 and is available at the Go Coffee Go web site.

Overall, I highly recommend this coffee, whether you’re new to coffee in general, have made a New Year’s resolution to stop adding all the sugar and fat to your daily coffee routine, or are a seasoned coffee drinker, earning it 3.25 mugs on The Daily Shot of Coffee scale. I will definitely try this–and other Doma roasts–again!

—

Fine Print.

Category: Coffee Reviews