This is the Nespresso Aged Sumatra, a limited edition pod featuring coffee that’s been processed using Indonesia’s signature giling basah method high up around Gayo Mountain, in the Aceh province of the island of Sumatra. Since 2016, the beans have then been aged in breathable jute bags, losing and gaining moisture following nature’s rhythm.
The coffee is split-roasted in two batches. The first split is roasted intensively but for short time, reaching a medium-dark colour, while the second split is roasted for longer. It has an intensity of 7 out of 13 and comes in a silver capsule printed with the name of the coffee.
The espresso was a dark black-brown colour with a woody and spicy aroma. Prepared as a long black with a 1:1: water to espresso ratio, the coffee surprises for its velvety smoothness. Prominent woody notes at the head of each sip evolve with the gentlest hint of acidity before developing with a notable bitterness that recalled cocoa and tobacco. A bold spiciness in the finish gave way to a lingering bitterness in the aftertaste. Overall, this is an enjoyable coffee limited edition coffee, which is just as well as it’s not quite something we’d reach for every day.
This Nespresso Aged Sumatra contained 10 x 5.7 g capsules. It was produced in Switzerland and purchased in Sydney, Australia in 2020.