Roast of the Month: Tony's Ethiopia Banko Dhadhato

This month we're celebrating a delicious roast from Tony's Coffee - Ethiopia Banko Dhadhato! This roast is bursting with loads of berry flavor that you have to taste to believe. There is so much huckleberry in a cup of this coffee that it's hard to believe it's not flavored! Banko Dhadhato comes to us from Yirgacheffe region, a location known for some of the most flavorful coffee in the world. Even by those standards, this roast surprised us. The beans are Heriloom varietal, which is a high quality bean, but still on it's face would not suggest such a complex set of notes. Between these factors and the natural process used for these beans, something magical was definitely the result. That's not to take any credit away from Tony's, of course. One pitfall when roasting a natural coffee is working out that sort of "funky" taste. Some naturals come off as tasting less of berry, and more as funky and off. This can be because of over or under roasting, but that's not a problem with Banko Dhadhato. Instead, you're left with a delicious brew that brings to mind beverages like a sweet berry tea. it's also more drinkable than most naturals in terms of intensity. Where you might normally get strong, overpowering cherry flavors, instead Banko Dhadhato is quite drinkable. Which leads us to brew method. This is a roast, like many we select for Roast of the Month, that we just adore as a pour over. By brewing it this way you'll be able to tease out some of the more complex, bright elements of the berry flavor. As a drip brew it comes out a little bit more flat, but is still enjoyable. This is one of those roasts that will be tough to dial in for espresso, but for expert brewers out there, it could provide an exquisite ristretto or latte. We hope you love it as much as we do, try this wonderful coffee for yourself before it leaves our shelves!