This London gem from Dark Arts Coffee, with its edgy name "Walking Wires," will win you over with its playful yet beautifully clean flavor. Even though it’s been through an experimental anaerobic fermentation process, don’t expect any artificial or cloyingly syrupy notes. On the contrary, you can look forward to a rich body bursting with natural fruitiness. In the cup, it beautifully unfolds with the aroma of summer strawberries, and every sip is refreshed by the juiciness of yellow plums. This entire fruity ride is then smoothly grounded and balanced in the finish by a pleasant note of high-quality cocoa.
The beans for this lot come from Burundi, specifically the Mumirwa region , where coffee trees grow at an altitude of around 1,700 meters above sea level. The harvest for this coffee was organized by 173 small-scale farmers, led by head grower Thomas Kurubone. The harvested cherries were then transported to the Migoti Hill processing station under the supervision of the Migoti Coffee team. There, they underwent careful sorting and were subsequently placed in sealed 100-liter tanks filled with water, where they underwent a 48-hour anaerobic fermentation. The entire process was then completed with slow drying; the cherries lay for 3 to 4 weeks on traditional African drying beds under the local sun. This is theRed Bourbonvariety , whichis absolutely pivotal for Burundi. Most of the local production relies on it. It did not get its name from the alcohol, but from the island of Île Bourbon. It was there that the French brought it from Yemen in the early 18th century. From this island, the coffee plants then spread further into Africa and Latin America. The “red” designation simply means that the coffee cherries ripen to a deep crimson to red color.
Although coffee plants of this variety are more demanding to grow, have lower yields, and the plants are highly susceptible to disease, the local microclimate and high altitudes suit it extremely well, resulting intop-quality flavor. The flavor profile is typically beautifully clean, with a denser body accompanied by elegant and juicy fruitiness, typically of stone and berry fruits. It offers arich yet clearly defined cup without unpleasant extremes, which is one of the reasons it is so popular.