This Unicorn Blend roast from TheNaughty Dog roastery features a combination of Colombian and Ethiopian beans, built on a contrast of sweetness, creamy chocolate, and unexpected playfulness. In the cup , the flavors of apple-flavored bubblegum, a subtle hint of black tea, and milk chocolate come together, rounding out the entire profile with a creamy, sweet finish. The coffee has a medium body, a clean profile, and a pleasantly lively acidity. Each sip unfolds gradually, starting with fruity and fresh notes, then sweet and tea-like, until finally a long, delicate chocolate aftertaste remains.
The blend is based on two distinctly different origins that together create its character. The Colombian portion comes from the Huila region, from a farm run by Nestor Lasso, where coffee is grown at an altitude of around 1,800 meters. This area is known for its precise fermentation techniques and stable conditions, which foster the development of sweet, well-structured coffees with a distinct fruity profile. The second component is from Ethiopia’s Sidamo region, specifically the Taferi Kela station, where smallholder farmers harvest coffee at altitudes of 1,900 to 2,100 meters above sea level. The harsher mountain conditions, slow ripening of the cherries, and traditional harvesting methods result in coffees with floral elegance, tea-like delicacy, and high clarity in the cup.
Processing is the key to why this blend works so well. The Colombian portion undergoes dry anaerobic fermentation, where the coffee cherries are left to ferment without oxygen, which promotes intense sweetness, pronounced fruitiness, and a “candy-like” character reminiscent of bubblegum notes. Ethiopia Taferi Kela, on the other hand, is processed using the washed method, in which the cherries are dried on raised African beds for several days after the pulp is removed. This brings out its clarity, sparkling acidity, and delicate floral nuances. The combination of these two approaches creates a coffee that is both precise and playful, clean and sweet, and constantly evolves in the cup as it cools.