Coffee

I recently tried 3-4 varieties from Central Market's whole bean area. This is a great way to try different varieties because you can buy them per weight, rather than paying more for a prepackaged bag of what may sound appealing but not end up being your "cup of joe" after all. I found the Katz brand Ethiopian Dark Harrar to be not the best. It in no way approaches Starbucks' Reserve Harrar, and I think it's because it epitomizes Oak Cliff Roaster's critique of performing a dark roast in a way that results in acidity overpowering the coffee notes. Speaking of which, I tried one of theirs from the sample Urn and was quite impressed. I believe it was named for La Reunion district. I like some acidity - and prefer those that retain more than Kona - but a dark, bold roast shouldn't come at the expense of the rest of the bean.

On the other hand, I enjoyed Katz Nicaragua WiWill Estates variety. It has a decent, medium body, and a bit of earthen substance comes through, though again, not as much as the Starbucks Reserve Maracatura or Diamond, my favorite reserves which are also from Nicaragua. This is a medium brew. It is flavorful, though not as much as the Columbia Supremo. That last mention - the Columbia Supremo - is a bean Central Market has, I believe by an Addison roaster, that does compare nicely to the Starbucks Reserve variety of the same name. It has the nice citrus notes.