The general consensus in the coffee world is that Robusta is known to be of lesser quality than Arabica. There’s not much flavor to Robusta and people tend to either love or hate it. However, in recent years, many coffee farmers, roasters and baristas are trying to dispel beliefs that Robusta is less than Arabica.

For someone who would rather drink Arabica, it’s quite rare that I would want to drink Robusta.I noticed that my problem hasn’t been about the beans but rather the flavor notes and aroma that Robusta typically exist around me.

When I visited my roaster today to stock up on some beans, I noticed a new big jar that I barely saw…

Cibunar, West Java with dark chocolate, cedar wood and sweet corn taste notes.

How fun? Sweet corn as a taste? I wondered how that happened but after smelling the jar, there was that pleasant subtle corn aroma that was so inviting.

I was thinking of getting Ijen, or Puntang, which is something I regularly have but that Robusta convinced me to ditch my usual beans for something completely new and in beans that I typically don’t enjoy.

Once I reached home, I quickly brewed the coffee and found out that this was not that bad. Typically, Robusta around me would have herb taste to it and be spiced. I don’t like spiced coffee and this Robusta was quite different from their other jars.

This Robusta was just how it should be, earthy, oaky but with a pleasant twist, the sweet corn aroma that somehow complements the base of the beans. Since this is also from Java, the characteristics are pretty much the same. I was pleasantly surprised though that since it’s from West Java, rather than having peachy notes to it, this one is sweet through and through.

My coffee is v60, so I always request a medium coarse grind. The place that I frequent already knows it as now I am quite their regular. This is how it looks like ☕

At the same time, since my birthday is coming soon, this time I want to make it my style.So, I was there to sample some coffee and browse around since I want to do a slow bar coffee experience. This is the card that I was making for them to choose.

Since I love how Cibunar tastes, I included it in my future slow bar coffee experience.

Besides, this coffee has a taste that people conventionally would enjoy, something chocolaty and sweet. With most people, I wouldn’t go too extreme doing something quite acidic and fruity/zesty. Even for me, I don’t really enjoy drinking such, so I am trying to leave a good impression with this coffee selection.

This slow bar is actually just for my family and a few friends I invited. I don’t think I would do this professionally even when I could.

My family is the worst critic you will ever find. You can never please them so, if they say it’s OK that means it’s more than good enough. That’s why I love them because they will know if my cooking or drink tastes horrible and that’s when the dream should just end right there 😂

I also trust them with tasting because they have diverse experience when it comes to cafes and high end places too. Some of them formerly worked in the industry so they know what’s good and bad and what people enjoy. Fingers crossed I would be getting some feedback from this.

See you in my next brew. By the way if you want to chat and hang around with me talking about books and coffee, come see me over Hive Book Club Discord Every Saturday and I am available every Saturday 6 PM EST.