Ebejico "EJ" Miraflores

Say hello to the newest addition to the Pawling Coffee Roaster lineup! Originally, this coffee was known as Ebejico, but the name has been changed recently to Miraflores. Either way, we're gonna call it "EJ" for now.

This is a washed-process coffee from Colombia, purchased direct from origin through Those Coffee People. Though it isn’t Fair Trade certified, its producers follow those same principles through above-market wages and sustainable development initiatives that empower young people to become the next generation of coffee producers.

My initial impression was, "I can't believe it's not Brazilian!" due to its chocolatey and nutty notes. In my experience, Colombian coffees are generally bright and fruity with moderate to higher acidity, whereas Brazilian coffees have lower acidity with strong nutty and chocolate notes.

Here's a quick flavor snapshot:

• Chocolate

• Almond

• Low acidity

• Smooth body

• Excellent with milk

• Great hot, iced, or espresso

Best for: Chocolate lovers, low-acid coffee drinkers, and milk-based drinks.

Sampling

Previously, I sampled using very small batches in an air popper (a fluid-bed roaster). While useful, fluid-bed roasting develops beans differently than a drum roaster and doesn’t always reflect how the coffee will taste in production. My new drum roaster allows an 8oz minimum batch, which produces more accurate results and gives me several days to evaluate the coffee as it rests and degasses.

(Read about my new drum roaster here:)

Here are my findings

• Hot coffee- It reminds me of the El Salvador San Miguel that I had for years.

  • I get notes of milk chocolate and almonds with a natural sweetness.

  • Smooth texture, low acidity and relatively full body. Not as full-bodied as the San Miguel, but close.

  • Chocolate and almond notes become more pronounced as it cools, making it ideal for iced coffee.

  • This coffee does well with a slightly darker roast on it, but due to its low acidity and natural sweetness, I could probably afford a lighter roast on it as well. In fact, I could probably even roast it both ways to bring back my Buckeye Blend!

• Espresso- This coffee makes a lovely espresso!

  • Thankfully, its naturally low acidity allows the flavors to come out more.

  • It becomes more full-bodied as espresso.

  • It pairs with milk quite nicely, which is a plus.

• Cold brew- Also good as a cold brew.

  • This method already brings out chocolatey and nutty notes, so it brings them out even more with this coffee.

Conclusion

I was so sad when I ran out of the El Salvador San Miguel around Christmas time last year, but after discovering Ebejico “EJ,” I’m convinced everything will be alright. It's delicious no matter how you prepare it, versatile in how you can roast it and affordable. If you enjoy smooth, chocolate-forward coffees that work equally well as drip coffee or espresso, this one deserves a spot in your rotation.

You can order a bag of this delicious new addition here: https://www.pawlingcoffeeroaster.net/product-page/ebejico