Bajawa

Bajawa is the market town of the Ngada highlands in central Flores, a long volcanic island east of Bali. Coffee here grows in the shadow of Mount Inerie, intercropped with candlenut, clove and vanilla, and farmers process at village wet mills run by cooperatives. Fully washed and carefully sorted, Bajawa has the clean sweetness of a washed coffee with more body than you would expect from one, thanks to young volcanic soil. The cup opens with milk chocolate, then turns warm and spiced: nutmeg in the middle, a dry tobacco note at the end. At a medium roast it is round and easy, sweet enough to drink black and solid enough to take milk. It is the quiet favourite of the set, and the pouch we reach for when we are not sure what we want.