Roast review by: Sheila Murray

Photos by: Linked Ring

Wavelength Coffee Roasters is a small-batch roaster based in Shirley, Massachusetts. Wavelength is focused on innovation and sustainability to meet the changing climate of coffee. I was drawn in by their intentional approach to sourcing beans, supporting farmers, and investing in communities. I invite you to read more about their perspective and process on their “Our Approach” page. This roaster seemed ideal to pair with Wacaco because of shared interests around innovation, experimentation, and creating connections over a cup of high quality coffee.

Read on to see our experiences testing four outstanding Wavelength roasts with Wacaco products!

El Salvador-Carlos Pola

First impressions

It was clear from the start that Wavelength is not a roaster trying to simply blend in - We loved the coffee tins that the coffee arrived in and appreciated the intentionality behind the packaging. 

James smelled the beans first and commented that he sensed cacao nibs, blueberries, and an overall sweetness. He handed the coffee beans over to me for my thoughts.

I shook the beans around in the tin and wafted the aroma toward my nose. I was pleasantly surprised by the honey-like sweetness I sensed. It was reminiscent of maple sugar candy! I also caught notes of red fruit and perhaps a hint of lemon or melon.

We decided to use the Pipamoka for this roast. James heated the water and I ground the beans and prepared the vacuum brew. 

Tasting notes

“Hmm,” mused James, “for me this is quite bright and fruity and I’m really enjoying the notes of chocolate and toasted nuts too.”

I took a sip of my own coffee and noticed that it was quite light on the tongue, with complementary notes of chocolate and fruit. Overall it was extremely pleasant and perfect for the chilly day we were having. 

The reveal 

This coffee is complex, sweet, and wine-like, with notes of mandarin. I highly recommend reading through each of the descriptions for the coffees. Wavelength shares the story of the Pola family here and their innovative solutions to keep producing incredible coffee. 

Costa Rica - La Minita Estate 

First impressions 

We knew that this coffee was one of Wavelength’s top sellers, so we were curious to experience why! 

I opened the tin of coffee and shook the beans around to release some of the aroma into our kitchen. Instantly, I could sense ripe lemon but also a certain caramel, sweet, and grounding notes.

James said that he got more of a chocolate and toasted nut profile. He contemplated which spices might be present and if the final brew would lean more grounding or bright. 

This coffee is quite versatile as an espresso and a coffee, and we opted for espresso this time, using the Picopresso.

Tasting notes

James lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip of the golden-toned espresso. He said that he sensed more lemon than he expected but the espresso also had a round mouthfeel and was well-balanced. A perfect bouquet of flavors!

I sipped my espresso and enjoyed the syrupy mouthfeel, which was reminiscent of honey or molasses. Straight away I knew it was one of the best coffees I’d had in a while. It was so satisfying and balanced and had a nice nuttiness to it as well!

The reveal

Best said by Wavelength: “This is a standout example of coffees from the Tarrazu region of Costa Rica, with slight spice on the nose and notes of cocoa and toasted nuts with balanced sweetness and lemony acidity.” In the days that followed, we tried this coffee with the Pipamoka and Cuppamoka and we can agree that it is quite versatile and delicious!

Colombia - Transformation Blend

First impressions

“Oh I can’t wait to try this coffee,” said James the moment after he smelled the freshly roasted beans. James is a big fan of Colombian coffee and he said that this one smelled especially delicious. Specifically, he sensed notes of cherry, cinnamon, and caramel.

I was taken aback as well by how intoxicating the smell was. It was quite different from the last two coffees but it was hard to put a finger on exactly what was distinct. I did sense a more floral, airy profile all around.

James prepared the Cuppamoka and I ground the beans and heated the water. We made two pour over coffees and clinked our mugs together before taking a sip.

Tasting notes

First I paused to admire the color of this brew, which was light colored, akin to maple syrup. The coffee had an extremely light mouthfeel, floral notes, and perhaps some citrus or pear.

James wondered aloud if there were notes of jasmine tea and commented on how he was sensing more with every sip. He also tasted milk chocolate and a lovely sweetness. 

The reveal

This coffee is complex and sweet with notes of florals and caramel. The blend is composed of beans from mostly female coffee producers!

Burundi

First impressions

I opened the canister of the final coffee and smelled the freshly roasted beans. I was taken aback by how nutty and dark this one was in comparison to the previous coffees. It seemed bold, chocolatey, and nutty, with some hints of red fruit too.

James said that this one seemed a bit smokey to him, with notes of pine nut or walnut. He loved that this one really stood out with its bold impression.

We agreed that, though presenting dark and rich, this one definitely was multi-layered, complex, and piqued our curiosity! We decided to use our Minipresso GR2 to prepare two espressos. I love this product because it’s so small and packable but somehow still prepares an exceptional espresso.

Tasting notes

“Oh, this is delicious,” I said as I took the first sips of espresso. I loved how grounding and rich the flavor was and it was the perfect elixir for the snowstorm we were experiencing. We live on the East Coast and this winter has been especially filled with snow storms… coffee helps!

James said that he was impressed with the perfect balance of the bold chocolate notes alongside the citrus and bright ones. He commented on the overall round mouthfeel and said that this one could be a real crowd pleaser and delicious in a latte too. Cortados are one of my favorite drinks, so I decided I would try this espresso with my next cortado!

The reveal

This coffee is crisp and full-bodied, with notes of chocolate and toffee. I thoroughly enjoyed reading more about the coffee and region. Have you ever noticed that the country of Burundi is the shape of a heart? Learn more here!