From Yunnan to My Desk: Brewing Yunnova's Crystal Washed and Gesha

I've been reviewing cafes for months. But this week, I did something different. I brewed and reviewed two beans from Yunnova, a Singapore-based roaster bringing Yunnan coffee to the local scene. One on my Bialetti Moka pot. One on my V60. Two beans, two methods, and two completely different experiences.

The Setup: My Home Brewing Kit I recently invested in my own home brewing equipment, which included:

-Electric burr grinder

-Bialetti Moka Express (2-cup)

-Plastic Hario V60

-Digital coffee scale

-Gooseneck kettle

-Glass carafe

It's not a commercial setup. But it's enough to brew consistently and taste what the beans are actually capable of.

The Beans: Yunnova's Yunnan Coffee

Gesha (Reserve Filter):

Roast: Light (Agtron 85)

Process: Washed

Flavour Notes: Floral, Tangerine, Buddha's Hand

Retail Price: $36

Weight Per Bag: 125g

Crystal Washed:

Roast: Mid-Dark (Agtron 55)

Process: Washed

Flavour Notes: Dark Chocolate, Nuts, Cream

Retail Price: $19

Weight Per Bag: 250g

I brewed the Crystal Washed on my Bialetti Moka Express. This was my first time using a Moka pot, so there was a learning curve.

The Brew:

Grind: Fine (table salt)

Dose: 14g

Water: Fill up to the safety valve

Heat: Low flame, on top of a heat diffuser

Time: 7 minutes until the gurgle

What I tasted: The moment it finished, I could smell the richness. The first sip left me with a hazelnut taste, followed by dark chocolate lingering in my mouth. It was smooth, heavy-bodied, and clean.

The Moka pot brings out the deeper, richer flavours of such beans. If you like your coffee bold and chocolatey, this is the way to brew it.

The next day, I brewed the Gesha on my V60. This is a delicate, light roast, and it showed.

The brew:

Grind: Medium (slightly coarser than table salt)

Dose: 15g

Water: 250ml at ~94°C

Bloom: 30g for 1 minute

Total time: 2 minutes and 30 seconds

What I tasted: The floral notes came through immediately, delicate and clean. Then the tangerine arrived, bright and citrusy. There was a subtle sweetness at the end, almost like Buddha's Hand. It was light, tea-like, and incredibly smooth.

This is what a light roast Gesha should taste like. Clean. Complex. Worth the wait.

Yunnova's Crystal Washed and Gesha are overall two very different beans. One is for when you want something rich, chocolatey, and comforting. The other is for when you want something bright, floral, and complex.

Both are worth trying, and now I have a home setup to keep brewing them.

If you want to find out more or purchase them, email me at founder@thecoffeegrid, or check our socials!