Buy No. 6 Hegemony if you want an easy, low-acid cup with a heavy body that suits drip and milk. Buy No. 9 Optimism if you want a bright, tea-like cup with floral and fruit notes. The Brazilian is the forgiving daily pot. The Tanzanian is the morning cup you pay attention to.
How do the two bags compare side by side?
Everything below comes from the label. Both are $28 for 12 oz, whole bean or ground, with free US shipping, so you can choose on taste alone.
| No. 6 Hegemony (Brazil) | No. 9 Optimism (Tanzania) | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Parana and Sao Paulo | Mbeya |
| Altitude | 750 to 1,050 m | 1,200 to 1,900 m |
| Process | Pulped natural, sun dried | Fully washed, dried on raised beds |
| Varietal | Catuai, Mundo Novo | Bourbon, Kent |
| Roast | Medium | Medium-light |
| Notes | Cocoa, smooth | Pear, floral, jasmine, strawberry |
| Best brew method | Drip, or cold brew at 1:8 overnight | Pour-over or Aeropress |
Why do they taste so different?
Altitude and process are the two rows that explain most of it. Hegemony grows lower, at 750 to 1,050 m, and is pulped natural, which means the fruit is taken off the bean but some of its sweetness stays on during sun drying. Coffee from that kind of setup is usually described as round and low in acidity, and the label notes of cocoa and smooth fit that picture.
Optimism grows higher, at 1,200 to 1,900 m, and is fully washed. Washed coffees are generally cleaner and let the varietal show, and Bourbon and Kent are the two varieties on this bag. The label notes (pear, floral, jasmine, strawberry) read like a tea more than a chocolate bar. It is also the lighter roast of the two, medium-light against medium.
If you want to hear more about how a cup can feel heavy or light regardless of flavor, read what body means in coffee. For the Tanzanian side of the story, see Tanzania coffee regions, and what ends up on our bag.
What if you want to try both?
That is a fair plan, since the two cups sit at opposite ends of our range. Brew Hegemony on the weekday mornings when you need a pot that cooperates, and keep Optimism for the slow weekend cup. Buying one bag of each costs $28 apiece, and shipping is free in the US.
When you taste them back to back, notice three things: how much the cup feels in your mouth (body), how sharp or round the first sip is (acidity), and what is left on your tongue a few seconds later. The Brazilian tends to be heavy, round and chocolate-leaning. The Tanzanian tends to be light, lively and fruit-leaning. Neither is better, they are just built for different mornings.
Which one should you buy for your brewer?
Match the bag to the machine and the mood.
- Drip machine or a big pot for the house: Hegemony. Its brewing notes call it very hard to ruin, and it holds up when the pot sits for a while.
- Cold brew: Hegemony, at 1:8 overnight. Optimism is not the one we point to for this.
- Pour-over or Aeropress, one cup at a time: Optimism. Drink it while it is hot, because it flattens faster than the others.
- Iced coffee: Optimism is a candidate, and we compare it with the Kenyan in Tanzanian vs Kenyan for iced coffee.
If you drink your coffee with milk or sugar, start with Hegemony. If you drink it black and slowly, start with Optimism. Cup-by-cup tasting notes for the Tanzanian are in what No. 9 Optimism tastes like, and the three brew methods we use are in the No. 9 Optimism brewing guide.
Our pick
No. 6 Hegemony
Parana and Sao Paulo, Brazil · 750 to 1,050 m · Pulped natural, sun dried · Catuai, Mundo Novo · Medium
Cocoa and smooth on the label, with low acidity and a heavy body, for the pot everyone in the house drinks.
Our pick
No. 9 Optimism
Mbeya, Tanzania · 1,200 to 1,900 m · Fully washed, dried on raised beds · Bourbon, Kent · Medium-light
Pear, floral, jasmine and strawberry on the label, for the morning you want to start well.
Not sure yet? The full list of all ten coffees is one click away, and our subscription is 11% off with skip or cancel in one click, so you can try one and switch to the other later.
FAQ
Is Brazilian coffee less acidic than Tanzanian coffee?
On our two bags, yes. No. 6 Hegemony is described as low in acidity with a heavy body, while No. 9 Optimism is bright and tea-like. That matches the general pattern of lower-grown Brazilian coffee against higher-grown East African coffee.
Which is better for cold brew, Brazilian or Tanzanian?
We use No. 6 Hegemony for cold brew, at 1:8 overnight. Its chocolate-leaning, smooth profile comes through cold. We have not written a cold brew recipe for Optimism.
Which is lighter roasted, No. 6 or No. 9?
No. 9 Optimism. The label says medium-light for Optimism and medium for Hegemony.
Pick one bag, brew it for a week, and let your own cup decide.
Questions people ask
Is Brazilian coffee less acidic than Tanzanian coffee?
On our two bags, yes. No. 6 Hegemony is described as low in acidity with a heavy body, while No. 9 Optimism is bright and tea-like.
Which is better for cold brew, Brazilian or Tanzanian?
We use No. 6 Hegemony for cold brew, at 1:8 overnight. We have not written a cold brew recipe for Optimism.
Which is lighter roasted, No. 6 or No. 9?
No. 9 Optimism. The label says medium-light for Optimism and medium for Hegemony.
Free printable
Keep the ratio chart on your fridge
One page with grams, level tablespoons and scoops for every cup size and for coffee makers from 2 to 14 cups. Leave your email and the download link appears right here.