HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR COFFEE?
A COFFEE TASTING GUIDE TO LEARNING WHAT YOU LIKE, LIKING WHAT YOU DRINK AND FINDING YOUR PEACE
A good cup of coffee is simple to define: itβs one you like drinking! But what if you donβt really know what you like?
We can help. Read on!
WHAT TASTE REALLY MEANS
AROMA
Half of coffeeβs flavor comes from how it smells.
Whole beans, ground coffee, and brewed coffee all have different aromas. Give it a good sniff. What do you notice?
FLAVOR
Good coffee is complex, with subtle flavor notes.
Start with a sip. Follow with a slurp. Close your eyes. What flavors show up?
MOUTHFEEL
Mouthfeel, or body, is the texture of the coffee.
Look for textures that feel creamy, rich, or smooth. Never weak, watery, or sludgy.
FINISH
Finish describes what you taste after you swallow the coffee.
Coffee's flavor may shift from first sip to
last. What flavors & feelings linger?
ACID: THE MISUNDERSTOOD MAGIC OF THE MORNING CUP
Acid is often what makes or breaks a brew. Lower acidity (often found in dark roasts) and higher acidity (often found in light roasts) can both be wonderful, as long as acid is in balance with the other elements.
WHATβS IN A ROAST?
We buy amazing beans, organically grown by people we've known and trusted for decades. Our job is to help each bean sing its best notes without getting in the way. Roasting times and temps bring out different aromatics and flavors.
EXTRA CREDIT
QUESTION YOUR CUP
Most of us donβt have a great vocab for what we like or donβt like in coffee. We may not even love our βfaveβ or the leading brand weβre just used to it.
Grab your favorite
cup. Donβt just drink
it. Taste it.
Really taste it.
Sip once. Sip twice.
Notice the first hit,
the middle and the end.
And then tune into:
IS IT...ROUND?
Hold it in your mouth. Different flavors show up, and no one flavor predominates. Feel it surround your taste-brain.
NOT:
Flat = One note. Not much to notice.
Weak = Flavorless.
Sharp = Hits hard, then goes nowhere.
IS IT...BALANCED?
Balance doesnβt mean all things are equal. It just means thereβs a great ratio between acidity, sweetness, and bitterness.
NOT:
Too bitter=Harsh or burnt.
Too acidic=Sour.
Too sweet=Cloying.
IS IT...BRIGHT?
Bright means the coffee is pleasantly acidic. It can be described as zingy, light, floral, or fruity. Light roasts have the most brightness.
NOT:
Sour, acrid, harsh, or chemically. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing.
IS IT...RICH?
Roasty. Toasty. Nutty. Smoky. A little bitterness creates depth. The organic Arabica beans we use are naturally less bitter than other coffee varieties.
NOT:
Burnt. Other coffee companies overroast in order to hide lower-quality beans or to create consistency among beans that were picked at the wrong time.
THE HIGH NOTES
We have something for everyone.
Sunshine without the kick. This light roast keeps its tasty citrus lift.
Ideal cold brew. Made to mix with enough character to hold its own.
Depth with nuance. A great espresso and also a delicious drip.
The quintessential breakfast blend. Tasty and balanced.
Sweeter medium. This sunny, just-right roast also makes a great espresso.
Classic coffee, dialed up. Straddles medium/dark with balanced richness.
All the power, no jolt. Our classic French Roast loses nothing in translation.
Beloved brew. Incredibly balanced, creamy medium cup with nuts for days.
Darkest dark. A rich, complex cup we'd put up against any dark on the planet.
The all-day drinker. Highly satisfying medium that's #1 in our office pot.
Approachable dark. Slightly lighter take with just enough punch and chocolate.
Dark roaster's dream. This deep, roasty cup carries a touch of sweetness.
Sparkling light roast. Made to savor with distinctive notes and rare fruit.
Cheerful light roast. This super approachable cup has light citrus lift.
MEET YOUR NEW GO-TO BREW
Can't decide? We've got you. Take our Coffee Matchmaker to find the brew for you.
TRY SOMETHING NEW. WE DARE YOU.
Birchwood
Crowd pleaser. Perfectly balanced medium roast that epitomizes "good coffee."
Black Squirrel
Quintessential espresso. Coffeehouse flavor brews a tasty drip cup, too!
Guatemala
Darkest dark. A rich, complex cup we'd put up against any dark on the planet.
Twin Cities
Classic coffee, dialed up. Straddles medium/dark with balanced richness.
Nocturnal
Perfect for morning, noon, and night!
Birchwood
Crowd pleaser. Perfectly balanced medium roast that epitomizes "good coffee."
Black Squirrel
Quintessential espresso. Coffeehouse flavor brews a tasty drip cup, too!
Ethiopia
Sparkling light roast. Made to savor with distinctive notes and rare fruit.
Farmer Partner Coffee Bundle
Explore coffee's regional complexities with our best selling single origins.
Dark Horse Coffee Bundle
Dark roast drinkers rejoice. Enjoying a well-balanced dark roast is a delight.
Happy Medium Coffee Bundle
Perfect for anyone that prefers coffee that's not too light or too dark.
Online Gift Card
Surprise a coffee loving pal with a gift card, so they choose their fav blend!
