Coffee Review – Coffee Labs Roasters Ethiopian Amaro Gayo

June 5, 2010 at 10:22 am | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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Does the experience of trying new types of coffee ever get old? I don’t think so. This is our second coffee from Coffee Labs Roasters (www.coffeelabsroasters@mac.com or www.coffeelabs.com) and we were looking forward to trying it. This is a light roast or city roast and it’s from the Sidamo region. It is processed naturally. We invited a friend of ours toshare the first brewing of it and he seemed to look forward to it as much as we were.

So I open the bag and we all take turns smelling the beans. They have a nice aroma and it gets better as the beans are ground. There seem to be hints of blueberry in the aroma. After the coffee is brewed I poured three cups and we sipped and talked. My first reaction is there is a taste that really stands out, almost catching me by surprise. It has a clean smooth feel in your mouth and there is a slight acidity. It is naturally sweet and none us of used any sugar or cream. At our friend’s suggestion we let some of the coffee cool so that we could taste the flavor profile. This was a great idea and if you’ve never tried it you should. Three thumbs up here.

Then the next morning Kim and I brewed it in the French Press. That nice aroma was a little more pronounced and again that first taste grabbed my attention real quick. It is like a tangy taste that is hard for me to pick out. It is an intriguing coffee, it makes you think. The natural sweetness of this coffee really stands out here because even though the coffee is stronger or bolder there is still no need for any sweetener or cream. Two thumbs up.

Lastly was the auto-drip and we were really looking forward to it. When Kim had her first cup she asked me if this was the same coffee we had the other two days. I told her that it was the Ethiopian Amaro Gayo and asked her if she liked it. She did, in fact she was surprised at how good it tasted in the auto-drip. The natural sweetness is there, and that smooth, clean feeling in your mouth and the taste of blueberries. Two thumbs up again.

We brewed enough coffee to put some in the refrigerator for iced coffee. The coffee is much stronger cold and there is no bitterness. It has a deep, balanced coffee flavor. We both liked it cold. Two thumbs up and I think I’m becoming an iced coffee drinker too.

We liked this coffee and gave some beans to friends to try at home. If you are looking for a good light roasted Ethiopian coffee this would be a good choice. Kurt at Coffee Labs Roasters knows his craft. We received this coffee for free and over objective feedback. Until next time, enjoy the coffee and good conversation with friends. Be sure to check out some of our other reviews too. Thanks.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Review – Nacha Thai

June 2, 2010 at 8:37 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | 1 Comment
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We were looking forward to trying this type of coffee and it would be our first experience with a coffee from Thailand. Nacha Thai (also known as Nacha Original) is described as an Arabica Typica coffee that has won international and SCAA cupping competitions and is bringing worldwide renown to Thailand and Nacha Estates. It is a versatile coffee and can be used for Phin or French Press, drip, or even espresso. The Nacha bean is very stable and keeps for longer than an ordinary bean. It is a medium-dry bean that works well in all grinders. These coffees are grown with high concern for the ecology and all are sold by the producers themselves, so they net all the proceeds.

You know we use three different brewing methods in tasting the coffee and then compare the results. The Nacha Thai has a mild aroma and I was a little surprised since it is a darker bean. Even while brewing in the Chemex there was only a slight earthy aroma. The flavor though was very tasty; it reminded Kim of eating toast which is one of her favorite breakfasts. It tastes good black and has a mild tangy acidity. It has a light body in your mouth and a clean aftertaste. Two thumbs up. I did something a little different, but I’ll get to that later.

Next up was the French Press and here the aroma was stronger and the taste was bolder. Even though it seemed the taste was amplified there was no bitterness and the body felt fuller but still smooth. It has an earthy flavor to it. This was Kim’s favorite way to enjoy the coffee. She thought it mixed well with the dried cranberries she was eating. She was also thinking of other foods to pair this coffee with. Two thumbs up again.

Lastly was the auto-drip and after the last two tastings we were a little disappointed. Maybe I’m not preparing the coffee correctly, but it was very mild and had very little aroma here. It felt very smooth and light in your mouth and the aftertaste was gone quickly. This was our least favorite method of brewing and tasting.

We learned something new to do when tasting coffee and I tried it during our Chemex taste. A friend of ours (let me give a shout out to Jonathan) said to let some coffee sit and cool down or put it in the refrigerator and drink it cold and then taste the flavor profile. I am not one for iced coffees but I am one for learning and trying new things. So I made extra coffee and put it in the refrigerator. It really had a deep, bold, strong earthy flavor. Its tangy, spicy flavors are more pronounced and it needs no sweeteners. It made an iced coffee believer out of me.

We are looking forward to sharing this coffee with friends, even iced at picnics.  Nacha Thai is available at www.vietnamese-coffee.com. We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Review – Melitta Riviera Sunset Decaf

May 29, 2010 at 7:49 am | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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You know Kim and I like to try different coffees and that we like decaf in the afternoon. We look forward to the brewing, tasting and reviewing; so we were looking forward to trying this Riviera Sunset. It is part of Melitta’s Café Collection. It is described as a Swisss Water process decaf with a full body and a distinctly rich and smooth flavor. It also came in an extra fine grind so we would not be brewing in the French Press.

First up was the auto-drip and when I opened the bag there was not much aroma. I even stirred the grounds with the coffee scoop to try to get some aroma, no luck. I’ll make coffee some times without telling Kim what it is so she can think through and ask me questions about it. This helps both of us learn more about coffee tasting. There was hardly any conversation. We just drank the coffee. It does have a faint citrus taste and is very smooth. It is not bold at all. Two thumbs down and this is a first for us.

Next day I brewed the coffee in the Chemex. There still is not much aroma. I stirred the bag again and we both tried to smell the grounds, but no help. We noticed we really miss the aroma and it does help set up the brewing and tasting of the coffee. There was a better flavor with the Chemex and we thought there was a slight lemon taste. There definitely was a light citrus flavor. The coffee has a weak body and hardly any aftertaste. To us it isn’t like it was described. Two thumbs down, but better than the auto-drip.

Not being used to negative reviews I brewed it in the auto-drip a second time and we discussed the taste. As we talked with each other about the aroma, flavor, body and aftertaste it hit me. This Riviera Sunset is not memorable. There is nothing that stands out to me to make me dwell on it or want to go out and buy it or share it with friends. That being said we still enjoyed the coffee tasting experience and look forward to our next review.

 We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. In all fairness we are used to whole bean and grinding our coffee before brewing. We also like the French Press and the way it brings out flavors. It’s not like I wouldn’t drink it again and I am visiting my in-laws and I know they will drink decaf! Ah, the joys of coffee!

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

(Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10)

Coffee Review – Mystic Monk Coffee Cowboy Blend

May 26, 2010 at 6:34 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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Kim and I were looking forward to trying this Cowboy Blend because we liked the other two Mystic Monk Coffees we tried. In fact we are out of the Hermit’s Blend because we shared it with friends and they liked it too. The Cowboy Blend is the Monk’s (www.mysticmoinkcoffee.com) third best selling coffee. It is described as a daring blend of a delicious dark South American roast with a lively citric light roast, resulting in one delicious complex blend that comes alive in the mouth.

I like to open a bag and look at the beans and smell them. In the bag you can see a mixture of light and dark beans. There is a light aroma from the coffee. We brewed it in the auto-drip first and the aroma from the brewed coffee was light. We poured our first cups and tasted. Both of us thought it had a smooth taste and light body. We also tasted the citrus. We liked it but it seemed to have a lighter aroma and flavor than the Mexican Decaf.

The next day we tried it in the French Press. This was Kim’s favorite style of brewing and tasting. I think the French Press is becoming her favorite way to make coffee. We almost always drink our coffee black now, but I still miss my honey and cream. There was a slightly bolder flavor but still a smooth taste. It is a very mellow coffee. The citrus flavor was more pronounced here.

Lastly we brewed with the Chemex. To me this makes the cleanest tasting coffee. I think you really taste the flavor of the coffee here. To me this Cowboy Blend has a subtle or mild flavor and very little acidity. You can get the light citrus taste here. It is good, but I prefer a bolder taste of coffee. I like to smell the fresh brewed coffee before I swirl it around and pour it into my cup. When in the cup I like to slowly take that first taste and savor it. I’m trying to see which flavors I pick up and feel the body of the coffee.

We liked this coffee and Kim thought it would be a good afternoon coffee. Of the three Mystic Monk Coffees that we tried it was my least favorite. But that is not saying it is bad, it is just too mild for me. If you like a mild coffee this is one for you. You can purchase the coffee at www.mysticmonkcoffee.com. We received this coffee for free and offer objective feedback. Be sure to check out our other coffee or coffee shop reviews too.

Until next time we hope for much GRACE and peace for you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

Coffee Review – Coffee Labs Roasters Columbian

May 22, 2010 at 10:13 am | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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Since going to New York and visiting Coffee Labs Roasters (www.coffeelabs.com) Kim and I have been looking forward to coming home and brewing their coffee. On this trip we did take our French Press with us to give us a break from the hotel auto-drip. We have decided to keep taking it with us and start our coffee reviewing right away. Because we had some other coffee to drink we saved these beans until we got home. We’re home and now the fun begins!

This coffee is a Columbian Mesa de Los Santo Don Telmo Reserva. It is a full city to full city plus roast. The whole beans in the bag smell wonderful. By the aroma alone you can hardly wait to grind it, brew it and drink it. (My mouth is beginning to water as I type this).

We did our brewing and tasting a little different this time. The first day we had the Columbian in the auto-drip. The aroma is nice. The coffee has very little acidity and a natural sweetness to it. Kim and I both drank it black and were surprised by just how good it tastes that way. I’m used to putting one teaspoon of honey and a little cream in my coffee, but I think adding anything to this brewed coffee would take away from its flavor. Two thumbs up with this style of brewing.

The next day we decided to brew two cups in the French Press followed by two cups in the Chemex. Kim thought about having this quick comparison so we could really taste the coffee because the brewing styles and results are so different. This coffee does have a natural sweetness to it and we enjoyed it without cream or sweetener both ways. It also has a subtle boldness that creeps up on you as you drink it. It has a nice feel in your mouth and a nice aftertaste with just a little fruitiness.

We weren’t quite ready for the caffeine buzz that followed, but it’s good that we both had a lot of work to do. It did seem to give us more than a normal jolt than our usual morning auto-drip style. We chalked it up to brewing quality coffee in the normal strength way for quality brewers. Later that afternoon we decided to make two more cups in the auto-drip for a third comparison. Did I mention that this coffee tastes good?!

We both decided to use a little honey and cream this time and we thought they actually took away from the taste of the coffee. This coffee has a good aroma and overall subtle boldness. I was telling Kim that I really enjoyed this Columbian coffee black, maybe even more than any other coffee we’ve reviewed up to now. Kim thought this would be a great desert coffee. Two thumbs up with all three brewing methods. We’re looking forward to sharing it with friends.

If you are looking for a great Columbian full city (medium) roast you cannot go wrong with this one. You can purchase it at Coffee Labs Roasters (www.coffeelabs.com). We received this coffee for free and have given objective feedback. Be sure to read some of our other coffee and coffee shop reviews too.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

(Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10)

Coffee Review – Mystic Monk Coffee, Hermits’ Bold Blend

May 15, 2010 at 9:33 am | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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My wife and I were looking forward to trying the Hermits’ Bold Blend because the Monk’s Mexican Decaf tasted so good. We both look forward to opening a new bag of coffee and smelling the aroma of the beans. The aroma was good but not overpowering. “The coffee is described as an extraordinary, bold coffee with exquisite complex notes. A darker full-bodied coffee, but unlike most medium-dark coffees there are lively, spicy tones that remain.” We looked forward to the brewing and tasting.

First up this time was the French Press. We decided to change the order a little this time just because I like to change things up if for no other reason than to do things differently. There was a nice aroma coming from the grinder and then the Press. It looked really good when it was ready. It isn’t as bold as I would have thought for a medium-dark roast, but it has a nice flavor. There was a slight citrus taste with mild hints of nut also. Kim thought it tasted good with her multi-grain and peanut butter toast. We both enjoyed it black.

We made two cups in the auto-drip right away so it was a close comparison. The aroma was similar and the flavors were a little milder. Sometimes we wonder if we are making the auto-drip strong enough now. We both enjoyed drinking it black again. This coffee is not too acidic and almost has a slight sweet taste to it. Both of us liked this style of brewing also.

Lastly it was the Chemex coffee brewers turn. I still have not lost the surprise of how clean a cup of coffee the Chemex makes. It is about as strong as the French Press but with none of the grit or oils because of the filters. It is light in your mouth and you can taste a slight spiciness on the tip of your tongue. Overall this is an enjoyable cup of coffee, not as bold as we expected but satisfying.

Kim thought this would be a good coffee to drink if you were on a diet because we didn’t need any sweetener or creamer in it. It has a medium body feel and a good aftertaste in your mouth. Both of us would recommend this coffee to anyone looking for a medium-dark roast to enjoy. You can get the coffee at www.mysticmonkcoffee.com. We hope you get some and enjoy it.

Look for more coffee reviews next week as we have some good sounding coffees to brew and taste. Stop and smell the coffee and enjoy it when you do. We’re looking forward to our next coffee date. We received this coffee for free and offer this review as objective feedback.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13; Psalm 34:1-10

To read some of our other coffee reviews click on coffee at the right under categories.

Coffee Review – Mystic Monk Coffee Fair Trade Organic Mexican Decaf

May 4, 2010 at 6:38 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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As we get older my wife and I seem to be on the lookout for good decaf coffee. Sometimes we like the taste of a good cup of coffee in the late afternoon or early evening, we just don’t want the caffeine. You may be able to relate, if not now, later. We like the taste of coffee, but sometimes the taste of decaf just doesn’t cut it.

But we just found a really good decaf from Mystic Monk Coffee (www.mysticmonkcoffee.com) in Powell, Wyoming. They roast and offer a good selection of coffees. The last few days we tried their Fair Trade Organic Decaffeinated Mexican. They use a natural Swiss water decaffeination process. This coffee is described as a balanced, medium bodied coffee with mild chocolate, nutty notes, and a pleasing brightness and finish. There is also a subtle citrus finish to the taste of the coffee.

First up was the auto-drip brew. The kitchen window was open as I brewed the coffee and my wife was outside and said she could smell the aroma coming out of the window. The aroma is good from the minute you grind these beans. It does have a nutty aroma and it does have a fuller body than we expected. We were looking forward to the next two brewing methods because this one tasted so good.

Next up was the French Press. Again we were struck with the aroma of the beans in the grinder. Since we are somewhat new to coffee reviewing we still look forward to using the French Press and experiencing the taste that comes from it. Of course it was a little stronger and left a slight tingly aftertaste when you swallowed. The body was fuller than our previous brew. Two thumbs up again.

We saved the Chemex (www.chemexcoffeemaker.com) brew for our last taste. This makes such a clean tasting cup of coffee. The taste and body are different than the French Press. Here you could taste the chocolate and nuttiness in the coffee. The body of the coffee was fuller than we expected from a medium, but not too heavy on your tongue. We both thought this was our favorite way to brew and drink this roast of Mexican Decaf from Mystic Monk Coffee (www.mysticmonkcoffee.com).

We usually use these three brewing methods over a three day period. With each brewing method we make two cups, drink it and talk with each other about it. We talk about what we liked or didn’t like and what we tasted and how it felt in our mouths. We also talk about the aroma or lack of aroma. We give two thumbs up to each method of brewing this Mexican Decaf. We reviewed another decaf on this blog and we would have to say this Mystic Monk Coffee Fair Trade Mexican Decaf makes one great cup of coffee! If you are looking for a good medium roast decaf, give this one a try.

We received this coffee for free and we have given objective feedback.

GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

(Romans 15:13; Psalm 5:11-12)

Coffee Review – Guatemala Huehue Tenango

May 1, 2010 at 2:15 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews | Leave a comment
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My wife and I were looking forward to trying this coffee from Community Coffee (www.communitycoffee.com). We’ve tried about nine of their coffees plus two decafs. You can’t go wrong keeping a bag of their ground traditional roast on hand. It is probably the best grocery store ground shelf coffee I’ve had. Our favorite from them is the Evangeline Blend followed by the French Quarter Fusion Blend. So you can tell by the history we were looking forward to trying this coffee.

We planned on brewing it three different ways. First up was the auto-drip set and ready to go for when we woke up. It was good though there wasn’t a lot of aroma. This is a medium-dark roast, but it tasted kind of light to me. It left a good taste in the mouth, but I would have preferred a bolder coffee to start my day.

Next we brewed it in the Chemex (www.chemexcoffeemaker.com). We brewed enough for two cups. The Guatemalan Huehue Tenango (GHT) had a better aroma. My wife thought it had a slightly tart taste midway through the sip. It had a medium to full body. She liked this brew the best of the three. It was stronger or fuller than the auto-drip, but not bitter.

 Lastly we brewed the GHT in the French Press. As I drank the coffee it had a slight tang to it. It also had a fuller body and feel. I thought there was a nice aftertaste when I swallowed the coffee. This was my favorite brew and flavor of the three. As I’ve said before, we are not coffee snobs or experts. We know what we like and what we don’t like. Both of us liked this GHT.

We enjoyed the Guatemalan Huehue Tenango in the Chemex and French Press with our lunch. We enjoyed this coffee as a lunch or afternoon drink. Both of us liked it and would get it again. We recommend it to anyone who likes a medium-dark roast coffee. We would say it is our third favorite coffee from Community Coffee. You can find them at www.communitycoffee.com . If you like good coffee, you can’t go wrong trying theirs.

You can also see the ongoing differences between husbands and wives. We both like the GHT, we just favored different brewing methods. It helps add spice to our marriage. We look forward to brewing and reviewing other coffees in the future. We received the Guatemalan Huehue Tenango for free from Community Coffee to review and our review is objective feedback.

Much GRACE and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

(Romans 15:13)

Coffee Review – John Conti, “Cafe Tarrazu”

April 28, 2010 at 4:07 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews, Coffee Shop Reviews | Leave a comment
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My wife and I finally made it to the John Conti (www.johnconti.com ) shop on Bardstown Road in Louisville. We have seen their coffee in local grocery stores but have never purchased it. Since we are trying to go to all of the coffee shops in Louisville and try the different coffees we decided to go there.

When we got there we did not know that you couldn’t purchase brewed coffee. You can only buy whole bean or ground coffee. The salesman, Nick, we talked with was very helpful. He could give sales people a good reputation. When we told him our story about wanting to try coffee from all of the coffee shops in Louisville and write about our experiences, he went to their break room and brought us out two cups of coffee to try. That is service beyond what we expected.

The coffee we tried is a light roast called Café Tarrazu. It is described as “A combination of Central American coffees specially blended to produce a sweet, balanced cup, smooth, but with a complex blend of fruit, nut, citrus, and floral flavors.” It was developed after their master roaster took a trip to El Salvador to visit coffee plantations. It is one of their most popular roasts. We ended up purchasing a bag of Café Tarrazu and two sampler packs.

We intended to brew it three different ways when we got home (not in the same day of course, I couldn’t handle that much caffeine!) and then write about how it tasted. First up was the auto drip so that the coffee was ready when we got up in the morning. There isn’t much aroma and it isn’t a bold coffee. It tastes good, but we like a bolder coffee in the morning. This was our least favorite way of brewing and drinking Café Tarrazu.

Next we brewed the coffee in the Chemex coffee maker (www.chemexcoffeemaker.com). You could really taste the subtle flavor of the coffee. Here is where I noticed both the flavor and fruitiness. The light crisp flavor really shined here. This was my favorite brew and tasting style.

Then we brewed the coffee in a French Press. This helped the coffee taste a little bolder, but not too bold. This was my wife’s favorite style of brewing and tasting. The coffee left a nice taste on your tongue and was stronger tasting, but not overpowering.

I’m neither a coffee snob nor a coffee expert, but I know what I like and if I would buy it again. I did not like drinking the coffee in the morning because I like a bolder morning coffee, but I did like it in the afternoon. We thought it has a nice crisp, taste and light body. Overall we liked Café Tarrazu and would recommend it as an afternoon or desert coffee. We will definitely try some of their other coffees, probably some medium or dark roasts though.

Nick, the salesman that helped us probably doesn’t realize how much his helpfulness “sold” us. If all John Conti employees are like him, it explains why they have been successful in Louisville for so many years. You can learn more about John Conti here: www.johnconti.com .

I’m also looking forward to the next coffee date with my wife. Brewing and tasting the coffees with her at home is fun too.

GRACE and peace to you,

Bill

(Romans 15:13)

Decaf? That’s Right, Decaf!

March 7, 2010 at 8:32 pm | Posted in Coffee Reviews, Coffee Shop Reviews | Leave a comment
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While out on a date with my wife I came across some really good decaf coffee. Now, I’m neither a coffee expert nor a coffee snob, but I know what I like and what I don’t like. One weekend in the fall, my wife wanted to go to Rainbow Blossom, a local organic food store because they were having a gluten-free food tasting event. So we go up to New Albany, Indiana and we are walking around the store trying food and getting what we wanted to buy. I turn a corner and there is a lady handing out coffee. Now I’m always up for trying some coffee.

It smells really good and she asks me if I want regular or decaf. It’s in the afternoon so I take decaf. I like to try new coffees black, nothing in them at all. I take a sip and my first thought is, “man this coffee is good!” I call to my wife and tell her, “you have to try this coffee, it’s really good.” She liked it too. So we bought some.

The decaf is from Red Hot Roasters and you can find them here: www.redhotroasters.com . The owner and roaster is Sondra Powell and she is a really nice and friendly lady. Her coffee shop is located at 1402 Payne Street, Louisville, KY 40206. It is a little shop and it’s only a drive-thru. Red Hot is the smallest roaster in the city and the coffee is organic. She believes in accountability and sustainability. It comes in recyclable tins or you can bring them back to fill up with coffee again. Sondra only roasts seven pounds at a time. It’s a Peruvian coffee in a light French roast and a water process decaf.

So I went back and bought some decaf the other day and my wife and decided to brew it in the auto drip and the Chemex www.chemexcoffeemaker.com . The auto drip was first. The coffee beans have a good aroma and they are a little bit oily. It is a strong coffee but not overpowering and slightly acidic. The next day we made it in the Chemex. The taste is very clean and strong. There was the lingering taste of coffee in our mouths, but no bitterness. My wife and I thought the Chemex coffee maker could spoil us. It always makes the coffee taste better, even when you drink it black.

We are always looking for a good decaf. After lunch we don’t usually drink coffee or tea with caffeine. Both of us like the taste and smell of coffee, but sometimes not the caffeine.  We have tried a lot of different decafs. We think this Peruvian light French roast decaf from Red Hot Roasters www.redhotroasters.com  is one of the best we have tried so far. If you are looking for a good decaf you can’t go wrong here. Oh, and you can get it whole bean or ground.

I was thinking I have another reason to go out on a date with my wife; we have to try her regular coffee. I’m guessing it’s as good as the decaf. I’m looking forward to it!

Grace and peace to you,

Bill and Kim

Romans 15:13

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