I have a new favorite espresso blend!!! With a name like Chromatic, this is clearly an espresso blend after my own heart. This coffee company has been on my list of must-try roasters for some time now. I was very much hoping to get my hands on a bag of Chromatic Coffee during my recent trip […]
Author: Margaret
Review: Rook Coffee Roasters Costa Rica (Ocean, New Jersey)
I heard about Rook thanks to a tip from my friend Max. Founded in 2010, this relative newcomer to the specialty coffee world has gotten attention from sources ranging from The New York Times and PBS to BuzzFeed and Maxim. In addition to brewing their freshly roasted coffee in eight cafe locations and selling their beans online, Rook […]
Advice: What should I order at a third-wave coffee shop?
Third-wave coffee shops are popping up everywhere. Walking into one is quite different from walking into a Starbucks; the menu is different, the equipment is different, and it can be a little intimidating if you don’t know what to expect. A quick history lesson for anyone that isn’t familiar with the coffee “waves”: First wave: […]
Review: Quasar Coffee Rwanda Kibuye Valley (Chicago, Illinois)
I kind of take for granted these days that pretty much all companies will have websites. It was a surprise when in the process of writing this review, I could barely find any hint of an online presence for Quasar Coffee Roasters, outside of a sparse Instagram feed and a Twitter account (both of which […]
Review: Kickapoo Coffee Roasters Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Idido Cooperative (Viroqua, Wisconsin)
Kickapoo Coffee is another award-winning roaster featured in my most recent shipment from Craft Coffee. Like many roasters, their standard size is 12 oz, but instead of using bags, Kickapoo ships in cans. I did not receive a can since I got the sampler bag from Craft, but it looks like it would be a […]
Review: Kuma Coffee Guatemala Finca La Folie (Seattle, Washington)
Whenever I come across a roaster whom I’m not familiar with, I like looking at the “About” section of their website to get an idea of what makes them tick. Kuma Coffee’s story is interesting to me, as the founder is the son of American missionaries that moved to Kenya when he was a child. During that time […]
Advice: Choosing a manual coffee brewer
In the not-so-distant past, making coffee at home was simple – you used an automatic drip coffee machine and pre-ground beans. Simple, but not always the best-tasting result. Nowadays, there are a myriad of choices available for making coffee at home so it can be a little overwhelming when trying to make a decision. One […]
Review: Intelligentsia Ethiopia Tikur Anbessa (Chicago, Illinois)
I’m pretty sure that Intelligentsia needs no introduction around here. I tried a V60 pourover cup of this coffee at Vero’s Coffee Bar and was struck by the flowery, peachy flavors. Naturally, I had to bring a bag home! Whole bean: Creamy, earthy scent that smelled a bit like pinenuts with a hint of butterscotch. V60: […]
Review: Sightglass Owl’s Howl Espresso (San Francisco, California)
Sightglass Coffee is a family-owned roaster based in San Francisco. I have known this roaster by reputation for a while, but this is the first time I’ve ever gotten a chance to try their product. I picked up this bag from B2 Coffee at the same time that I picked up the Verve Guatemala Los Santos. […]
Review: Temple Costa Rica Las Lajas Golden Honey (Sacramento, California)
Temple Coffee Roasters, based out of Sacramento, CA, is an award-winning roaster who has racked up accolades, including multiple 90+ point coffee ratings as rated by Coffee Review. I picked up this bag from Vero’s Coffee Bar on my recent work trip to San Jose without tasting it first; I opted instead to sample their house […]