Here is a tasting that I’ve been wanting to do for quite a while. This is the espresso blend I mentioned previously that has a reputation for tasting like Snickers (peanut, chocolate, and caramel). I have ordered these beans several times previously and enjoyed them, but this will be my first time pulling the shots on a machine that will give me more control over variables like temperature, etc.
First impressions: The USPS Priority box that these beans came in was releasing maddening smells of peanuts and chocolate and caramel. Now, to be honest, I have never cared for peanuts, and after a bad experience with a rotten peanut inside a Snickers bar when I was about 12, I have sworn off Snickers for life, but I was very much looking forward to seeing how these beans would taste in the cup. The beans are smaller than I see usually, and they are roasted to a “Northern Italian roast,” which looks on the dark side of medium. It has not been roasted long enough to make oil come to the surface of the beans, though.
Favorite brew parameters: 16g/double basket, 198 F, 25 sec pour
I experimented with this blend between 6-15 days post roast. Day 6, the above brew parameter yielded a lively shot that tasted like cola and brandy. Very sweet! By day 10, the same parameters yielded a shot that was much more muted and rounded. Amazingly, this bean kept getting better with age. On day 15, I got the Snickers flavor! This blend does not taste fruity or spiky to me at all – it’s definitely more on the “comfort food” side of espresso with a nice sweet finish. Even the less-than-ideal pours from my experimentation had lots of wonderful rich, flecked, reddish-brown crema. These beans stood up VERY well in milk. I actually found my lattes that I made with this to be a bit more intense in coffee flavor that I am used to!
AeroPress: Brewing this coffee in the AeroPress brought out the dark chocolate and roasted peanut flavors. I think this coffee is roasted dark enough that I more taste the flavor of the roasting process vs. the flavor of the bean origin. I do taste a little acidity on the finish, but I can’t say I taste fruit flavors – just a little brightness.
Summary: This is a very forgiving espresso blend which tastes delicious at a variety of parameters, and it’s got plenty of strength to stand up well in milk. Great for those looking for a more chocolaty/nutty flavor profile vs. fruity/acidic. The price is also very reasonable – less than $13/lb.!
From the roaster: Rich, balanced and aromatic, this espresso starts with a distinct hazelnut-chocolate aroma and progresses to sweet chocolate, toasted nut and caramel flavors in the cup, with subtle citric acidity. It finishes with a rich and lingering aftertaste. When used in other brewing methods, citrus and dried fruit notes add to the complexity and depth.
Very Lovely!