This isn’t the first time I’ve tried and reviewed coffee connected to indie musicians (Tim Peaks/Tim Burgess; Drum Coffee/John Wicks, Fitz and the Tantrums), but this was the first time I’ve ever seen whole bean coffee at a merch table! I went to the Bomb Factory in Dallas last night to catch Hippo Campus, a band I discovered by accident in 2022 when I wandered into their show at Old Forester Paristown Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. Infectious, exuberant indie pop – I liked them immediately. Their newest album Flood was one of my favorite albums of 2024, and it shows off a more introspective and vulnerable side to the band.
The merch guy last night was super friendly, and when I asked him about how fresh the beans were, I got the sense that he understood immediately that he was talking to a fellow coffee nerd. These beans were roasted just a couple of days before the band departed on this leg of the tour, and all the bags do have a roast date on them (which, honestly, shows a higher level of care than I was expecting! Major respect to the band and the coffee roaster). This dates the bag I bought to be about three weeks old, which is fantastic. I was not familiar with Folly Coffee Roasters prior to this, but I like the look of their coffee selections, they have a Q grader on staff, and they clearly take great pride in their work! I’ll definitely be ordering from them in the future.
On the back of the bag, the description reads as follows: Folly Coffee has teamed up with Hippo Campus once again to create a one-of-a-kind medium bodied, well-rounded blend inspired by their new album, “Flood”. Three individual coffees work in harmony to become more than the sum of their parts. The result is a coffee that pairs sweet, caramelized notes with a juicy, fruity acidity that keeps you coming back for more.
Whole bean: The bag lists the blend as 40% natural Honduras, 40% washed Ethiopia, and 20% natural Brazil. As expected, the beans vary in size and in color (but only slightly). There is no oil sheen on the beans, and the aroma of the whole beans is delicious – I can’t pick out specific notes but it just has that gorgeous aroma of a well-made medium-roast coffee. Since the beans are so fresh, there was loads of bloom in all methods when the hot water hit the grounds. A great sign!
French press: Creamy, plush, smooth mouthfeel. Notes of caramel, nougat, toasted marshmallow, with just a hint of grape on the finish. I’m a little sleep-deprived this morning and this was perhaps the most gentle, comforting way to start the day I could imagine. It tastes like their track Flood sounds. I loved this.
Chemex: Brighter and lighter – this has more of a red grape and honey character to it. Sweet, balanced brew with a gorgeous energy. Of the Flood album tracks, I’d equate this most with Slipping Away.
Clever Dripper: This tastes like a “cleaner” version of the French press cup. I love the heavy, almost muddy character of French press coffee (especially with beans and blends of this quality!), but the paper filter of the Clever gives this immersion method a clarity that really complements this blend. It’s Everything At Once.
Hario V60: This method brought out the most acidity and bright notes to this blend. This created the liveliest cup by far. Still has a great flavor balance, but it invites repeated sips in a way that the French press cup may not. The richness and creaminess of the French press version of this coffee is sort of like having a few bites of a really rich food – take a chocolate torte, for example. It’s hard to gorge on something so intensely chocolaty. But, if you add a brighter element, like a raspberry coulis? Your palate wakes up and it makes you want more. Bringing big Tooth Fairy energy!
Summary: This indie roaster x indie band collab is way better than I expected it would be, and it made me so happy. It sort of continued the good vibes I experienced at last night’s gig, while also capturing the warm, intimate, glowy vibes of the Flood album. My favorite track from the album is Forget It, but I will most certainly not be forgetting this coffee!
From the roaster: milk chocolate, red grape, tangerine
Folly Coffee x Hippo Campus Coffee Collab Blend
Review conducted 23 days post-roast.