I picked up this bag from Cat & Cloud at the Wayward Coffee location in Dallas’s Design District. The Best Friends blend is intended for espresso, but as I don’t have an espresso machine anymore, I will be solely be evaluating these beans brewed as coffee.
Hario V60: This had a tart citrus flavor with a floral note that got smoother as it cooled. Surprisingly complex for an espresso blend, in my view.
Clever Dripper: I have been struggling with dialing in coffee for the Clever, and the drawdown time took WAY too long (over 2 minutes for the drawdown alone), but despite my miscalculations, this was a decent cup of coffee. It had a richer texture than the Hario V60 cup, and was less floral but more toasty. This will please people that don’t think they like light roasts so much.
French press: A little tangy and bright, with notes of lilac and mandarin. I was really surprised by how much flavor was in this cup coming straight off the comparatively one-dimensional Clever Dripper cup.
Chemex: This might have been user error again, but there really was not much flavor at all using this method. I think the thicker filter was a detriment for these beans.
Summary: If you’re used to espresso blends being dark, bitter, nutty, and chocolaty, this blend will likely be a shock to you as it is adamantly none of these things. But, if you’re interested in a citrusy, floral blend, give this a try! I would be curious to know how it tastes pulled as espresso, but in a French press, it particularly shines.
From the roaster: sweet, juicy, complex
Cat & Cloud Coffee Best Friends Blend
Review conducted 28-31 days post-roast.