Epic Bean Coffee Roasters - Peru Aprocassi / Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Chichu

I am a huge fan of African coffees, but ordered the Peruvian anyway.  Sometimes coffee from the Americas is too bright for my taste, but I was having a moment, so I just clicked it.

I'm so glad I did.  I loved the Peru Aprocassi from Epic Bean.  http://www.epicbean.com/ 

I'll get to that in a moment.
First - The shipping was fast AND they sent a tracking number.  I'm obsessive about tracking packages, so that's a huge plus with me.  

Then I got This

My first thought was - Hey, Unicorns! Not girly, Lisa Frank Unicorns, but the kind you might find on a coat of arms.  Tough unicorns.  

Inside each box was a bag, with more unicorns.

And finally inside each bag - coffee

and TOYS!!!  I'm 48, but if you give me toys I will play with them.  That's how the Epic Guys got their own section of the website.

I also got a couple of stickers.  I am getting quite a few coffee roaster stickers.  Still trying to decide what to put them on.  It has to be something that I will use, but not something fragile.  I want to show them off, so it has to be something I take with me.  I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.

Now the coffee.  I have brewed this with my beehouse, kalita wave and Bunn.  I prefer the beehouse, and that's how I drink most of my coffee.  I did the Bunn because the husband wanted a lot of coffee one night.

It was sweeter, with a hint of vanilla aroma.  Think vanilla extract, not plain bean.  Vanilla beans smell like playdough to me and this did not smell like playdough.  It had a bright acidity, kind of like dancing on the tongue.  The cocoa taste gave it a creamy body.  I've seen Peruvian coffees described as having a floral aroma, but I don't know that I picked up on that.  It did smell like really good coffee, some vanilla, a hint of nut, but not really flowers to me.  

It is a fantastic breakfast coffee.  Goes well with my fruit that I have most days, also was great paired with a nutty oatmeal with fruit.  Ok with eggs and sausage, but not the best pairing.  Went well with my lunchtime salad that had spinach, goat cheese and peppers.  I'm big with what coffee goes with what foods.  Some just don't work for me.  This one didn't overpower the lighter foods I eat during the day.  

Nate wrote me to let me know when their mugs came in.  Of course I ordered one.  A mug a day for a year requires a lot of mugs, plus I like to have them from roasters I've sampled.  It's a cool enamel mug

The Peru was not the only coffee I ordered, you may have noticed that from the photos.  I did get some from Africa too. I do love Ethiopian coffees.  

This was was a bit heavier, not as bright up front, but it did have a brighter finish.  Warmer is a good description. Slightly darker - in tone, not bean.  The beans were not a dark roast, light medium to medium.  I didn't pick up a blueberry taste like I have with other Yirg beans, but it was fruity.  Sweet and winey with a hint of spice and richness, maybe a hint of citrus.  Imagine richer fruit covered in milk chocolate that has been given a zest of lemon and you have a good idea of my impression of this. It went very well with my cheesecake. A decadent pairing.  I know cheesecake isn't on my diet, but it was a nice treat and the Yirgacheffe really brought out the creamy taste.  

My year in Coffee - Maps Coffee Cadence Blend

Maps Coffee is located inside a custom bike store in Lenexa KS.  That's important because the owner/roaster - Vincent - is someone who lives his passion and it shows in his coffee  He can tell you about the coffee and the roasting process and the roaster he uses.  It's really fascinating and I plan to sign up for his guest roast with my son as soon as we can coordinate schedules.

I've been picking up a bag of blend at the same time as a single origin.  Blends are usually coffees the the roasters have combined to achieve their own idea of perfection.  When someone really knows coffee he or she will know what works together and be able to give you a combination that is better than the individual parts.

I had looked over some of the blends on the website and was leaning towards the cadence blend.  I asked the young man who helped us what his favorite blend was and he said Cadence, so that cemented my choice.  I also chose a bag of Ethiopian Sidamo which gets it's own review.

Cadence is a blend of medium roasted Latin American coffees.  Perfect for drinking anytime, anywhere.  That's what the bag says.  :-)  It's also a 16oz bag, not a 12oz  which I'm seeing less and less often these days.

Cadence is a very smooth and relaxed coffee.  A great coffee for the morning.  Right now it's one of my favorites to have with breakfast.  It has a nice body with a brightness, but not too bitey or sharp.  It's very balanced.    There is a sweetness to it, but not overly sweet like a dessert coffee.  Hints of spice and cocoa with a little bit of a nutty taste.

Vincent means it when he says come talk coffee.  He worked at Starbucks for 18 (I think that's what he said) years and now roasts his own.  He knows his coffee and can explain the science behind the art.  He also said "bikes are freedom" and his love for them is evident in the beautiful creations around the shop.  Anyone who lives his passions like Vincent does is fascinating and their love always shows through into the product.  I really enjoyed talking to him & learning about his roaster.  It's a Loring Falcon 15k and is really a beautiful machine.    My older son & I will eventually get a chance to do a Guest Roast  - if you're in the area give it a try.  I'm thinking of it as my mid year birthday celebration.  My birthday is Dec. 21 and it's hard to get people to do anything that close to Christmas, so I celebrate some other point during the year.    A guest roast would be a wonderful way to do my birthday! 

My year in Coffee - Barefoot Coffee Roasters

I'm playing catch up with my reviews.  I have them written, but have been just awful about posting them.  This is a good example of that.  I drank this coffee during the last week of February and the first week of March.  It's nearly the end of March and I am just now posting about it.

I ordered this one on a whim.  I was actually searching for a facebook friend's old, unused page dedicated to barefoot running.  He's the Maple Grove Barefoot Guy.  His page hasn't been used since 2012 - so go like it and freak him out a bit.  LOL  Anyway, I got distracted with Barefoot Coffee Roasters came up in the search - I ordered coffee and called it a night.  

I ordered the Malacara "B" Yellow Reserve because it had been awhile since I had a coffee from El Salvador.  I'm partial to Ethiopian coffees and sometimes I forget to be adventurous.  This one has a suggested brewing method of pour over which was perfect for me.  That's how I fix my morning coffee every day.  

It was bright and lightly sweet with tropical overtones.  There was a darker sugar taste as the cup cooled. Kind of like pineapple that's been dried out a bit and the natural sugars are concentrated.    It had a friendly body.  I know friendly isn't a "coffee" term, but I'm not a pro - just someone who loves coffee, so it works for me.  Friendly is when it makes your mouth happy and maybe a little giggly.

The shipping was super fast and they sent me a tracking notification.  Not everyone does that.  I can get a bit obsessed with tracking packages, so it's always a plus when I have one.

I love the amount of information on the website.  Not just tasting notes - which I may or may not be able to pick up on any given day.  They include stuff about where and how it's grown.  This coffee was grown in a style known as agovia para.  You can go to  http://www.barefootcoffee.com/collections/latin-america/products/malacara-b-yellow-reserve 

to see more about that.  I just think it's cool to know.  :-)

As always I have a ton of coffees I want to try, but Barefoot is on my list for a repeat bag.  They have a couple of offerings that I would love to try.  

My year in Coffee - March 25 - Kaldi's Coffee on the Plaza

I am far far behind in my reviews.  I have the written out in longhand on paper - because I'm 48 and that's how I roll - but I have not had enough time to get them to the computer.

Kaldi's Coffee on 47th st in KCMO used to be a Latteland and it took me a year to stop calling it "that place that used to be latteland"  Kaldi's purchased the 6 Lattelands in the area and have been converting them over.  It was a smart change over and they gave the interior a much needed redo, but they kept the stuff that worked.  That means they kept the staff.  One of the best things about Kaldi's is that the staff doesn't have a huge change over.  Several of the barista'\s at this location have been there for over a decade. It's wonderful to see the same people and not have to get to know someone new every visit.  The loyalty of the staff really says something wonderful about the company.   Kaldi's was already the exclusive roaster for Latteland so the quality of the coffee has not changed.

On my last two visits I've gotten the fresh mint latte.  My husband get's an iced version, but I'm partial to hot coffee.  One thing I hate is overly sweet coffee.  When I go to the S I always tell them TWO pumps of chocolate, not FIVE.  I get tired of explaining they why and the puzzled looks.  That's not an issue with Kadi's.  They balance out the added flavor with the coffee taste.  I want to taste my coffee, not just a sugary syrup.  Kaldi's also doesn't focus on the dessert coffee cocktails.  They have wonderful seasonal drinks in addition to the regular menu.  They do have sweet drinks as well as teas and smoothies, but their menu does not make you feel like you're at an ice cream bar.

There are a lot of local regulars in addition to the tourists visiting the plaza.  It's long been a hangout for the various biker groups.  Not the hell's angels outlaw bikers, but upscale I spent a lot of money on this machine and the leather jacket too, bikers.  There are always people sitting on the small patio reading or writing or just enjoying the day.  The inside is small, but welcoming.  I could use a few more outlets, but you do what you can with the space allowed.  

I picked up a bag o Congo Muungano the visit before last.  It's pretty much gone and I have planned my next bag.  Always ask the baristas which ones they like.  You can discover some great beans you might not have tried.

The smell of this one was delightful.  I have the nearly empty bag near me right now and I was smelling it just before I started typing.  I would wear this as a perfume if I could.

I brewed it as a pour over because that's just how I drink my coffee in the morning.  I even got a Kaldi's mug for my collection.

I'm @shouldntsaythat on instagram - check out my mug collection!

Anyway - back to the coffee.  It was warm and inviting with hints of citrus, but not overpoweringly so.  There was a bright, crisp acidity to it.  It made a great breakfast coffee.  There was also a light spice to it, like a strong tasty black tea.  Some light cane sugary sweetness as the cup cooled a bit and it all blended into one fine cup of coffee.  That bag went fast.  

I save all my bags, but I like this one a lot.  On the side there is the legend of how humans came to drink coffee - and the legend for which Kaldi's is apparently named.   It also helped explain their hashtag #followthegoat  :-)  On the other side are some helpful hints about getting the most out of your coffee.  It's not news to me, but lots of people just discovering good coffee don't think about thinks like freshness, storage or warming your cup first.

#followthegoat

 

My year in coffee- 3/04/15 Madcap Coffee Lake Effect Blend

I was awful about keeping up in February - the result is that I have several coffees with review notes but no reviews.  This isn't one of them.  :-)  I guess I technically got this one in February (the 28th), but I didn't drink any until March.

Madcap Coffee Company Lake Effect Blend  http://madcapcoffee.com/

This isn't my first cup of Lake Effect Blend  - it's just the one I'm going to review.  I chose a mug that reminded me of one my grandfather had. It was heavy and warm and just seemed like the right mug for the coffee.

I'll start with the packaging.  I'm a sucker for a good package and I define good in a lot of different ways.  I like decorative, but I also like simple.  The one goes towards simple and elegant, black bag with simple block coloring.  I like the fabric label on the front.  It came in a nice valved bag that I will reuse for my home roast when I have finished this tasty blend.  I actually don't see the coffee on the site anymore - it's a seasonal blend and if you didn't get any you may be out of luck.  Grab it next year.  I know I will.

I brewed it using a pour over like I do pretty much every morning of every day.  There was a nice aroma from the beans even before grinding and it was pretty intense in the freshly ground coffee.  I love the smell of fresh coffee steam as it comes off of the pour and this one didn't disappoint.  I'm sure I look a little silly smelling my coffee as it brews but the only one who sees me is Dennis the dog, and he doesn't care.  The smell was rich and warm full of promise of deep flavor.  Again, I wasn't disappointed. 

My first taste was brighter and more citrus than I expected.  It filled my mouth and I got a hint of spice and rich deep red fruits.  I don't know what fruits exactly, but I would say red.  Dark and rich and juicy with flavor.  Red might not be a flavor like purple, but maybe it should be.  There was a lively acidity to it that didn't overpower and didn't approach bitterness and harshness.  As the cup cooled a bit I got a warm hominess.  My husband came in late and got a slightly cool cup.  I asked him what he thought and he said.  "I don't know if this makes sense, but even though it's not super warm temperature wise I would still describe it as warm."  I knew what he meant.  It's a warm comforting drink.   Madcap describes it as being a great coffee to cozy up to next to the fire and I think that's spot on.  

I am down to half a bag and that won't last long with the coffee hounds in this house, but I'll enjoy it while I can.  I will order next years Lake Effect for sure and I'm already planning to try the Spring Fling blend.  

My year in coffee - Feb 5 Onyx Coffee Labs - Yirg Kochore

Got another bag of beans in from Onyx Coffee Labs out of Springdale, AR.  I first found them when I was looking for a coffee roaster in Arkansas.  I'm from the southern part of the state and I met my husband at the University.  We had our first kid there in Fayetteville and my best friend still lives in Rogers plus a lot of my family lives in or around Hot Springs.  Arkansas is home and I thought it would be nice to get some coffee roasted there.  

So glad I did.  I am in love with the roasters at Onyx.  They do such a good job of getting the best out of the beans.  Coffee roasting is an art and two roasters with the same machines, same beans and same atmospheric conditions will end up with two different roasts.  It's a matter of knowing and that's why some coffees are a treat and some are just a drink.

This one is a treat.  Rich and decadent like fruit covered in dark chocolate.  When I opened the bag I got the aroma of blueberry and fruity sweetness.  This held true through the grinding.  Brewing it I could taste the sweetness - not as sweet as the last one I got from Onyx, but then this is a different bean.  I loved the strong dark chocolate finish.  It reminded me of the cocoa nibs I nibble on sometimes or the way baker's chocolate smells when you are grinding it up for a recipe.  This coffee would go great with a rich cheesecake at desert.  I'm going to try it as a SO espresso later today.  I think it would pair great with some heavy cream for a nice afternoon treat.

And as always the bag is a treat.  I love the details they put into things.  Coffee can be utilitarian or an experience.  Onyx seems to understand that it's better to treat it like an experience.  

It's been awhile since I've done a puzzle, so I made one for today.  Just click on the image or title below to give it a shot!  

110 Onyx Coffee

My Year in Coffee Jan 7

Today is a great day for drinking coffee and working on an infinity scarf.  I made one for my oldest daughter and now her friend wants one.

The coffee is from Papua New Guinea and this time I roasted it in one machine.  Machine B - West Bend Poppery II.  It's an almond colored popper.  I have a white one too that's on loan to the kid.  It's my second favorite machine.  It used to be #1 until I got the Poppery 1.  That one wins because it has an ON/OFF switch.  Why they did away with that in the second incarnation I have no idea.

Anyway, the coffee is kind of nutty with kind of a chocolaty flavor.  Lightly sweet, I wasn't able to pick out specific fruits but overall there was a delicate sweetness.  Yummy.  Mellow is a good word for this one.  I drank it black because I found I didn't care for cream in the last batch.  Each batch is different though, so who knows.  It might have paired well with cream.  

These may all look the same to other people, but I look at the grids and can tell very a lot about which day it was.  

My Year in Coffee - Jan 6

I love this cup.  It looks like something I could draw.  Except that I can only draw super wonky stick figures and circles that look like ovals.  My drawing skills peaked sometime right before kindergarten.  But artistic abilities aside, this cup makes me smile.

Today I am drinking some coffee from Costa Rica that I roasted in my popcorn popper.  Machine A.  That's the original Poppery from West Bend.  I noticed a kind of sugary scent when I ground the beans.  Maybe a bit like when you open a bag of dark brown sugar.  Not strong, but there.  A brighter cup with a bit of sweetness which was balanced out by the acidity.  Kind of a nutty taste in there too.  Hard to pick between which nuts, not walnut, not almond.  Maybe something rainforesty like a Brazil nut.

My Year in Coffee - Jan 5

This year I participated in Third Wave Wichteln ( http://thirdwavewichteln.com/ ) An international coffee exchange.  I was very excited to get a package from Tel-Aviv, Israel.  Danielle sent a nice note along with the coffee - two bags.  One that reminded her of home and one that tasted like when she traveled.  I started with the one that tasted like home.

It's the POAS blend from Mae Cafe in Tel-Aviv.

Nice balanced cup.  A little nutty with a pleasant aftertaste.  Not as sweet as many of the ones I have been drinking lately.  Warm and full.  A good match with today's cup which is a rustic flowered mug.  no markings on the cup, so I have no idea of it's background.

My morning routine.  Choose, grind, brew, drink.

Bespoken Coffee Roasters Kochere -Ethiopia

I've decided to try out at least some of the many small roasters I find on Instagram & Twitter.  There are a lifetimes worth to try, but I'm not planning on going anywhere soon so I should be able to get through a few.  (ignore the weird highlight.  I'm not in the mood to figure out blogger this morning)

I started with Bespoken Coffee Roasters and their Kochere from Ethiopia.  They are a husband and wife team in Corvallis, OR, who just opened a shop called Tried & True Coffee .  Hopefully when I make my west coast trip I'll be able to stop by and check it out.

I also ordered a mug.  The shipping was fast.  I placed my order on Thursday and by Monday I had my coffee.  I love the packaging too.  A pretty label won't improve coffee but that doesn't make it a waste of time.  For me coffee is about the whole experience from bag to cup.  I liked having something enjoyable to look at.

Then comes smell.  The bag was well sealed so I needed some scissors to open it.  There is a valve for gas escape so being well sealed is a plus.  CO2 out, but no air in.  I opened the bag and was greeted by a wonderful aroma.  The smell of good coffee puts me in a great mood.  This was a real day brightener.

I always taste a couple of beans.  That's the best way I know to determine if I want to use them for candy later.  Chocolate covered coffee beans are yummy - but only if you start with the right beans.  These aren't bad for that.  I'll have to give it a try sometime this week.  I think some coffee caramels with a chocolate covered bean on top would be a good fit.  

This morning I put both my new beans and new mug to use.  Most mornings I make a carafe of pour over and today was no exception.  The beans were ground, the water heated and the cup warmed.  In no time at all I had a nice cup of coffee.  The color was a nice rich brown and there was a golden crema on top as I poured the water.  

I'm new to the whole describing coffee thing.  The fact that I even like good coffee is a miracle.  I grew up in a house where instant was considered coffee.  Even today my mom will use generic coffee from the grocery store.  I'm talking lower than store brand.  Remember those white cans with coffee written on them in black?  yeah, she's used that.  

So how would I describe this one?  There was a natural sweetness and it was bright kind of a citrusy taste, kind of crisp.  It had a good feel in my mouth, kind of like a strong cup of tea, but not heavy or weighed down. I have a ton of stuff to get done today and this is a good coffee for a work day.  

It was really enjoyable.  I'll be making a second carafe after lunch.  

and I loved the mug.  I like a nice heavy mug - keeps my coffee warm a bit longer.  

I will be ordering more coffee from Bespoken.  I'm planning to try their Gatuyaini from Kenya next.  

A puzzle - because I like puzzles.  you can play it here click through to jigsaw planet for a bigger screen version.

210 Bespokenpuzzle

Headrush Roasters - Glasdstone MO

I'm trying to get around to all the coffee roasters in Kansas City, one week at a time.  This week we went to Headrush Roasters in Gladstone, MO.

It's a 30 min drive from my house, but then everything in KC is 30 - 45 min from everything else.  I wanted to try Headrush because they will roast coffee for you while you wait.  OMG it smells good in there.  I know there is a lot of smoke given off from roasting coffee and you could see a layer of it in the shop - but I love a good campfire and the smoke didn't bother me in the least.

The young man at the register was very helpful in helping me choose which coffee to have roasted.  I ended up going with one called India Monsoon.  It grows during the monsoon season and has larger beans.  Was told it has a distinct flavor and less acidity other coffee.  

The beans are a little larger than others and it's a nice medium roast.

When we got the bag it smelled HEAVENLY.  The kid said it smelled a little like fresh gingerbread.  I brewed some of this for my morning coffee - pour over method - and while it didn't taste like gingerbread it was excellent.  Smooth and not bitter with a lot of body and a kind of earthy spiciness.  Really really really worth the drive.

I also got a bag of espresso blend, but I have not tried that one yet.

My husband had their Headrush drink.  He enjoyed it.  I got a Mocha because I judge coffee houses on their ability to do two things - a good pour over or chemex and mocha if they serve them.  If it tastes like sugar water or syrup (Gloria Jean - Starbucks)  I wont' be back for any other item on their menu.  Conversely I don't want it to be too bitter from the espresso.  A balanced mocha is wonderful and surprisingly hard to make.  The one from Headrush was not bad.  Not the best I've ever had, but still good.  A little bitter, but I'll take that over diabetes in a cup.  I like to taste the coffee with the chocolate.  Not just chocolate and sweet but no coffee.

The kid enjoyed the trip and here's my requisite photo of her giving me odd looks in a coffee house.

I enjoyed the atmosphere.  It's a great place to hang out and talk with friends.

I also got a new mug for my collection.  It was made by Sunset Hill Stoneware  http://shstoneware.com/

If you look closely you can see the latte art inside the cup.

Using my balloon art-centric rating system I give this place 4.5 balloon dogs.

 

  Visit them if you're near Kansas City.  You will be happy you did!