Review #73: Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Co.

Name of Roaster: Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Co. Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Richmond, VA Name of Roast: Quirk Coffee Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium

Origin of Beans: Finca San Jose de las Nubes, Matagalpa, Nicaragua Price: $12 (12 oz) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Ten Days Aroma: Opening the bag, we noted crisp-edged chocolate brownie, deep chocolate ganache, and cocoa. On the grind, bright fruit reminiscent of mango and papaya shows; chocolate brownie crust follows with slight grain. Light brown sugar and rich nougat appear on the pour. Flavor Profile: Medium body, mid-to-low palate entry. Delicate, with tropical notes (pineapple, papaya, creamsicle) and florals floating above a base of low-percentage dark chocolate. The coffee sits on the front half of the tongue, with back of the tongue receiving rich chocolate aromatics that stay high on the roof of the mouth. Sides of the tongue capture lime and orange. As it cools, body develops and chocolate, along with deep brown sugar, becomes more encompassing, with a lush, creamy decadence. Later, more fruit shows on the front end of the palate, with the chocolate and dark brown sugar following. Pleasant finish with no bitterness or acidity. Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): This is a special roast Blanchard's, a local specialty roaster from Richmond, created for the boutique Quirk Hotel in downtown Richmond. We were pleasantly surprised by the complexity of this coffee, showcasing a rich blend of flavors that the Quirk Hotel should be proud to serve. In our opinion, no milk is needed for this excellent coffee; rather, this is a sip-all-day cup perfect for pairing with any and all breakfast items. Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 8.4 Where to Buy: Blanchard's Coffee Roasting Co. Looking to do a review of your own? Hop over to the Community and get to it!