Review #17: La Barba Coffee

Name of Roaster: La Barba Coffee Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Salt Lake City, UT

Name of Roast: Pakse Laos Mt. Coffee Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium Origin of Beans: Bane Nongyatheung, Nambaeng, Phoudamkhoan, Laos Price: $19.99 (12 oz) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Twelve Days Aroma: Opening the bag, we noted a strong, singular note of milk chocolate. The grind revealed baking spices, a slight berry, and a honeyed sweetness. On the pour, we found honey, a heavy scent of brown sugar, and caramel.

Flavor Profile: High entry on the tongue that falls quickly to mid-palate. Caramel is the primary note, with berry acidity running beneath and apple and brown sugar aromatics following. Sides of the mouth pick up the apple brightness, and the acidity, while more noticeable, is not overwhelming. A faint bitterness presents on the back end, contrasting the sweeter, more acidic-leaning aromatics.

Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): We thought this was a bright and balanced cup with lovely, distinct aromatics of a type we had not found elsewhere in our reviews. The berry is not as forthright as certain other coffees we have reviewed, and it fades as the coffee cools. However, the brown sugar persists, while the apple provides a subtle crispness to the brew. We tend to see Laotian coffees less often as compared to some other staples (Kenya, Costa Rica, etc.), and so if you are feeling adventurous and want to put a new stamp in your coffee passport, this is a fine coffee to try. Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 8.3 Where to Buy: La Barba Coffee Looking to do a review of your own? Hop over to the Community and get to it!