Review #72: Verve Coffee Roasters

Name of Roaster: Verve Coffee Roasters Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Santa Cruz, CA Name of Roast: Sermon Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium

Origin of Beans: Nueva Segovia, Brazil; Santa Barbara, Honduras; Yirgacheffe, Ethiopia Price: $16 (12 oz) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Seven Days Aroma: Opening the bag, we noted chocolate chip cookie, Oreo cookie, slight smoke, and a touch of dark berry. A warmer scent shows after the grind, with baking spices appearing alongside a slight grain; a hint of dark chocolate cocoa powder is noted on the back end. On the pour, we noted rich dark brown sugar and caramelizing cane sugar. Flavor Profile: The first sip hits mid-palate, with a medium-to-full body entry and rich, soft feel. On entry, the flavor quickly moves to middle of the tongue, then reverts to the front of the tongue while the aromatics float backward, resulting in an enveloping flavor profile. The primary note is a rich dark chocolate, with dark berry showing underneath. While the lush flavors fill the palate, a noted thin bed of juice is found resting on the tongue. Sides of the tongue pick up lime and rounded blood orange, which meld into the profile by creating a dark berry compote. The finish is dry. As the coffee cools, blueberry shows on the front end of the mouth in the aromatics, while deep chocolate persists on the finish. Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): This coffee is the equivalent of wrapping oneself in a soft blanket. It won’t give you a zip or a surprise, but is good for a quiet morning with a good book. The chocolate and dark berry combination provide for a gentle cup, while the dry finish harkens for a pairing. We tried this with both a savory and a sweet, and it paired well with either. We tried this with a Chemex, but given the depth, we'd recommend giving this a shot with your French Press or as an espresso, if you have the means. Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 7.7 Where to Buy: Verve Coffee Roasters Looking to do a review of your own? Hop over to the Community and get to it!