Review #75: Vigilante Coffee Company

Name of Roaster: Vigilante Coffee Company Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Hyattsville, MD Name of Roast: Indonesia Solok Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium

Origin of Beans: Solok, Sumatra, Indonesia Price: $18 (12 oz) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Eighteen Days Aroma: Cutting open the bag, we noted rich, warmed chocolate brownie, molten chocolate cake, dark brown sugar, and a touch of baking spices. After the grind, the scent brightened, adding a slight tart black cherry and nutmeg to the mix. Brown sugar, red berry compote, and caramelizing white cane sugar showed on the pour. Flavor Profile: The coffee had a mid-to-low-palate entry and hugged the front half of the mouth, eventually moving to the middle of the tongue, where it took up residence. Initially, bittersweet chocolate was pronounced, with hints of wood and earth. The sides of the tongue picked up lime, while the tip of the tongue caught lemon; both acidic notes receded almost immediately, enveloped by the primary, dominant note of chocolate. Finishing aromatics were consistent and well-balanced. As the coffee cooled, body and weight continued to develop, with cinnamon and sugar toast showing. Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): This coffee delivered as advertised, with a bright, balanced, chocolate-forward cup that finished clean, making it a lovely accompaniment to both savory and sweet breakfast items (we tried it both with charcuterie and a white chocolate macadamia Clif Bar). The coffee also performed well when mixed with milk. We would be intrigued to see how this coffee plays as an espresso, given its primary notes. This is a crowd-pleaser that you should feel confident offering as a gift or bringing into a house with someone who is skeptical of specialty coffees. If you see this coffee out, we recommend grabbing a bag. Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 7.8 Where to Buy: Vigilante Coffee Company Looking to do a review of your own? Hop over to the Community and get to it!