Review #86: Robbeans
Name of Roaster: Robbeans
Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Glendale, CA
Name of Roast: Peru Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium Origin of Beans: Cenfrocafe Co-op, Peru Price: $20 (12 oz.) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Twenty Days Aroma: Opening the bag, we found scents of rich chocolate cake, crisp brownie edges, chocolate chip cookie, and a touch of molasses. On the grind, crisp brownie edge persists, with baking spices, strawberry jam, and a hint of wood on the finish. The pour reveals vanilla, rich, dark brown sugar, caramel, and cinnamon.
Flavor Profile: The coffee had a mid-palate entry, full and rich, immediately gripping the center of the tongue before carrying up to the roof, then slowly flowing to the back of the tongue. Initially, we found the coffee sweet and nutty, with notes of dark chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, nougat, peanut, and cinnamon. As it cools, orange marmalade shows, along with a touch of fruit punch and hibiscus. The sides of the tongue grab ripe tomato and a touch of lemon, but the acidity is balanced in a way that the notes meld easily into the fold. A touch of black peppercorn shows on the finish, which has a long tail.
Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): Robbeans is a brand new roaster, running its business out of a garage in Glendale, CA. For a fledgling operation, it is punching above its weight with this coffee. We tried it both with fried eggs and peanut butter toast, and it paired well with both, so we recommend it with all pairings. Additionally, as noted above, given the complex profile, this coffee can hold its own without pairing, if that's your prerogative. Finally, we want note that the beans are fair trade and USDA Organic, for those who are so inclined. Elevated but approachable, this coffee is highly recommended.