Review #104: Independent Bean Roasters

Name of Roaster: Independent Bean Roasters

Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Hendersonville, North Carolina

Name of Roast: Cumbres del Poas "Sarchimor" Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium

Origin of Beans: Central Valley, Costa Rica Price: $14.95 (12 oz.) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): One Day Aroma: Tearing open the bag, the first scents are of rich, baked chocolate brownie, semi-sweet chocolate chip, baked brioche, and vanilla frosting. On the grind, the coffee brightens, with notes of dark chocolate powder, cocoa nibs, crisp brownie edges, and chocolate cake. On the pour, we were delighted to find bright caramel, rich toffee, and wild honey.

Flavor Profile: The sip arrived mid-palate, then expanded both high and low simultaneously, setting up shop midway down the tongue. Notes of citrus, including lime, orange, lemon, and tangerine, show, along with soft, sharp raspberry, with a dark chocolate undercurrent beneath, followed by a cocoa nib finish that is dry and clean. The sides of tongue get mango, guava, and orange. As it cools, the chocolate begins to show further. Lastly, we'd be remiss if we failed to note that the of tongue gets a sweet taste of lemonade.

Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): We found this coffee while visiting Liberty House Coffee and Café in Asheville, North Carolina. As we were unable to make our way out to Hendersonville to visit the roaster properly, we were lucky to be able to pick up a bag from this great multi roaster shop. The coffee itself went well on its own or when paired with milk, and we opted to pair it with avocado toast. We also want to note that we love the bold bag design and Independent Bean Roasters' killer website.

Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 8.0. Where to Buy: Independent Bean Roasters

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