Review #113: Zion Coffee Co.

Name of Roaster: Zion Coffee Co.

Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Peoria, Illinois

Name of Roast: Huehuetenango Pacamara

Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium Origin of Beans: Guatemala

Price: $18 (12 oz.) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Fifteen Days Aroma: Cutting open the bag, scents of chocolate cake batter, baked chocolate brownie, a touch of strawberry jam, and milk chocolate wafer appeared. On the grind, we noted a touch of baking spices, crisp brownie edges, vanilla wafer, and cocoa powder. The pour offered pure cane sugar, caramel, nougat, and soft, light brown sugar.

Flavor Profile: The sip arrived with a high entry, hitting the roof of the mouth and tip and midpoint of the tongue simultaneously. Showing a medium body and slightly syrupy, the coffee coated the tongue in agave, muddled blood orange, melon, green apple, watermelon, and cocoa powder. The sides of the tongue catch a touch of lime, which fades quickly into the melange, while the finish is clean, with aromatics of a mix of freshly picked berries.

Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): We are big fans of this roaster's shop and its online footprint, and the coffee lives up to the aesthetic. This Huehuetenango was less robust than some we have reviewed, but that does not take away from the pleasure of the cup, which offered a soft, warm sip, meant for quiet mornings rather than a fast kick start to the day. Only about fifteen minutes from Peoria's airport, and right by a killer clothing store called Rambler, we highly recommend stopping into this ever-bustling shop in the Peoria warehouse district.

Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 8.0 Where to Buy: Zion Coffee Co. Looking to do a review of your own? Hop over to the Community and get to it!