Review #116: Madcap Coffee Company

Name of Roaster: Madcap Coffee Company

Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Grand Rapids, Michigan

Name of Roast: El Porvenir

Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium Origin of Beans: Apaneca-llamatepec, El Salvador

Price: $21 (12 oz.) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Fourteen Days Aroma: Cutting open the bag, we found scents of crisp, baked chocolate chip cookie, white bread crust, touch of deep ganache, and semisweet chocolate chips. The grind was consistent with the initial aroma from the beans: cocoa powder, semisweet chocolate chips, a touch of baking spices, and crisp cookie. The pour showed cocoa, caramel, dark brown sugar, and pure cane sugar.

Flavor Profile: The sip arrives with a medium-to-low entry on the palate. Dense, nuanced, and measured, the coffee is viscous and lush, coating the tongue and clinging to it, with aromatics floating up to the roof of oak bark and kindling. Flavors on the tongue include rich, deep cocoa, ganache, and dark brown sugar. Touches of red berries dance on the tip of the tongue, while the sides catch lemon and lime that quickly fade into the chocolate-dominant profile. As it cools, cranberry, pomegranate, pear, and melon show. The sip concludes with a delicate, balanced finish.

Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): A powerful but restrained coffee that can stand on its own, yet works well when paired, this coffee reminded us of sitting in an armchair and reading a book, or perhaps a morning on the shores of Lake Como with a cup and charcuterie. We highly recommend it for all tastes, as this cup would work for palates that prefer a more straightforward coffee as well as those who prefer more complex profiles. The next time this is on offer, pick it up.

Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 8.5 Where to Buy: Madcap Coffee Company