Review #117: La Prima Espresso Co.

Name of Roaster: La Prima Espresso Co.

Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Name of Roast: Peru La Florida

Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium Origin of Beans: Chanchamayo Province, Jujin Region, Peru

Price: $15 (16 oz.) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Eight Days Aroma: Cutting open the bag brought forth rich chocolate cake, cocoa nibs, crisp brownie crust, and ganache. The grind offered graham, melted dark chocolate, molasses, and crisp chocolate wafer. The pour, meanwhile, provided scents of rich raw cane sugar, wet stone, light brown sugar, and a touch of cocoa.

Flavor Profile: The coffee had a medium-to-high entry, with austere flavors of wood, bark, black peppercorn, and high percentage dark chocolate hugging the roof of the mouth, with a bitterness lingering on the aromatics. Orange and lemon appeared on the tip of the tongue, while lime and lemon showed on the sides. Slight florals mixed with lemon eventually appeared, but were overwhelmed by the aforementioned initial flavors. The finish is bright and moderately balanced, with lemon lasting and aromatics of bark and earth.

Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): We found this roaster while roaming the Strip District of Pittsburgh, and we loved the vibe of its old school, well-worn espresso counter. The beans we purchased for this review are best when paired, as the coffee itself is a touch bitter to drink alone for multiple cups. That stated, we recommend stopping into this store, grabbing an espresso at the counter, and picking up one of their many offerings before heading down the street to check out the thriving markets on a weekend in Pittsburgh.

Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 7.3 Where to Buy: La Prima Espresso Co.