Review #118: Fiddlehead Coffee Co.

Name of Roaster: Fiddlehead Coffee Co.

Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Rochester, MN

Name of Roast: Oak Savanna Blend

Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium Origin of Beans: N/A

Price: $15 (12 oz.) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Thirty-Four Days Aroma: Cutting open the bag, we noted brownie crust, cocoa krispies, a touch of mint, graham, and devil's food cake. The grind offered cocoa powder, saltine, dark chocolate nibs, baking spices, and crisp chocolate wafer. Caramel, soft light brown sugar, nougat, wet stone, and dark chocolate syrup were found on the pour.

Flavor Profile: The sip arrives with a high entry on the palate and light-to-medium body, sticking to the roof and the front third of the tongue. Initially slightly bitter, with dominating notes of dark chocolate, as the coffee cools, body develops, with chocolate cake, black peppercorn, and a slight touch of orange and nougat showing. Moderately viscous and syrupy, the sides of the tongue pick up lemon and burnt orange peel. As the sip concludes, dark chocolate, grain, and oak bark wash across the middle and back of the tongue. The finish is slightly dry and acidic, with a lingering touch of black peppercorn.

Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): This coffee is a standard blend that will please most traditional palates, and we recommend it paired as compared to a standalone cup. Unfortunately, we could not find origin notes on the bag or website, so we cannot confirm the course of the beans. We will note that we picked up a pair of mugs from Fiddlehead that are now in our daily rotation. Additionally, if you're visiting the Mayo Clinic, this is a great local roaster option to try if you're looking for a locally-roasted cup.

Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 7.0. Where to Buy: Fiddlehead Coffee Co.