Review #122: Dengo

Name of Roaster: Dengo

Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Sao Paulo, Brazil

Name of Roast: Dengo de Carlos

Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium Origin of Beans: Divinolândia, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Price: $36 R / $8.61 USD (250g) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Twenty Days Aroma: Cutting open the bag, we noted dry chocolate cake, chocolate frosting, Oreo cookie, hazelnut, and ganache. On the grind, scents of water cracker, graham, an undercurrent of cocoa nib, whole wheat bread, and a hint of nougat appeared. On the pour, we noted molasses, rich brown sugar, merlot, and high grade dark chocolate.

Flavor Profile: The coffee arrives with a high entry on the palate and floats along the roof of the mouth before falling on the front half of the tongue. Viscous but ethereal, the sip has a roundness of texture, as well as a softness that slowly fades into the finish. The sides of the tongue pick up nectarine, melon, tart cherry, and soft lime. The center of the tongue catches a rich, beautiful chocolate note, along with cherry, cranberry, sharp apple, guava, and cocoa, while the tip of the tongue catches the sharp berry notes along with lime. The underside of the tongue lights up with cranberry and pomegranate. The finish carries notes of dark chocolate shavings and cocoa nibs.

Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): This coffee is pure luxury, and we highly recommend picking up a bag if you end up in Brazil or can find a way to purchase it. We received this coffee from a friend who lives in Brazil, and we could not be more excited with the outcome. Recommended pairing is a savory item, as we tried it both with an everything bagel and blueberry pancakes, and the latter muted the profile somewhat. That stated, we recommend this one as an all-day, standalone sipper.

Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 8.6. Where to Buy: Dengo