Review #121: South Slope Coffee Co.

Name of Roaster: South Slope Coffee

Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Asheville, North Carolina

Name of Roast: Luis Ordoñez

Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium Origin of Beans: La Piedra, Amantenango de la Frontera, Chiapas, Mexico

Price: $12.50 (8 oz.) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Six Days Aroma: Tearing open the bag, we noted rich, dark chocolate ganache, dense chocolate cake, caramel-infused hot cocoa, dark berry compote underneath, a hint of honeyed graham, and a touch of kindling. The grind brought forth deep chocolate cake, graham, dark red berry jam, and soft cocoa nib, while the ganache receded. The pour showed cabernet sauvignon, soft brown sugar, nougat, soft chocolate, and the aforementioned thick red berry compote.

Flavor Profile: The sip arrives surprisingly light bodied given the aforementioned richness of the aroma. The initial sip hits and coats the roof of the mouth with a viscous, high-grade dark chocolate, while the front half of the tongue receives a delicate, juice-like blend of cabernet sauvignon, ripe heirloom tomato, orange, green pepper, lemon, blackberry, rounded melon, and crisped brownie. The sides of the tongue play a prominent role in the profile, receiving strong citrus notes, while front of the tongue plays host to the remaining fruit. Black peppercorn and a slight kindling, followed by dry chocolate cake appear on the finish as aromatics. As it cools, the fruit-forward nature of the coffee takes precedence, as the dark chocolate and viscosity fade, and the coffee softens considerably, finding its balance.

Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): Showing brightly on the sides and tip of the tongue with the aforementioned citrus while remaining nuanced with dense chocolate notes, this is a complex coffee that provides dual experiences at the outset, then reaches an equilibrium after settling down in temperature. We found it to be a delightful cup. Bacon accentuated the peppercorn and rendered the coffee to have a more savory palate. If that’s not desired, we recommend pairing with a sweet item, such as buttermilk pancakes with butter and maple syrup, or sipping by itself.

Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 8.2 Where to Buy: South Slope Coffee