Review #127: Mall Grab Coffee

Name of Roaster: Mall Grab Coffee

Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Portland, Oregon

Name of Roast: Rwanda Kivu Kageyo

Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Medium Origin of Beans: Kageyo Co-op, Rwanda

Price: $14 (12 oz.) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): AeroPress Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Five Days Aroma: Cutting open the bag, we noted deep chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting, raspberry coulis, a hint of toasted bagel, and ritz cracker. On the grind, baking spices pervaded the aforementioned melange of scents, with a bright milk chocolate and strawberry frosted pop tart coming to the fore. On the pour, hazelnut, rich cocoa, molasses, and brown sugar showed.

Flavor Profile: Bright and rich and nutty, arriving high on the palate and medium-bodied, this was a surprising and complex first sip. Acidity is at the fore, but tempered by hazelnut, almond, and toasted Brazil nut. The tip of the tongue gets zips of lime, orange, and mango, while the sides of the tongue receive lime, lemon, and burnt orange peel. Under the nutty notes first founds on the tongue lay mango, melon, and kiwi. The flavor profile rests in the middle of the tongue, slightly viscous. The finish is bright and clean with lemon and toasted almond.

Overall Impression (What did you think of it? Anything else we should know?): This was a delightful coffee that paired well both with charcuterie and pancakes with syrup. We found the interplay of rich, nutty flavors with underlying fruit to be a fun mix that could be paired, taken with milk, or taken on its own. We'd be remiss if we failed to note that Mall Grab donates $1 from every bag sold to kids skateboarding, a cool initiative that we wholeheartedly support. Mall Grab currently lacks a brick and mortar, so snag a bag of their coffee online at the link below.

Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 8.1. Where to Buy: Mall Grab Coffee