Review #143: Standing Stone Coffee Co.

Name of Roaster: Standing Stone Coffee Co.

Location of Roaster (City, State, Country): Huntingdon, PA

Name of Roast: Brazil

Type of Roast (Light, Medium, Dark): Light Origin of Beans: Fazenda Cachoeria Da Grama, Brazil Price: $7.50 (8 oz.) Brewing Method (Drip, Chemex, AeroPress, etc.): Chemex Time Between Purchase and Brewing (Ballpark is fine): Two days Aroma: Tearing open the bag, we noted soft, rich chocolate brownie with crisped crusts, dark, high percentage chocolate, cocoa nib, and a hint of graham. The coffee was bright after the grind, with baking spices, toasted walnut, and toffee showing. Toffee, caramel, honey, and a hint of light brown sugar appeared on the pour.

Flavor Profile: The sip arrived with a high-to-mid-palate entry, dense and viscous, with syrupy notes of molasses, rich chocolate, dark brown sugar, and wild honey. Enveloping and uniform throughout the sip. Pink peppercorn shows on the back end, with a clean, less flavorful finish of diluted milk chocolate. Sides get hints of lime and salt that quickly vanish.

Overall Impression (What did you think of it?): This was a surprising cup, and we view it as an exceptional value if you up the purchase to a pound ($13). The cup excelled when mixed with milk (both cold and steamed), and paired well across the board. We found this particular bag at the Bedford, PA, farm-to-table restaurant Horn-O-Plenty, which we recommend visiting if you are in the area. Final Score (1-10, with 10 being the best cup of coffee in your life): 7.7 Where to Buy: Standing Stone Coffee Co.