So… I was given a pour-over coffee device some time ago (about a year now). I have been keeping it at my sister’s place though because I didn’t have a kettle at home. But she’s getting ready to move, so I figured that I would finally bring it home. I used my Christmas money to get a Gooseneck Kettle (BODUM brand) and a coffee grinder (also BODUM brand). I also bought some coffees. Two pre-ground bags and one whole bean bag.
The first one I tried was Death Wish (Espresso Roast – pre-ground). Immediately, I noticed the oiliness. It actually reminded me of a bowling alley, I told my friend (who’s a fan of Death Wish). Getting past that though, I began noticing an Earthy aroma. Reminded me of dirt, like a motocross track. Especially when paired with that oily scent. Needless to say, the aroma was harsh overall. Bold. But I did get the slightest undertone of something sweet at the very tail end.
Now, I’ve heard good things about Death Wish through the Internet (and through word-of-mouth). So, overall, despite the somewhat odd smell… I was still excited to finally give it a try myself. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, that oiliness was the first thing to hit me. But it didn’t taste horrible. Eventually, I added milk into it (I typically just drink my coffee black) and by adding the milk it took away the oiliness. Instantaneously. Allowing me to better taste the Earthliness. Which, when drinking it, reminded me less of a motocross track and more of a forest. Actually, it had me reminiscing of this one nook I found this one time while I was walking a path I used to walk more often when I was younger. I haven’t been on that path for YEARS though, so I don’t even know if that nook is still there or not. Sadly.
Anyway, as you might expect, though, with a name like Death Wish… This was STRONG. Especially with it being an espresso roast, too. Which espresso is really the only thing that, in the past, would actually wake me up and energize me. I’ll occasionally get an Americano from Tim Horton’s and, usually, just minutes after I finish it I feel a bit shaky. A bit hyper. Anxious, even. So, I expected this espresso roast from Death Wish to do some work and some work it did. The worst part about this whole experience though was that I drank it around 4 p.m. Needless to say then, I barely got any sleep that night.
Then… The next morning, around 9 a.m. I tried the second pre-ground bag I bought. It’s called “Donut Shop” by Fire Department Coffee (FDC). It is a light roast. So, really, a stark contrast to Death Wish. In some ways, a welcomed relief. Honestly, I immensely appreciated the simplicity of “Donut Shop.” It didn’t smell like anything intense. It really didn’t smell like anything at all. It just smelled like a simple, unassuming cup of joe. There was nothing that particularly stood out in its aroma. And I was thankful for this, actually.
The taste itself was just as innocent as its aroma. Tasted very normal. I had some coffee at iHop a couple days prior and that’s what “Donut Shop” reminded me of. I didn’t need to add milk or anything, either. It was incredibly light. And it was then that I knew this would be my everyday coffee, so that’s what I became for me (until I inevitably run out, I mean).
Now… I’m not saying that “Donut Shop” is my favorite. Actually, out of the three I bought I’d say it is my least favorite. But it’s good enough for a quick pick-me-up. Like, if I’m in a hurry and need to scarf down something fast then this is the best kind of coffee for a situation such as that. But if I had a bit more time or whatever, then I would actually prefer to have my third and final coffee. The whole bean coffee. From Kalamazoo Coffee Company. Called, “Filbert Hills Hazelnut.” Though, for the rest of this I’m just going to refer to it as “Hazelnut.”
I don’t know if it’s the fact that this one is whole bean or what, but it is BEYOND delicious. A medium roast, so a good middle ground between the boldness of Death Wish and the simplicity of “Donut Shop” by FDC. “Hazelnut” isn’t as nutty as I expected, nor does it smell like it either. Mostly, it smells and tastes of chocolate. Surprisingly. With only the slightest hint of a nut aftertaste. And I don’t really like chocolate, but this coffee is just something special. Problem is, I’m stubborn and refuse to grind the coffee beans during the week. So, the frequency of which I’ll have this one is low. But it’ll be a treat every time I do have it, thankfully. It’s that thought alone that really excites me about this one.
And yeah, those are three coffees I’ve had. All good, admittedly. But the bar for “good” definitely varies for each one. Anyway, I’m excited to keep trying more. So, if you have any coffee recommendations don’t be afraid to leave a comment or something and let me know! I’m still open to experiment and everything. To think, I used to rarely drink any coffee before this. I mean, unless it was from a cafe. Now, I can’t get enough. I’m ADDICTED! I accredit this addiction to the pour-over method… It just tastes fresher and makes the action of making coffee an overall more enjoyable experience for me.
PORTFOLIO 